2016 Toyota RAV4: Common Problems, Recalls and Vehicle Data

What the public data shows

Recalls for the 2016 RAV4 span three separate systems rather than clustering in one: service brakes, hydraulic (16V198000), tires (16V236000), and the electrical system (23V734000, addressing a battery short-circuit risk raised years after the model year began). With one campaign apiece, the recall record here is best described as broad rather than concentrated in a single component. In complaints, "other" is the largest category, 65 of 252 filings, or 26 percent, followed by electrical at 52 (21 percent) and brakes at 43 (17 percent). Visibility and lighting complaints round out a notable share at 40, or 16 percent. No single mechanical system dominates the complaint record the way a true cluster would. One investigation appears in the public record, PE21005, concerning the 12v/24v/48v battery within the electrical system. It is closed, meaning NHTSA's inquiry has concluded rather than remaining an open question. Separately, service bulletins -- guidance issued to dealers, not recalls -- show a heavier concentration in equipment (42) and the electrical system (36), with structure and body-related bulletins following. This indicates where dealers were told to look for symptoms, not confirmed defects. Complaint counts reflect how often owners reported issues to NHTSA, not a rate of failure across all vehicles of this model year, and should be read as one data point among several rather than a verdict.

254 complaints on file with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, grouped into CarTold's broad component categories.

Most frequently reported, by the specific component NHTSA logged each complaint under (not CarTold's category groupings above):

• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 35 complaints (14%)
• SERVICE BRAKES — 32 complaints (13%)
• UNKNOWN OR OTHER — 29 complaints (11%)
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 24 complaints (9%)
• AIR BAGS — 15 complaints (6%)
• STRUCTURE — 13 complaints (5%)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.

Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.

TIRES

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."

Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Opened 2021-02-25 · Closed 2024-08-12

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to con…

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