Defect Summary: 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.
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Executive Vehicle Verdict
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is associated with 252 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 3 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.
The most frequently reported component area is Electrical System, accounting for 35 reports (14% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning 2.5L 4-Cyl hybrid and 2.5l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 24 to 32 MPG combined. The 2016 Toyota RAV4 belongs to the 4th generation (XA40) RAV4 platform spanning model years 2015–2018.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 252 consumer reports filed
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 3 official campaigns
- • Primary Defect Domain: Electrical System (35 / 14%)
- • Field Incident Signals: 37 crash / 11 fire / 21 injury reports
- • NCAP Crash Safety: 5 / 5 Stars Overall Laboratory Score
- • EPA Certified Range: 24–32 MPG across 5 powertrain trims
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid AWD Hybrid | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 34 MPG | 30 MPG | 32 MPG | — | $1,900 / yr |
| RAV4 LE/XLE | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 23 MPG | 30 MPG | 26 MPG | — | $2,350 / yr |
| RAV4 | 2.5L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 23 MPG | 29 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $2,450 / yr |
| RAV4 AWD | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 22 MPG | 28 MPG | 25 MPG | — | $2,450 / yr |
| RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD | 2.5L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 22 MPG | 28 MPG | 24 MPG | — | $2,550 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | 17.4% | ||||
| SUV AWD | 16.900000000000002% |
Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Toyota RAV4 models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Summary of 252 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Toyota RAV4 problems & component breakdown (56 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
Defect Summary: 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."
Defect Summary: 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."
Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2016 Toyota RAV4
Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2016 Toyota RAV4
How many safety recalls does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have?
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is associated with 3 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.
If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.
What are the most common problems reported for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA records list 252 consumer defect complaints for the 2016 Toyota RAV4. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Electrical System, appearing in 35 filings (14% of submissions).
Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Under the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), the 2016 Toyota RAV4 earned an Overall Safety Rating of 5 out of 5 stars across 2 tested configuration(s).
Laboratory evaluations include a 35 mph frontal barrier crash, side barrier and pole impact tests, and static rollover resistance assessments.
What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 get?
Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2016 Toyota RAV4 range from 24 to 32 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.
Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.