Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid problems

Owners filed 17 complaints about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid with NHTSA between Mar 2016 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is structure (4).

Complaints
17
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure4
  2. Service brakes4
  3. Visibility/wiper3
  4. Engine2
  5. Tires1
  6. Fuel/propulsion system1
  7. Electrical system1
  8. Suspension1
  9. Vehicle speed control1
  10. Steering1
  11. Other / unknown5

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
201613
20171
20182
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Structure

4 reports2 crashes
“TL* 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2018StructureODI 11151708

Service brakes

4 reports4 crashes
“I 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2016Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10934892

Visibility/wiper

3 reports
“TL* 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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2017Electrical system, Visibility/wiperODI 11015733

Engine

2 reports
“DURING 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2016Steering, EngineODI 10903096

Tires

1 report
“See attached document for complaint.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2026TiresODI 11764963

Fuel/propulsion system

1 report
“I 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2018Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11092038
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.