2016 Toyota RAV4 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 RAV4 report two main themes in the sampled complaints: brake-pedal problems (pedal sinking to the floor, or sticking and not returning) and electrical/battery troubles, including battery-terminal corrosion, no-start conditions and infotainment resets. Many complaints also involve tail-light condensation, a sunroof that shatters, and recall-related battery parts being unavailable. Reports span low to high mileage, with the brake complaints appearing from about 40,000 miles upward.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Battery corrosion, no-start and electrical faults

   • 45 complaints (19%)
   • median 57,750 mi at 5.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners report heavy corrosion on the battery terminals that returns even after cleaning or a new battery, occasional no-start or reduced battery charge, and dashboard or infotainment displays that shut off and reset while driving. A few complaints describe melted battery or burned fuse-box wiring, and several owners note that recall parts for the battery were not yet available at their dealer. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 130,000 miles, at varied intervals over the vehicle's life.

   Recall 23V7340004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the battery terminals and tray for corrosion and confirm the battery is the correct size and properly secured; check with a dealer whether recall 23V734000 has been completed on the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on a local road I started to lose electrical power. At first I lost power steering and shortly after the heat stopped working and all the lights on the dashboard lit up. When I brought the car to be diagnosed the fuse box had been burned and wires melted and there was smoke indicating there had been a fire around the fuse/electrical area”

   NHTSA complaint #11399953, filed 2021-03, 85,000 miles

   “I have had and continue to have battery trouble with my Toyota RAV4. I first bought a new 2014 and at my regular maintenance at the dealership, the battery was replaced several times. I was uncomfortable enough to trade it in and get a new 2016. I still have this one, but it continues to have battery trouble. I have been left stranded at work when my car would not start. That is when I found massive amounts of corrosion, and to this day, the terminals corrode over even with new battery. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11399862, filed 2021-03, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinks to floor or fails to stop

   • 33 complaints (14%)
   • median 27,550 mi at 2.1 yrs old (24 state mileage)
   • 13 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and finding it travels to the floorboard with little or no braking effect, sometimes while slowing for traffic or an exit ramp, and in some accounts the vehicle struck another vehicle or a curb. A related pattern is a pedal that is hard to push and does not return on release, so the brakes stay partially applied even while accelerating. Several owners say the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and some vehicles resumed normal braking after a restart. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 135,000 miles, often during normal driving at highway or low speeds.

   Recall 16V198000

   What to check: Ask whether the brake fluid and ABS system have been serviced and whether any pedal or brake-related inspection was done; during a test drive, feel for a pedal that sinks, is unusually hard, or does not return promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sometimes my brakes work normally. Other times, the brake pedal will be hard to push, and the brake pedal will not come back up when I release it. If I don't pull the pedal back up with my foot, brakes will continue to be applied even when I'm accelerating. I can't tell why they work sometimes and not others. I could spend 4 hours driving around with sticky brakes, and then suddenly, they're fine.”

   NHTSA complaint #11385271, filed 2020-12, 62,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to depress the brake pedal while stopping the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11455911, filed 2022-03, 135,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Sunroof glass shattering while driving

   • 17 complaints (7%)
   • median 11,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2024

   Owners report a loud bang followed by the sunroof glass shattering or blowing outward at highway speed, with no object seen hitting the roof and the glass curving upward as it breaks. Some say the dealer declined to cover the repair under warranty. Reported from a few thousand miles to about 48,000 miles, typically at highway speeds.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass and frame for chips, cracks or repairs, and ask whether the panel has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The sunroof exploded while driving down the highway. No rock was seen before it happened and the glass was curved outward when we stopped to look at it. Fortunately, the visor/cover was below it so the glass shards did not spray into our faces. It sounded like a bomb went off. This is extremely dangerous and we have no option but to have the sunroof replaced. It would be wise to always drive with the sunroof cover over the glass to protect yourself.”

   NHTSA complaint #10860191, filed 2016-04, 3,000 miles

   “I was driving down the highway, traveling about 65mph when all of the sudden I hear a loud bang. I pull over my car and notice a large hole in my sunroof. I didn't pass under a bridge and there was no evidence a rock or other object was dropped on the roof. Additionally, the glass was curved upward, like a bottle top bursting from a bottle. The sunroof seemed to spontaneously explode. I believe the only possible explanation is a manufacturing defect.”

   NHTSA complaint #11412949, filed 2021-04, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in a collision

   • 24 complaints (10%)
   • median 40,500 mi at 3.7 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Owners describe frontal or rear impacts in which the airbags did not deploy, including a deer strike and rear-end collisions, while other accounts note bags deploying as expected. Some vehicles were inspected afterward, and owners say they were not given a clear explanation for the non-deployment. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 5,000 to about 100,000 miles, in crashes at varying speeds.

   What to check: Check for any airbag warning light or stored airbag codes during a pre-purchase inspection, and confirm the vehicle has not been in a prior unrepaired collision.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hit a deer head on going roughly 70 MPH, airbags didn't go off and radiator and sensor got pushed into the car. Was on the highway just outside of gillete, wy when it occured.”

   NHTSA complaint #11322500, filed 2020-04, 4,905 miles

   “The contact owns a 2016 Toyota RAV4. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver and passenger sustained multiple injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 15,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10872409, filed 2016-06, 15,000 miles

Buying note. A 2016 RAV4 is worth a careful brake and electrical inspection before purchase: check for a sinking or sticky brake pedal, battery-terminal corrosion and tail-light condensation, and confirm any open recalls, especially 23V734000, have been completed.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.