YearToAvoid

2016 Toyota RAV4 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 47 brake complaints for the 2016 Toyota RAV4, 20% of all 240 complaints filed for the model year. Median mileage at failure is 21,500. A related recall (16V198000) covers the brake actuator on vehicles built October 30, 2015 to February 3, 2016.

Brakes complaints
47
20% of 240
Crashes reported
15
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
11
Median mileage
21,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal traveling to the floor with no stopping power at highway speeds around 40 to 65 mph.
  • Some describe the pedal being depressed but the vehicle failing to slow at all before striking another vehicle or object.
  • Several incidents happened while braking to stop or park at low speed, with the vehicle continuing forward into a wall, pillar, or curb.
  • Owners report pumping the brake pedal multiple times without regaining response before a crash occurred.
  • A few complaints describe sudden brake failure combined with a TPMS warning light illuminating just before the incident.

When 2016 Toyota RAV4 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 8, 2016, latest Dec 14, 2024.

2016 Toyota RAV4 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2016Dec 2016Jun 2017Feb 2018May 2019Jan 2020Nov 2021Jun 2024
47 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2016 to Dec 2024; peak Jun 2017 (5).

Brakes recalls for the 2016 Toyota RAV4

  1. NHTSA 16V198000Apr 7, 2016Brakes16,656 vehicles

    Electronic stability control (esc)

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota RAV4 vehicles manufactured October 30, 2015, to February 3, 2016, 2016 Lexus RX350 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2015, to February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

    Risk: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake actuator, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 4, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.

Brakes complaints by RAV4 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201039 (10%)
  2. 201154 (19%)
  3. 201244 (17%)
  4. 201325 (10%)
  5. 201418 (9%)
  6. 201533 (11%)
  7. 201647 (20%)
  8. 201739 (13%)
  9. 201831 (9%)
  10. 201938 (4%)
  11. 202020 (3%)
  12. 202121 (5%)
  13. 20228 (6%)
  14. 202317 (11%)
  15. 202416 (9%)
  16. 20257 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
NHTSA lists 47 brake complaints for the 2016 RAV4, which is 20% of all 240 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
Yes. Recall 16V198000 covers the brake actuator on 2016 RAV4 vehicles built between October 30, 2015 and February 3, 2016. Dealers inspect the actuator and replace it free of charge if needed.
At what mileage do 2016 RAV4 brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 21,500 miles.
Have the 2016 RAV4 brake problems caused crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data tied to these brake complaints shows 15 crashes and 11 injuries, with no fires reported.
Is the 2016 RAV4 worse for brake complaints than other RAV4 years?
Among RAV4 model years listed, 2016 has the highest share of complaints tied to brakes at 20%, compared to 19% for 2011 and 17% for 2012.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.