Model year 2016 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
2016 Toyota RAV4: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2016 Toyota RAV4 at 24–32 mpg combined across 5 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 257 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
3
EPA combined mpg
24–32
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as RAV4 HYBRID.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Toyota dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2016 Toyota RAV4 recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2016 Toyota RAV4, newest first.
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery
NHTSA 23V734000Reported Nov 1, 2023
Filed by
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. 23TB13 / 23TA13)
Units affected
1,853,568 (estimate)
Problem
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.
Risk
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.
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. SET16A)
Components
Equipment: Other: Labels; Tires
Units affected
94 (estimate)
Problem
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."
Risk
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC) and 1 more component
NHTSA 16V198000Reported Apr 7, 2016
Filed by
Toyota Motor Corporation (manufacturer recall no. G0I, GLC)
Components
Electronic stability control (ESC); Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Units affected
16,656 (estimate)
Problem
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."
Risk
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2016 Toyota RAV4 fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2016 Toyota RAV4 crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2016 Toyota RAV4 NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2016 Toyota Rav4 SUV AWD
5 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
16.9%
Optional
2016 Toyota Rav4 SUV FWD
5 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
17.4%
Optional
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2016 Toyota RAV4 owner complaints
Owners have filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota RAV4, most recently on Sep 24, 2026. 37 mention a crash, 12 a fire, 27 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2016 Toyota RAV4 complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Electrical system
58
Service brakes
48
Unknown or other
38
Exterior lighting
28
Engine
27
Air bags
19
Structure: Body
17
Visibility/wiper
15
Vehicle speed control
13
Steering
11
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
