2016 Toyota RAV4
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 60 of 255 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (17) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 303 in 2015 to 255 in 2016.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | vs. 2016 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,600 | 2,400–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | 1,950–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–26 | 24–26 | 24–32 | 24–32 | 24–32 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–23 / 28–30 | 22–23 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | 22–34 / 28–30 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 338–363 | 338–362 | 274–362 | 275–363 | 275–363 | |
| Complaints filed | 207 | 303 | 255 | 320 | 345 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 20 | 37 | 37 | 34 | 33 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 25 | 41 | 12 | 24 | 32 | |
| Injuries reported | 22 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 19 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Electrical: 60 of 255 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates it 24–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Toyota RAV4?
EPA estimates $1,950–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (5)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 29 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 349 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 23 mpg | 30 mpg (high) | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 338 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 357 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 22 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 362 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AV-S6) | 4 | 2.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 34 mpg (high) | 30 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 274 g/mi (low) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical | 60 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 51 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 21 | 15 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 24 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 46 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 38 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · Campaign 23V734000 · Nov 2, 2023
Defect: 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; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS · Campaign 16V236000 · Apr 22, 2016
Defect: 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; ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) · Campaign 16V198000 · Apr 7, 2016
Defect: 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.