2016 Toyota RAV4 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 59about this part
- Share
- 25%of 240 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 52,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 59 complaints about the electrical system of the 2016 Toyota RAV4, 25% of the 240 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 52,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 7 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Started my 2016 RAV4 limited on 7/27/2019. After starting it none of the safety features are working. This appears to be a known issue among other Toyota owners. The vehicle was fine when I shut it off the night before. Now anti lock braking, lane departure alert, pre-collision system, and adaptive cruise control are all failing.”
NHTSA complaint #11235293, filed 2019-07, 47,000 miles“It was a cold day in massachusetts. I warmed up the car in the morning for 10 minutes before starting to drive to work. I got onto the massachusetts pike and after a couple exits of cruising at 60 hit stop and go traffic. At one of the entrances and when I slowed down to a stop in the traffic my car flashed the battery critical charging error for a split second before saying everything needed to be restarted by putting the car into park. After that, the car completely shut down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11063443, filed 2018-01, 7,400 miles“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 .”
NHTSA complaint #11297434, filed 2020-01, 6,145 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. The passenger door does not always lock with the key button bc of this issue. …”
NHTSA complaint #11399862, filed 2021-03, 30,000 milesRelated recalls
- 23V734000Nov 1, 2023Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in…Covers: Toyota RAV4 2013–2018
Related service bulletins
- 11020667Jun 18, 2025Campaign Expired - replaced with campaign 23TA13TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 21TG01 12-VOLT BATTERY SIZE AND INSTALLATION INSPECTION CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 RAV4
- 11020666Jun 18, 202521TG01 Exprired - Replaced with Campaign 23TA13 During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid…
- 11020657Jun 13, 2025The 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…
- 11007433Jul 1, 2024During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota…
- 11006139Jul 1, 2024During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid models), Toyota discovered that many non-Toyota…
- 11005132Jun 27, 2024TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 24TE03 Rav4 Battery Class Action Settlement CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 Model Year RAV4
- 11005131Jun 27, 2024On April 9, 2024, a settlement of claims for certain 2013-2018 model year Rav4 vehicles was preliminarily approved by the federal court. The court will hold a Fairness Hearing on…
- 11005130Jun 27, 2024On April 9, 2024, a settlement of claims for certain 2013-2018 model year Rav4 vehicles was preliminarily approved by the federal court. The court will hold a Fairness Hearing on…
- 11005074Jun 27, 2024TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY 24TE03 Rav4 Battery Class Action Settlement CERTAIN 2013 – 2018 Model Year RAV4
- 11005073Jun 27, 2024On April 9, 2024, a settlement of claims for certain 2013-2018 model year Rav4 vehicles was preliminarily approved by the federal court. The court will hold a Fairness Hearing on…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 16 | 18% |
| 2024 | 32 | 18% |
| 2023 | 44 | 27% |
| 2022 | 40 | 27% |
| 2021 | 47 | 12% |
| 2020 | 120 | 19% |
| 2019 | 103 | 12% |
| 2018 | 130 | 39% |
| 2017 | 108 | 35% |
| 2016 | 59 | 25% |
| 2015 | 85 | 28% |
| 2014 | 69 | 35% |
| 2013 | 75 | 29% |
| 2012 | 30 | 12% |
| 2011 | 19 | 7% |
| 2010 | 15 | 4% |
| 2009 | 19 | 6% |
| 2008 | 27 | 5% |
| 2007 | 76 | 8% |
| 2006 | 42 | 6% |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% |
| 2004 | 10 | 6% |
| 2003 | 42 | 13% |
| 2002 | 92 | 17% |
| 2001 | 60 | 19% |
| 2000 | 1 | 3% |
| 1999 | 6 | 10% |
| 1998 | 3 | 4% |
| 1997 | 3 | 6% |
| 1996 | 2 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2016 Toyota RAV4
46 complaintsOther or unknown
33 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsEngine
25 complaintsAir bags
19 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
16 complaintsBody and structure
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
11 complaintsSteering
10 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Toyota RAV4
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology