2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#4 most-complained of 10 RAV4 Hybrid years
The 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has a complaint index of 67 and ranks 4th worst out of 10 model years, earning a Caution rating. Brakes and Structure & Body are the top problem areas, each with 4 complaints and 24% share, and no recalls have been issued.
- Complaints
- 17
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes / fires
- 4 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 32
- 34 city / 30 hwy
Top 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other5 (29%)
- Brakes4 (24%)
- Structure & Body4 (24%)
- Engine3 (18%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (18%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (12%)
- Electrical System1 (6%)
- Fuel System1 (6%)
- Steering1 (6%)
What owners report
- Owners report brakes suddenly failing to stop the vehicle at low parking-lot speeds, with the pedal going to the floor and no braking power.
- Some describe the vehicle lurching or surging forward or backward unexpectedly while parking on an incline, leading to a crash into a wall.
- Owners report the engine surging and the steering wheel shaking side-to-side during first startup of the day, an intermittent issue that could not be reproduced for the dealer.
- Several owners describe chrome or reflective trim on the dashboard creating a blinding glare in the driver's eyes in sunny conditions, reducing visibility.
- One owner reported the fuel gauge and range estimate dropping much faster than expected, forcing an unplanned refueling stop.
2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 34 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 32 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,050
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2016 compared with other RAV4 Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid a complaint index of 67, the 4th worst of 10 model years tracked, resulting in a Caution verdict. It has no recalls, but brake and body-related complaints stand out.
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid?
- Brakes and Structure & Body complaints are tied for the top problem area, each accounting for 24% of complaints, followed by Engine and Visibility & Wipers issues at 18% each.
- Does the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid, compared to other years like 2020 and 2022 which each had multiple recalls.
- How does the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid compare to other years?
- The 2016 model's complaint index of 67 is worse than 2017 (44, Good), 2018 (56, Caution), 2020 (22, Best), and 2022 (11, Best), but better than 2019, 2021, and 2025, all rated Avoid.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid?
- EPA rates the 2016 RAV4 Hybrid at 32 mpg combined (34 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050.