SUV, hybrid, 4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4, built in Japan. Owner complaints on file from Mar 24, 2016 to Sep 17, 2026.
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
17 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint 11764963TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHROME TRIM ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIEW OF THE FRONT SIDE MIRRORS WERE OBSTRUCTED BY A SHINY GLARE THAT CREATED A BLINDING EFFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LACK OF VISIBILITY BECAME MORE PROMINENT AND PERSISTENT IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR WHEN THE SUN WAS PRESENT. STEVINSON TOYOTA WEST (780 DENVER WEST COLORADO MILLS BLVD, LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80401, (720) 259-2544) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN INDEPENDENT BODY REPAIR SHOP. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING A FABRIC MASKING TAPE TO THE CHROME TRIM OF THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36.
NHTSA complaint 11151708I FILLED MY CAR WITH FULL TANK I AM ONLY RUNNING MY CAR JUST GAVE ME 248 MILES THE FUEL TANK LIGHT WAS FLASHED .AND THE CAR SUPPOSED TO GO FOR 339 OR 349 MILES WITH FULL TANK I WANT TO DOWNTOWN MIAMI FROM TAMPA I WAS SUPPOSED TO STOP TO FULL IT AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint 11092038TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 HV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES IN SUNNY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERMAIN TOYOTA OF NAPLES (13315 TAMIAMI TRAIL N, NAPLES, FL 34110 (888) 722-4942) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONTACT HAVE THE WINDOWS TINTED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE TINT, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 11/02/17*LJ *TR
NHTSA complaint 11015733I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING DECK. AS I TURNED INTO THE SPOT I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULDN'T SLOW OR STOP. THERE WAS NO BRAKING POWER WHATSOEVER. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE WALL.
NHTSA complaint 10934892AUTOMATIC TRUNK LIFT GATE PISTON HAS NOT WORKED SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR BRAND NEW WITH 32 MILES ON IT IN MARCH 2016. THE PISTON WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED 200 MILES INTO DRIVING THE CAR. PISTON HAS REPEATEDLY FALLEN OFF OF JOINT AND HAS CAUSED EXTENSIVE BODY DAMAGE MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND AND CAUSED VERY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRUNK AND ROOF OF THE CAR AND THE TRUNK IS UNABLE TO BE SHUT. CAR IS OUT OF SERVICE CURRENTLY AND THE TRUNK HAD TO BE BUNGEED TO ANOTHER PART OF THE CAR IN ORDER TO DRIVE IT TO A NEARBY DEALER WHICH WAS A 30 MILE DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT SHUT AND IT WAS OPEN THE ENTIRE DRIVE. I HAVE 2 YOUNG CHILDREN IN CAR SEATS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE PUTTING THEM IN THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAULTY AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10928978MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN SHE WAS BACKING OUT WHEN MY CAR SURGED BACKWARD INTO A TREE THAT PREVENTED HER FROM GOING DOWN A REVENE ON A MOUNTAIN. THERE IS DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER, REAR DOOR, UNDERCARRAGE, AND STRUCTURAL. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10916854I WAS PARKING MY VEHICLE IN A PARKING SPACE (ON AN INCLINE) WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD JUMPED A RAISED SIDEWALK AND CAME TO A STOP AFTER HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL OF A BUILDING. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED AT THE PURCHASING DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG.
NHTSA complaint 10916849WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR THE LAST WEEK OF JUNE 2016, MY 2016 RAV4 SLE HYBRID CENTER CONSOLE DECK LID SLAM TO CLOSE THERE IS NO SPRING TO HOLD THE LID IN THE CONSOLE SO YOU CAN CLOSE IT NORMALLY, MY GRANKIDS (6 AND 5 YEARS OLD) CAN GET HURT IF THEY PUT THEIR FINGER, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THIS MODEL DOESN'T HAVE THE SPRING, THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR THE KIDS IF THEY OPEN THE LID AND LET IT GO COULD EASILY BREAK THEIR FINGERS,IT DOES NOT CLOSE LIKE A REGULAR OTHER CAR LID, MECHANICS CHECKED AND SHOW ME THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND ANOTHER TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID LIMITED 2016 THAT IT HAS THE SPRING BUT THE RAV4 SLE HYBRID 2016 NOT, SO PLEASE DO SOMETHING BEFORE ANY CHILD GET HURT AND THAT WILL BE VERY BAD THEY COULD LOSE A FINGER, WITH THE FORCE THAT THE LID CLOSES.
NHTSA complaint 10914914AS THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING INTO ITS USUAL PARKING SPOT AT SLOW SPEED WITH THE FOOT BRAKE BEING APPLIED, IT SUDDENLY AND UNCONTROLLABLY ACCELERATED. DESPITE THE FOOT BRAKE BEING FULLY APPLIED, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STOPPED UNTIL IT STRUCK AN UNMOVABLE OBJECT.
NHTSA complaint 10910676DURING THE FIRST STARTUP OF THE DAY (OR AFTER COOLED DOWN) THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES RAPIDLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE AND THE ENGINE SURGES ROCKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH. THE CAR IS IN PARK, AND MY FOOT HAS TO BE ON THE BRAKE TO START THE CAR, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING IN TRAFFIC WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. SO FAR IT'S AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I CAN'T REPRODUCE IT FOR THE DEALERSHIP. THE STEERING WHEEL CAN WOBBLE AT STARTUP WITHOUT THE ENGINE SURGING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I LEASED THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint 10903096THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM (PCS) DOES NOT WARN THAT THE CAR IS CLOSE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED. SINCE IT DOES NOT PROVIDE AN AUDIBLE, HOW CAN ONE BE SURE THAT THE PCS WILL STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE A COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint 10894701TOYOTA HAS INSTALLED A DECORATIVE SILVER TRIM ON THE 2016 RAV4 DASHBOARD FACING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THIS TRIM REFLECTS SUNLIGHT INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES AT CERTAIN ANGLES OF BRIGHT SUNLIGHT. THIS REFLECTION CAN APPEAR SUDDENLY WHEN MAKING A TURN OR EMERGING FROM A SHADOW. THIS REFLECTION CAN DISTRACT OR PARTIALLY BLIND A DRIVER, AND OVER TIME FATIGUE A DRIVER. ACCORDINGLY, I BELIEVE THIS DECORATIVE SILVER TRIM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS DISTRACTED, FATIGUED DRIVERS CAUSE ACCIDENTS. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD OFFER TO REPLACE THIS TRIM WITH A NON-REFLECTING MATERIAL. OTHER TOYOTA RAV4 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS FEATURE ON THE INTERNET (SEE RAV4WORLD.COM). I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS DESIGN FEATURE DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA CORPORATE. THEIR TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE ON 27 JULY. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER'S REPRESENTATIVE THAT TOYOTA CONCLUDED THIS IS THEIR STANDARD PART FOR 2016 RAV4 AND AS SUCH IS NOT DEFECTIVE. TOYOTA TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVES WOULD NOT MEET WITH ME OR ALLOW ME TO SEE HOW THEY EVALUATED THE SUN REFLECTION - IT WAS A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. THE DEALER SAID TOYOTA WOULD NOT PROVIDE THEIR WRITTEN EVALUATION DISCREDITING MY COMPLIANT. IN MY OPINION, TOYOTA TOOK THE EASY WAY OUT AS REPLACING THIS DECORATIVE TRIM IS INCONVENIENT FOR THEM. YOU CAN EVALUATE THIS ISSUE ON ANY 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, APPARENTLY AGREEING WITH ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM, HAS OFFERED TO DO AN UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATION TO THE VEHICLE AND HAVE THE REFLECTIVE STRIP REMOVED, REPAINTED BLACK AND REINSTALLED. THIS IS A LESS THAN IDEAL SOLUTION SINCE THE PAINT WILL NOT BOND WELL TO THE PLASTIC REFLECTIVE STRIP AND WILL WEAR OVER TIME. IN ADDITION, THIS DOES NOT FIX THE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHER RAV4S ON THE ROAD OR REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR AVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS.
NHTSA complaint 10889225I AM CITING A SAFETY DEFICIENCY ON 2016 TOYOTA RAV 4 HYBRID LTD, SOLD TO ME BY GREENTREE TOYOTA, DANBURY CT, ON APRIL 27, 2016. IT IS A REFLECTIVE AREA ATTACHED TO THE DASHBOARD, WHICH CAUSES A GLARE INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES WHEN THE VEHICLE DASHBOARD CATCHES THE SUN. THIS UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS GLARE IS MORE THAN AN ANNOYANCE BECAUSE IT REDUCES THE DRIVER'S ABILITY TO SEE WHEN THE GLARE OCCURS. I THEREFORE REQUEST AND DEMAND THAT IT BE CORRECTED ON MY VEHICLE PROMPTLY. TOYOTA DRIVERS WHO ARE AFFECTED BY THE REFLECTIVE SURFACE GLARE POSE A THREAT TO ALL VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. IT MUST BE DELETED FROM FURTHER PRODUCTION AS WELL. IF MY VEHICLE IS NOT PROMPTLY CORRECTED BY MAY 15, 2016, I SHALL SEEK TO HAVE IT DONE EXPERTLY AT MY EXPENSE AND BILL ALL THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint 10862372IN THE TOYOTA RAV 4 HYBRID, THE "POWER" (IGNITION" BUTTON IS ABOUT 2.25" FROM THE AC BUTTON. (SEE ATTACHED PHOTO). WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING LESS THAN 10 MPH YOU CAN PUSH THE BUTTON AND THE ENGINE WILL TURN OFF, STEERING WHEEL LOCK UP, AND THE CAR KEEPS ROLLING. THIS HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I WANTED TO TURN OFF THE AC, AND I ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE WRONG BUTTON (BECAUSE THEY WERE CLOSE TOGETHER), AND THE WHOLE ENGINE TURNED OFF, WHILE I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, THE STREETS WERE EMPTY SO NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS WOULD NOT BE AS MUCH OF AN ISSUE IF THE TWO BUTTONS WERE NOT CLOSE TOGETHER, BUT SINCE THEY ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER, THE IGNITION BUTTON SHOULD NOT TURN OFF SO EASILY, TURNING OFF WITH A PUSH WITHOUT A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IN DRIVE AND WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE ON. I TESTED IT OUT WHILE IN REVERSE AND BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK, AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF AND THE CAR KEPT GOING. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BUT I THINK IT IS STILL DANGEROUS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY SAID THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. THEY CLAIM, "IF YOU HOLD THE POWER BUTTON FOR A NUMBER OF SECONDS WHILE DRIVING IT WILL TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THIS TECHNIQUE MAY SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE AS A VERY LAST RESORT IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION IF ALL OTHER EFFORTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE FAIL." THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I DID NOT HAVE TO HOLD THE BUTTON DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND IT TURNED OFF. I MERELY PUSHED IT, AS I WOULD TO TURN OFF THE AC, AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. MAYBE AT HIGHER SPEEDS YOU NEED TO HOLD IT DOWN FOR A WHILE, BUT AT LOW SPEEDS A LIGHT PUSH CAN SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN.
NHTSA complaint 10855336THE LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM SHOWS AS "OFF" IN THE STATUS SCREEN HOWEVER IT IS TURNED "ON" IN THE MENU. IT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND RESPONSIVE, SO I KNOW HOW IT WORKS. \ HOWEVER, SINCE YESTERDAY, WHEN IT SNOWED, I RECEIVED AN ERROR ABOUT PARKING ASSIST NOT WORKING - IT WAS ASSUMED THIS HAPPENED WHEN SNOW BUILT UP ON THE SENSORS, AND AT ONE POINT IT ACTUALLY SAID THAT, WHEN I PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT SAW SNOWFLAKES. THAT PROBLEM CLEARED, AND THAT WAS THAT. BUT OUT OF THE BLUE, THE LDA SAYS OFF, EVEN THOUGH TURNED ON, AND DID NOTHING TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WEIRD, I ONLY KNEW THIS AS I WAS PAGING THROUGH THE SCREEN CHOICES IN THE SMALL SCREEN BETWEEN SPEEDO AND QUASI-TACH, SEEING IT WAS "OFF" EVEN THOUGH IT WAS TUREND ON...NO WARNING IT WASN'T WORKING. AND I KNOW IT ISN'T WORKING AS I TRIED TO CROSS THE LANE MARKING AND NOTHING HAPPENED.
NHTSA complaint 10854672IN FULL SUN CONDITIONS, INFORMATION SCREEN IS WASHED-OUT. TRIED CONTRAST ADJUSTMENT WITH NO SUCCESS. FRONT - SIDE WINDOWS ARE TINTED AS ALLOWED BY ARIZONA VEHICLE CODE.
NHTSA complaint 10851318Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.