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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 1 of 2)

problem #34

Jun 072024

RAV4

  • miles

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

Battery recall and Toyota on 6/7/2024 stated that the battery issues is unrelated to the recall and they cannot do anything. I was refused service a few months back for this recall.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #33

May 292024

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the dealer would contact him. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Port Ewen, NY, USA

problem #32

May 302024

RAV4

  • 99,388 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and driving over a bump in the roadway, the steering wheel seized, and the information system rebooted. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 99,388.

- Antioch, TN, USA

problem #31

Feb 152024

RAV4

  • 42,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while inspecting the engine compartment, he observed abnormal corrosion on the battery terminals. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 42,000.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

problem #30

Nov 012023

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota RAV4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed the parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #29

Jan 162024

RAV4

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor on the interior of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle displayed a message reading "System Malfunction, " after which the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the VIN, but the VIN was not included. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Arlington, MA, USA

problem #28

Dec 262023

RAV4

  • miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V734000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Lansing, MI, USA

problem #27

Nov 082023

RAV4

  • miles
While exiting slowly from the parking lot, the Toyota started to make a beeping alarm noise, then suddenly lurched forward. Applying the brake had no effect, and the car accelerated across the LRT tracks, climbed onto the passenger platform, and only stopped when it collided with an electrical box there.

- Lynbrook, NY, USA

problem #26

Nov 022023

RAV4

  • miles
Notified of a battery movement problem that can cause a fire with Toyota RAV4 2016. Need to have it fixed. Thank you.

- Linden, NJ, USA

problem #25

Oct 252023

RAV4

  • miles
On two occasions as of this date, the engine just shut off while driving my 2016 Toyota RAV 4 XLW AWD. My daughter was able to get to the side of the road when it happened while she was driving thankfully (in a 25 or 30MPH zone). Additionally, at times the vehicle won't start when sitting parked and operating the push to start. It takes several tries, the vehicle just makes a clicking noise. After a short time, it starts up like nothing happened. I took the vehicle into a Toyota dealer and explained the issue. They said they found nothing wrong. There is seriously something wrong with this vehicle and no one seems to be able to figure it out...until someone dies. I've read several similar issues on this site that included incidents with fire and smoke. There needs to be a recall. Now! Or, a class action suit. Now!

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #24

Jan 132023

RAV4

  • miles

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

I took my car to Toyota for multiple issues with my electrical. My headlights go out every 5-10 minutes when trying to drive at dark. The headlights turn off or do not work if I try to use my blinker or windshield wipers. Three times now my car has stalled when I tried to turn on my headlights while driving. And one time it stalled when I went to make a left turn. Toyota ran a diagnostic and said everything was fine. I took it to autozone, they said the battery was fine. A third opinion and a new battery later and I-??m still having the same problems. No one can tell me what-??s wrong.

- Buffalo, NY, USA

problem #23

Dec 042022

RAV4

  • miles
The car rapidly caught on fire while parked and off. Smoke first appeared from the hood and subsequently flames came out of the hood causing the entire car to catch in fire. There were no warning lights/messages. The car was inspected by our insurance, USAA

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #22

Sep 012022

RAV4

  • miles
While my wife was driving the car it suddenly shutoff. She was in the middle of a turn and was able to get to the side of the road. I few moments later she saw what she assumed was steam coming from under the hood and she immediately got out of the car. Within a minute of getting out of the car she saw flames dripping down from the engine. She called the fire department who put the flames out, but the car is most likely totaled. The fire department told her it looked like the battery exploded. I want to make sure you are aware of this as I see you have had other complaints.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #21

Mar 082022

RAV4

  • miles
I was driving from Ft Myers to Tallahassee on I-have 75 in Florida on March 8, 2022. All of a sudden, I heard the Lane Departure Assist go off in my car (which I had previously turned off because the alert is annoying) and my phone stopped working (it was plugged into a USB port in the car playing a podcast). A few minutes later, I stopped at a rest area and noticed my trip odometers had reset and a bunch of other settings I had previously set in my car had also reset back to factory settings, such as the cruise control settings, blind spot monitor, and parking assist. There might be more...I just haven't noticed those yet. When I got back home, I saw an envelope from Toyota titled, "12-Volt Battery Size and Installation Inspection Consumer Advisory." I did get my battery replaced in Winter 2020 by a non-Toyota dealer so now I'm wondering if that has anything to do with this Consumer Advisory.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #20

Sep 092021

RAV4

  • miles
- I believe the ECM has failed, and I believe this after replacing battery, starter, spark plugs, and spark plug wires. While accelerating, and while maintaining a consistent speed over 50 mph, the tachometer (and engine, accordingly) yanks itself back and forth between 3500 and 5500 rpm. The vehicle physically jumps back and forth between massive acceleration and decceleration, without any change in throttle/pedal placement. This occurs while in Cruise Control, Eco Mode, Normal Mode, and Sport Mode. There is not yet a discernable pattern or trigger identified in why this occurs. - My safety and the safety of others has been put at risk by the vehicle's jerking, halting, and unplanned acceleration in heavy traffic situations. It scares me and others in traffic, to the point that people have asked if I was okay after being able to visibly notice the car's behavior on the highway, and my reaction. - The problem has been reproduced twice by an independent service center. Toyota Dealership read the computer for the vehicle to pull codes, told me nothing was wrong, and sent me away. - The vehicle has been inspected by my local Toyota dealership (lackluster inspection, in my opinion). Nothing resulted from this inspection. - There were (and still are) NO warnings lamps, messages, reminders, codes, or notifications of any kind to show that something is abnormal in my engine. This is the most vexing part of this issue. As far as the computer in the Rav4 is concerned, everything is nearly perfect. and it IS NOT.

- Marietta, GA, USA

problem #19

May 042021

RAV4

  • 102,000 miles
Our 2016 Rav4 produced a loud clunk then lost power (after being drive 5-10 minutes) and came to a complete stop. The engine would not turn over nor the car power come back on. White smoke began within 30 seconds of losing power and within one minute flames began shooting out under the driver's side upper hood.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #18

Apr 222021

RAV4

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that while her husband was stopped at a traffic light, he started smelling an abnormal burning odor before flames started coming up from under the dashboard and out of the driver's and passenger's side vents. The driver pulled over and started pouring water from a cooler onto the fire to try to extinguish the flames however, the flames reignited. Another motorist pulled over to assist and disconnected the battery. A business owner also stopped by, and extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. The fire department arrived however, the fire was already extinguished. A police report was filed. The driver stated that a fire report was not filed. The contact stated that the dashboard was destroyed. The driver sustained burns on both hands however, medical attention was not sought. The driver contacted fiesta Kia (7400 lomas blvd ne, albuquerque, nm 87110, (505)999-2700) where the vehicle had been purchased only 22 days earlier. The dealer arrived at the scene and the vehicle was towed to the dealer where it remained still unrepaired. The insurance provider was contacted and informed the driver that a fire investigator would be sent out to inspect the vehicle, which was still pending. The vehicle was not repaired. The insurance provider had not yet decided whether or not the vehicle was a total loss. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 52,000.

- Rancho, NM, USA

problem #17

Jul 012019

RAV4

  • 39,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the key fob failed to start the vehcile. Additionally, the rear brake lights were filled with water and were inoperable. The contact called nyc motorcars of the bronx (3748 boston rd, the bronx, NY 10469, (347) 966-4272) however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000.

- The Bronx, NY, USA

problem #16

Mar 052021

RAV4

  • 63,500 miles
The navigation displays, radio and all equipment that uses it quits and shuts down and will go off and on 3-8 times and then it seems to be ok. I was driving the vehicle down the highway when it happens. This has happen many times.

- Norton, VT, USA

problem #15

Feb 092021

RAV4

  • 85,000 miles
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

- Lakewood, NJ, USA

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