2016 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems
59 of the 257 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 78 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 59 reports a crash · 7 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 15 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 4
Half of the 26 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 12,000 and 91,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
257 complaints in all about the 2016 Toyota RAV4, 4 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Toyota RAV4 electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Rear hatch motor failed. Hatch will not open. Toyota admits fault/defect, but refuses to cover costs associated with fixing it
The wiring harness was chew completely up. This affected my power brakes, engine,steering system, etc. these lights came on while driving the car! Rats chewed my wiring
My car phone does not work with my iphone 11 pro max. I have a 2016 Toyota Rav4 hybrid. The bluetooth on my new phone well not pair with my etune software. Tbe phone can't even discover it. When it finally fails my screen on my cat phone says no microphone detected. Rotors says it's an apple software problem. Jus a safety issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. While attempting to make a turn from a stop, the vehicle lost power. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle restarted within two seconds, but the failure recurred. State rd 64, bradenton, fl 34208) where it was determined that the vehicle was performing as designed.
2016 Toyota Rav4 xle. Consumer states that after purchase vehicle would not start. The consumer was informed, by the dealer, the failure was due to the vehicle being struck by lightening. The insurance company did not agree
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 23V734000 HighNov 1, 2023 · 1,853,568 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigations
- DP22005 Pedestrian alert soundsopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
- 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 ele…
- PE21005 Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Eventsopened Feb 25, 2021 · closed Aug 12, 2024
- 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 rep…
78 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 21TG01 Service campaignJun 18, 2025
- 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 campaignJun 13, 2025
- 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.
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
B2226 B2227 B15E6 B2220 U1110 B2228 B2229
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Toyota RAV4
Source: the same files- brake problems 50 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 59 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (23% of everything owners filed about it), and 78 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 23V734000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 47,000 miles; half of them between 12,000 and 91,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.