RecallMyCar

2016 Toyota RAV4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2016 Toyota RAV4, and owners have filed 240 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
240
owner complaints to NHTSA
33 / 12
complaints citing a crash / fire
24–32
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota RAV4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. 12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)

    NHTSA 23V734000 Reported 1,853,568 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    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.

    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…

  2. Labels (equipment) and tires

    NHTSA 16V236000 Reported 94 vehicles potentially affected Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC

    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…

    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…

  3. Electronic stability control (esc) and antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)

    NHTSA 16V198000 Reported 16,656 vehicles potentially affected Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

    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…

    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.…

240 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have filed 240 complaints with NHTSA; 33 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 27 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 32,698 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 34 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Mechanic said he thought rear lower rearward; non-adjustable control arms, lateral arms were a recall. They were falling apart. I've been complaining about a clunky noise for a year or so. Thank you f”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2026 · Suspension

“I was driving 9/3 and my left blinker light came on solid. I was not using my blinker. Within a few seconds my check engine light came on and another light. Then within 2 minutes the front left engine”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 3, 2026 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2016 Toyota RAV4 (RAV4 AWD, RAV4 Hybrid AWD, RAV4 LE/XLE, RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined24–32 mpg
City / Highway22–34 / 28–30
FuelRegular
EPA classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4 cyl, 2.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6); Automatic (S6)

Compare Toyota RAV4 model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota RAV4 model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1994 Toyota RAV404
1995 Toyota RAV401
1996 Toyota RAV4047
1997 Toyota RAV4054
1998 Toyota RAV4477
1999 Toyota RAV4462
2000 Toyota RAV4330
2001 Toyota RAV40309
2002 Toyota RAV40527
2003 Toyota RAV40315
2004 Toyota RAV42154
2005 Toyota RAV45141
2006 Toyota RAV411705
2007 Toyota RAV4141,004
2008 Toyota RAV414575
2009 Toyota RAV415327
2010 Toyota RAV414400
2011 Toyota RAV411287
2012 Toyota RAV45260
2013 Toyota RAV42257
2014 Toyota RAV44197
2015 Toyota RAV44305
2016 Toyota RAV43240
2017 Toyota RAV43307
2018 Toyota RAV43331
2019 Toyota RAV47879
2020 Toyota RAV46635
2021 Toyota RAV41387
2022 Toyota RAV41147
2023 Toyota RAV43157
2024 Toyota RAV43176
2025 Toyota RAV4388

Checking a specific 2016 Toyota RAV4

How do I know if my 2016 Toyota RAV4 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2016 Toyota RAV4; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 16V198000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Toyota models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.