2016 Toyota RAV4
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the RAV4 Hybrid AWD, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 257 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl + 245V Ni-MH | 34 | 30 | 32 | $2,100 |
| RAV4 LE/XLE | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,600 |
| RAV4 | Gas | FWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 23 | 29 | 25 | $2,700 |
| RAV4 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 22 | 28 | 25 | $2,700 |
| RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.5L 4-cyl | 22 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 37110, 37087, 37086, 37088, 37089.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAV4 Hybrid AWD | 7–8 / 10 | Bin 3 / LEV-III SULEV30 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | SmartWay |
| RAV4, RAV4 AWD, RAV4 LE/XLE, RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD | 5–6 / 10 | Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV] |
| Doors | 5 |
| GVWR class | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement | 2.5 L |
| Engine configuration | In-Line |
Engine Output
| Horsepower | 176 hp |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: LE (X Grade), Limited (G Grade), XLE (M Grade)). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 181.1 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 72.8 in |
| Height | 66.1–67.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 in |
| Track, front | 61.4–61.8 in |
| Track, rear | 61.4–61.8 in |
| Curb weight | 3,428–3,891 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 58/42 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: Hybrid, LE AWD 4-door SUV, LE FWD 4-door SUV, XLE FWD 4-door SUV, Xle/Se/Limited AWD 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (3)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseTires
SET16AService Brakes, Hydraulic
G0I, GLCThese are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →
Electrical System:12V/24V/48V Battery — Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events closed
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.
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · closed Aug 12, 2024 · action PE21005 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific RAV4
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Toyota publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Toyota RAV4, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2016 Toyota RAV4
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this RAV4 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database37 involved a crash · 12 a fire · 27 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2016: 47 · 2017: 33 · 2018: 27 · 2019: 24 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 28 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 10
Most-cited components
In depth: electrical problems → · brake problems →
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4 hybrid. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various speeds, the chrome trim on the dashboard significantly reduced the driver's visibility on several occasions. The contact stated that the view of the front side mirrors were obstructed by a shiny glare that created a blinding effect.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4 HV. The contact stated that he was unable to see the instrument panel gauges in sunny conditions. The dealer suggested that the contact have the windows tinted. The contact purchased the tint, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired.
I was pulling into a parking space in a parking deck. As I turned into the spot I applied the brakes. The brake pedal went to the floor and the car wouldn't slow or stop. There was no braking power whatsoever. I took my foot off the brake pedal and the car crashed into the concrete wall
I filled my car with full tank I AM only running my car just gave me 248 miles the fuel tank light was flashed .and the car supposed to go for 339 or 349 miles with full tank I want to downtown miami from tampa I was supposed to stop to full it again
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
This brand new 2016 rave limited constantly pulls to the right while moving.. Had 2 alignments done, tires rotated and balanced and still the same problem
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Reported by Toyota itself: 231 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 4 killed, 300 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every RAV4 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.
When owners reported it
miles, typically
Half the 156 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 5,000 and 47,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.
Median mileage by component
| Component | Reports | Median miles | Vs same age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 37 | 21,000 | 0.53× |
| Electrical System | 26 | 52,000 | 1.16× |
| Unspecified | 24 | 15,000 | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 17,000 | 0.39× |
| Visibility/Wiper | 15 | 10,250 | 0.28× |
| Engine | 15 | 14,600 | 0.24× |
| Air Bags | 12 | 35,000 | 0.83× |
Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2016-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: service brakes (0.53×), exterior lighting (0.39×), visibility/wiper (0.28×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.
Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Equipment, Structure, Electrical System, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.
- T-SB-0009-26 Service bulletin2026-02-13 · Engine
- This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
- T-SB-0119-15 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-02-13 · Engine
- OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
- T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2026-01-07 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interi
- 21TG01 Service campaign2025-06-18 · Electrical System
- 21TG01 Exprired - Replaced with Campaign 23TA13 During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota retailers and others who sell or install replacement batteries were recommending a small size battery for replacement. Toyota specifies a particular size replacement battery for the
- T-SB-0058-23 Rev1 Service campaign2025-06-13 · Electrical System
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
- T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint
- T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
- T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Structure — Body
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| B2226 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 3 bulletins |
| B2227 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Electrical System · Battery → | 3 bulletins |
| B15E6 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 2 bulletins |
| B2220 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Latches/Locks/Linkages · Door lock actuator → | 2 bulletins |
| U1110 U1110 on Toyota → | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Equipment | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).
failed emissions
11,386 initial inspections of 11,155 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2016 RAV4 | Every 2016 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 1.3% | 4.2% | 11,354 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 2.1% | 2.2% | 11,386 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.19% | 0.27% | 11,386 |
| Miles driven a year | 10,008 | 10,028 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 103,061 | 103,109 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
RAV4 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2016 RAV4
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Toyota RAV4. The most serious on file is 23V734000, covering Electrical System. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA gave the 2016 Toyota RAV4 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (83/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Toyota RAV4, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Transport Canada measured it at 181.1 in long, 72.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.1–67.3 in tall, on a 104.7 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 3,428–3,891 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota RAV4, most often about electrical system, service brakes, unspecified. Of those, 37 involved a crash, 12 a fire, 27 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Toyota RAV4 runs 5 to 8 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 3, Bin 5, LEV-II ULEV, LEV-III SULEV30 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
The manufacturer has filed 288 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Toyota RAV4, most often covering equipment, structure, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-02-13. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Toyota RAV4 failed the emissions check on 1.3% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 2.1% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 5 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 5 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 3 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 257 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 288 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 2 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 9 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.