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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,132 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Toyota RAV4 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Aug 232019

RAV4

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. I would estimate I've replaced the battery 3-5 times between the two cars, with no real solution. Batteries have always been replaced/installed by the local Toyota dealership. (I'm sure invoices could be pulled if necessary) my cars have not stalled while running, they won't start or just start to have electrical issues w lights, and it gets checked by the dealership. They usually recommend replacement while the battery is covered. A separate but equally unsettling issue is with the windshield. It recently cracked due to a passenger flicking a bug on it. You would think a rock landed on it.

- Jefferson, LA, USA

problem #13

May 282020

RAV4 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,156 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Toyota Rav4. While her husband was making a right turn at 30 mph, the vehicle abruptly shut off without warning; however, her husband was able to restart the vehicle upon depression of the accelerator pedal. As they continued to drive, the failure occurred two more times and after the third failure, a blackish smoke began to emit from underneath the front passenger side of the hood. The contact's husband was able to exit the vehicle and extinguish the fire with a water bottle. The authorities were called to the scene, and the fire department removed the battery from the vehicle. A fire and police report were filed; no injuries were reported. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to sheehy Toyota of stafford(95 garrisonville rd, stafford, va 22554) where they initially gave the contact an estimate to replace the vehicle parts in order to check if the vehicle was still operable. Due to the high cost of the repair, her insurance company deemed the vehicle total loss and was destroyed. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had been destroyed. The failure mileage was 44,156. The consumer provided the report from the fire department.

- Stafford, VA, USA

problem #12

Feb 142020

RAV4

  • 75,000 miles
Rear hatch motor failed. Hatch will not open. Toyota admits fault/defect, but refuses to cover costs associated with fixing it.

- Gonzales, LA, USA

problem #11

Dec 042019

RAV4

  • 6,145 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Ville Platte, LA, USA

problem #10

Dec 182019

RAV4

  • miles
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. I drive and work out of my car six days a week.

- Perry, OH, USA

problem #9

Jul 272019

RAV4

  • 47,000 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.

- Hutchinson, KS, USA

problem #8

Aug 202016

RAV4

  • 1,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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. The vehicle was taken to gettel Toyota of lakewood (941-567-1080, located at 5959 E. state rd 64, bradenton, fl 34208) where it was determined that the vehicle was performing as designed. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and did not assist. The failure was not remedied. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #7

Aug 182016

RAV4 4-cyl

  • miles
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.

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #6

Jan 162018

RAV4

  • 7,400 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. I was not able to put on hazards until about 15 seconds later of trying to get the power back on did the car start up. Within that time a driver behind me decided to hit me in the rear. On restart the car didn't show the fault but upon looking up the battery critical charging failure it states to not drive the car and to immediately take it to a shop. The shop cannot find the code due to it being wiped making solving the issue even more difficult.

- Brookline, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 252017

RAV4

  • 12,200 miles
This occurred a few weeks after issue # 11022546 occurred and seems to be a related electrical problem. While waiting for a red traffic light to turn green, (this time) the engine did not stop but the dashboard display and radio screen went completely black and after about 5-10 seconds all power returned to dash and radio.

- Whitestone, NY, USA

problem #4

Sep 102017

RAV4

  • 12,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While waiting for red light on a local street (the engine was running but in a stopped foot on the brake position) the engine shut down and dashboard display message appeared stating "charging system failure".

- Whitestone, NY, USA

problem #3

Nov 072016

RAV4

  • 200 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact struck a curb while driving and all the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the electrical system was no longer in alignment. The vehicle could not be repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was confirmed that the electrical system needed to be updated and realigned. The vehicle was repaired; however, the dealer stated that there were additional failures that were not disclosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200. The VIN was not provided.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #2

Aug 312016

RAV4

  • miles
My 2016 Toyota rav 4 check engine light came on.. I took it in for service and the mechanic said that a rodent chewed the wires and that the entire engine wire harness needs to be replaced for 2080. Also that the warranty doesn't cover it even though it's only 7 months old and they know it's do to faulty wires or using soy products.

- Glenside, PA, USA

problem #1

Apr 182016

RAV4

  • 500 miles
Toyota Rav4 limited-at all times of incidences this vehicle was in motion. Safety issue!!! 1. I purchased the vehicle March 26, 2016, to commute to new job. 2. highway-warning 1 on apx 4/4 Monday (9 days after purchase) "check Toyota park assist have vehicle checked by a dealer" the cause was snow on sensors....since we are in Montana there will be snow on sensors at least 8 months a year. 4. highway-warning 2 on apx 4/18/16 "AWD system malffunction 2 wheeldrive mode engaged dealer said loose gas cap caused this. 5. hiway-apx 4/12/16-4/14/16 I was passing a double car hauler. The car hauler was going about 50-60 on incline around a corner. I was going 80 (speed limit) with 2 vehicles behind me at the same speed. We were all passing the car hauler. All of a sudden warning sounds in front of car went off and car braked to almost an immediate stop then alarms in back of cars were going off because the cars behind me were coming up on my rear. I pressed the gas and the brake and nothing, turned the wheel toward left and car started to go. I am fearful of this vehicle. I am a widow and am afraid to put my children in it. I parked the car after this incident and contacted Toyota manufacturer. They rejected repurchase. I had been in constant contact with dealer (over 20 logged calls and almost 100 texts) they offered to trade vehicle at $28K for a vehicle that was 2 weeks old. I owed $34K on it. That is a loss of $6000 in 2 weeks on a vehicle with safety issues. The car had 63 miles on it when I drove it off the lot, I drove from dealership to home which was 225+ miles. Then I commuted from home to new job from (80 miles each way to work) from March 28-April 18=16 work days and 1 or 2 overtime days/visit friends (3,168 miles) I am at about 3,300 miles now.

- Helena, MT, USA

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