Model year report

2016 Toyota Rav4: what breaks, and at what mileage

What breaks on the 2016 Toyota Rav4

On the 2016 Toyota Rav4, the failure owners report most often is other electrical problem, and the reports cluster around 75,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other visibility problem, reported by a median of 10,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 2016.

High risk for a 2016 — 187th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. 294 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.

The failures owners actually file about

Owners have reported 52 named failure modes on the 2016 Toyota Rav4, and the three most-reported carry 29% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.

Other electrical problem leads with 37 reports, about 0.1 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 48k to 95,000 miles.

Other brake problem follows with 29 reports, usually reported between 5k to 40,000 miles.

Other lighting problem follows with 18 reports, usually reported between 6k to 40,000 miles.

By system, the reports fall mostly into electrical (49), brakes (44) and engine (30).

When these failures get reported

185 of the reports on the 2016 Toyota Rav4 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 19,000 miles.

Cumulatively, 79% by 50,000 miles and 96% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.

The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 39% of the dated reports.

63% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.

In the order they tend to show up: other visibility problem around 12k, other brake problem around 13k, sunroof failure or glass breakage around 14k and other lighting problem around 17k.

Median

Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens

Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 52. The full list is in the table below.

How reports accumulate

Share of reports filed by each mileage

half by 19k

Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.

Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Dashed the median reported mileage

How bad it is when it goes

Across the named modes, 36 mention a crash, 17 a fire and 20 an injury. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.

The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.06, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.

What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other brake problem at $300–$1,800, other lighting problem at $120–$1,200 and sunroof failure or glass breakage at $700–$4,500. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.

16% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.

Every reported failure mode

Mileage figures are percentiles of owner-reported readings. Click a column to sort.
Failure mode	System	Reports	With reading	25th	Median	75th	Per 1,000	Typical repair	Severity
Other electrical problem	electrical	37	15	48k	75k	95k	0.1	$250–$2,000	Moderate
Other brake problem	brakes	29	21	5k	13k	40k	0.1	$300–$1,800	High
Other lighting problem	lighting	18	11	6k	17k	39k	0.1	$120–$1,200	Moderate
Sunroof failure or glass breakage	body	16	12	5k	14k	33k	0.1	$700–$4,500	High
Other engine problem	engine	16	11	6k	20k	77k	0.1	$300–$4,000	High
Headlight failure or clouding	lighting	11	7	—	4k	—	0.0	$150–$1,800	Moderate
Other visibility problem	glass	10	9	10k	12k	25k	0.0	$150–$1,400	Moderate
Other steering problem	steering	9	5	—	80k	—	0.0	$350–$2,400	High
Airbag failed to deploy in a crash	airbag	8	6	—	32k	—	0.0	$1,000–$5,000	Critical
Lane keep or steering assist fault	adas	8	7	—	30k	—	0.0	$200–$1,600	High
Other body or interior problem	body	8	4	—	3k	—	0.0	$200–$2,000	Moderate
Loss of braking	brakes	7	7	—	42k	—	0.0	$400–$3,000	Critical
Other speed control problem	adas	7	6	—	20k	—	0.0	$250–$2,000	Critical
Other powertrain problem	transmission	6	3	—	9k	—	0.0	$400–$4,500	High
No-start or intermittent start failure	engine	5	4	—	35k	—	0.0	$200–$1,800	Moderate
Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure	electrical	5	2	—	60k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	High
Radiator or coolant leak	cooling	4	1	—	5k	—	0.0	$350–$1,900	High
Torque converter failure	transmission	4	1	—	130k	—	0.0	$1,100–$3,200	High
Backup camera failure	infotainment	4	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,200	Moderate
ABS module or sensor failure	brakes	4	4	—	45k	—	0.0	$500–$2,400	High
Other driver assistance problem	adas	4	4	—	19k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	High
Misfire or rough idle	engine	3	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,600	Moderate
Wiring harness or short circuit	electrical	3	3	—	6k	—	0.0	$400–$3,500	High
Parking sensor failure	adas	3	3	—	500	—	0.0	$180–$900	Low
Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure	body	3	2	—	19k	—	0.0	$250–$1,500	Moderate
Timing chain, belt or tensioner failure	engine	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,200–$4,500	Critical
Stalling while driving	engine	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$300–$2,500	Critical
Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure	fuel	2	2	—	31k	—	0.0	$250–$1,800	Moderate
Alternator or charging system failure	electrical	2	2	—	12k	—	0.0	$450–$1,600	High
Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure	electrical	2	0	—	—	—	0.0	$700–$3,000	High
Infotainment screen failure	infotainment	2	2	—	54k	—	0.0	$400–$2,600	Low
Premature brake pad or rotor wear	brakes	2	1	—	23k	—	0.0	$300–$1,400	Moderate
Airbag inflator rupture	airbag	2	2	—	6k	—	0.0	$0–$0	Critical
Other suspension problem	suspension	2	2	—	30k	—	0.0	$350–$2,000	Moderate
Head gasket failure	engine	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$1,400–$4,000	Critical
Excessive oil consumption	engine	1	1	—	47k	—	0.0	$900–$6,500	High
Water pump failure	cooling	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$500–$2,200	High
CV axle or driveshaft failure	drivetrain	1	1	—	30k	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	High
Fuel pump failure	fuel	1	1	—	1k	—	0.0	$600–$2,600	High
Audio or connectivity failure	infotainment	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$150–$900	Low
Instrument cluster or gauge failure	infotainment	1	1	—	58k	—	0.0	$350–$1,400	Moderate
Master cylinder or brake booster failure	brakes	1	1	—	7k	—	0.0	$450–$2,200	Critical
Parking brake failure	brakes	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$250–$1,300	Moderate
Seat belt or retractor failure	airbag	1	1	—	75k	—	0.0	$200–$900	High
Cruise control failure	adas	1	1	—	3k	—	0.0	$200–$1,400	High
Steering column or shaft failure	steering	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$600–$2,500	Critical
Rust or structural corrosion	body	1	1	—	42k	—	0.0	$500–$6,000	High
Air conditioning failure	hvac	1	1	—	19k	—	0.0	$400–$2,800	Moderate
Catalytic converter failure	emissions	1	1	—	4k	—	0.0	$900–$3,500	Moderate
Wiper or washer failure	glass	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$120–$800	Moderate
Other fuel system problem	fuel	1	0	—	—	—	0.0	$300–$2,200	High
Other wheel or tire problem	wheels	1	1	—	2k	—	0.0	$200–$1,500	High
Unclassified problem	other	26	15	2k	14k	49k	0.1	—	Moderate

Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.

How often, against how many were built

Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2016 Toyota Rav4 draws about 1.0 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 72nd percentile of complaint rates among 2016 vehicles we can rate.

That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.

The working figure is 308,928 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2016 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.

What owners wrote

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.

Recalls on the 2016 model year

NHTSA has issued 3 recall campaigns covering the 2016 Toyota Rav4, affecting an estimated 314,493 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.

The campaigns cover electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery, tires and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electron. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.

One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.

23V734000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

1,853,568 vehicles 2023-11-01

Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.

16V236000

TIRES

94 vehicles 2016-04-22

Defect: 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."
Consequence: 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.

16V198000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

16,656 vehicles 2016-04-07

Defect: 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…
Consequence: 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 work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.

How it ranks in the 2016 field

The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.

Risk score against the rest of the 2016 field

Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.

Left fewer and less serious reports
Right more, or worse
Marker this vehicle

How 2016 compares with the other years

High risk for a 2016 — 187th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.

Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2001 comes out best at 63 and 2019 worst at 83, with 2016 itself at 68.

If the model year is negotiable, 2001, 2004, 2003, 1999, 2000, 2005 and 1998 score lower than 2016 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.

Within the 2013–2018 generation specifically, 2014 is the strongest year at 68 and 2018 the weakest at 72.

Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.

Risk score by model year, out of 100

Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.

Within the 2013-2018 generation, 2014 Toyota Rav4 scores best at 68 and 2018 Toyota Rav4 worst at 72.

What the numbers say to check

The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: sunroof failure or glass breakage from about 5k, other brake problem from about 5k, other lighting problem from about 6k and other engine problem from about 6k.

On a 2016 Toyota Rav4 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether sunroof failure or glass breakage has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.

Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.

What this page cannot tell you

294 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.

Of those 294 reports, 185 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 63% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".

The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.

And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.

Questions this page answers

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Toyota Rav4?

The most-reported failures are other electrical problem (37 reports, median 75,000 miles), other brake problem (29 reports, median 15,000 miles) and other lighting problem (18 reports, median 15,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.

At what mileage do 2016 Toyota Rav4 problems start?

Other visibility problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 10,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 10,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 19,000 miles.

Is the 2016 Toyota Rav4 reliable?

It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 187th riskiest of the 255 2016 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2016 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.

Which year of the Toyota Rav4 is best?

Within the 2013–2018 generation, 2014 scores best at 68 out of 100 and 2018 worst at 72. Same body, same engines, different luck.

Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.

What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car

Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt 30 August 2026 Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed