IllustrationI HAVE A 2016 RAV4 LIMITED WITH 12000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE AND I'M AFRAID I MIGHT RUN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT SOME DAY. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE THE ROADS CLEARLY AT ALL. I HOPE A RECALL COULD BE SET TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
2016 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
810–25K
3625–50K
1450–75K
1075–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
151 reports with mileage · 88 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports12 fire reports21 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
28 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME TOO BRIGHT AND CAUSED OTHER DRIVERS TO FLASH THEIR HEADLIGHTS, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. TOYOTA OF NICHOLESVILLE, KENTUCKY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME TOO BRIGHT AND CAUSED OTHER DRIVERS TO FLASH THEIR HEADLIGHTS, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. TOYOTA OF NICHOLESVILLE, KENTUCKY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS FOCUSED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS FOCUSED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE AFTER MARKET BULBS, BUT THEY PERFORMED WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL BULBS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED ONLY, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.
DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING SPEEDOMETER IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. DEALER REPORT THAT EVERYTHING IS "WORKING AS IT SHOULD", BUT I CANNOT DETERMINE MY SPEED ACCURATELY.
HEADLIGHT BEAMS ARE CAPPED BY WHAT APPEARS AS A HORIZONTAL LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS IF A SHADE IS HALFWAY DOWN. LIMITED ROAD IS VISIBLE BELOW THE LINE AND JUST PITCH BLACK ABOVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PITCHED DOWN AS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT FIFTY FEET AHEAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO C…
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HEADLIGHT BEAMS ARE CAPPED BY WHAT APPEARS AS A HORIZONTAL LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS IF A SHADE IS HALFWAY DOWN. LIMITED ROAD IS VISIBLE BELOW THE LINE AND JUST PITCH BLACK ABOVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PITCHED DOWN AS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT FIFTY FEET AHEAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVE HIGH-BEAMS ON AND THOSE ARE DIRECTED TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD RATHER THAN HAVING A BROAD BEAM. ALSO, THERE IS NO LIGHT TO THE FRONT OF EITHER SIDE SO TURNING AT NIGHT IS BLIND AS YOU MAKE THE TURN. WE NEED THIS FLAW CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND IMPAIRED THE CONTACT'S VISION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OFF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,800.
HEADLIGHTS ARE INADEQUATE AND VERY UNSAFE. LIGHT CAST IS A HALF MOON WITH A HORIZONTAL UPPER BORDER. IT IS DARK ABOVE THAT AND THERE IS MINIMAL PERIPHERAL LIGHT CAST BY THE HEADLIGHTS SO TURNING CORNERS IS VERY DIFFICULT. HIGH BEAMS ONLY SLIGHTLY IMPROVE ABILITY TO SEE.
PURCH 2016 TOYOTA AWD RAV4 1 WK AGO. NEVER TRIED LIGHTS B4 PURCH AS WAS DAYLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING W/DARK GOING TO WORK I USED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FIND OUT YOU CANT SEE W/THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD HEADLIGHTS I COULDNT SEE WITH. ON DIM: BEAMS SHORT FOOTAGE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE & THE FIELD OF VISION IS DARK W/LINE OF DARKNESS ABOVE BEAM…
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PURCH 2016 TOYOTA AWD RAV4 1 WK AGO. NEVER TRIED LIGHTS B4 PURCH AS WAS DAYLIGHT. THE NEXT MORNING W/DARK GOING TO WORK I USED THE HEADLIGHTS TO FIND OUT YOU CANT SEE W/THEM. I HAVE NEVER HAD HEADLIGHTS I COULDNT SEE WITH. ON DIM: BEAMS SHORT FOOTAGE IN FRONT OF VEHICLE & THE FIELD OF VISION IS DARK W/LINE OF DARKNESS ABOVE BEAM & YOU CANNOT SEE ANY FUTHER. LIKE YOU ARE IN A BIG BLACK TUNNEL. YOU DONT HAVE A FIELD OF VISION ON THE FRONT & SIDES OF THE VEHICLE AT ALL! THE DRIVER COULD POSSABLY HIT SOMETHING OR A PEDESTRIAN, ETC.DUE TO IMPROPER VISION LIGHTING. I HAD TO STOP & ROLL DOWN THE DRIVERS WINDOW SO I COULD MAKE SURE I WAS TURNING LEFT CORRECTLY ON THE ROAD TO MY HOME AT NIGHT. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WITH NO STREET LIGHTS. HIGH BEAM: BEAM UP AT THE TREE TOPS IN FRONT OF YOU CRIS CROSSED. WITH THESE HEADLIGHTS YOU HAVE NO FIELD OF VISION! I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AFTER DARK BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE AT ALL! I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED & THEY STATE CANT ADJUST THEM BUT THEY DID TRY TO. VISION WAS/IS STILL BAD. I TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF MIGHT KNOW HOW TO ADJUST & THEY STATED SAME THING. THEY CHECKED THE LIGHTS, STATED LIGHTS WERE IN TOYOTA'S SPECS & IS LITTLE ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT. I TRIED USING AGAIN THIS MORNING & STILL BAD FIELD OF VISION. I CALLED & ASKED DEALERSHIP TO FILE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT W/TOYOTA CONCERNING THE BAD FIELD OF VISION OF THESE HEADLIGHTS, DUE TO BEING AFRAID I MIGHT HIT SOMETHING I CANT SEE & BE KILLED OR INJURED OR HIT SOMEONE ELSE I CANT SEE & INJURE OR KILL THEM. THE PROBLEM W/HEADLIGHTS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATLLY BEFORE THIS HAPPENS W/ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS ALL THE TIME. BOUGHT AS RETIREMENT VEHICLE COSTING $30,000.00 & CANT SEE TO DRIVE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT MY RECOURSE IS. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN BEFORE MAJOR MISHAP! THANKS
Official recalls
323V734000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Nov 1, 2023
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 & remedy
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.
16V236000 · Equipment:other:labels; Tires
Apr 22, 2016
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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
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.
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.
16V198000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Apr 7, 2016
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 & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
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 contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.