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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,281 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Toyota RAV4 Owner Comments

problem #12

Aug 082023

RAV4

  • miles

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

I was parking the car in a gravel parking lot. When I pressed the brakes and shifted into park it instead accelerated and went over the side of an enbankment. I could not stop it even though my foot was pressing hard on the brake. Luckily there was no other person or property affected by the error and my car did not suffer external damage. It damaged a sensor on the bottom side of the car which had to be replaced. There was no indication of any problems beforehand. My mechanic did an extensive review of the car and could not find anything that would have explained the unintended acceleration.

- Solon, OH, USA

problem #11

Nov 272022

RAV4

  • miles
While changing the lane towards right, suddenly my vehicle over accelerated and was about to crash the vehicle ahead of me and quickly I decided to maneuver towards the right shoulder lane and within few seconds and speedy semi-truck passed from the left and saved our lives of 4 people in the car in the busy highway approaching the O'hare Chicago Airport. Safety: Had I not taken towards right to avoid crash on anther vehicle, the high speed truck from the back would have hit us within a few seconds of my alertness. Yes, during Feb.2019, due to excess acceleration, this car crashed towards thick ice and snow while driving through a street, and damaged front bumper.(my wife was seated at passenger side) Called the dealer and took the vehicle to them(Wilde Toyota-West allis), they knew the seriousness, serviced it in their workshop for over a week by changing timing belt, re-programming etc..etc. and returned back my car and said now it should work, it is okay as it should be. Yes, my vehicle was inspected twice by Insurance company, Toyota officials for airbag inspection, workshop mechanics, due to major road accidents (for not my fault) in Oct.2019 and Jan.2020 and repaired at another auto body service center in Milwaukee(Andrew Toyota) and in Madison(Ballbody-A division of Smart Motors). There was no warning signs in the Vehicle as the car runs very well on both highway and city roads.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #10

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 #9

Mar 242021

RAV4

  • 58,000 miles

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

I was in a parking lot when I started my car and put it in reverse. With my foot on the brake the car reed with the tachometer reaching three. It was difficult to keep the car from jumping backward. This is not the first time this has happened. I had the car checked out on April 19, 2012. At that time I was told that I must have hit the bake and gas at the same time. Then I was told that the car computer has to learn the way I drive. I am scared to drive my car now because I don't know when this will happen again. I am through being insulted.

- Peabody, MA, USA

problem #8

Mar 302019

RAV4

  • 36,100 miles
2016 Toyota Rav4 was stopped at red light and suddenly accelerated at high RPM causing the vehicle to lung forward. Holding the brake pedal hard did not keep the vehicle from going forward. There was no traffic at the time, was stopped at a red light with brake engaged, at intersection on US17, jacksonville, fl. Very serious safety discrepancy that has potential to cause severe accident and or fatality.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #7

Oct 072018

RAV4

  • 43,744 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. After the vehicle was started and the gear shifter was placed in drive, the vehicle independently accelerated. The contact was able to slow the vehicle down without a crash. On a separate occasion, while driving 45 mph, the vehicle accelerated to 55 mph. The contact was able to stop the vehicle again. The contact stated that the vehicle then idled at an extremely high RPM. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. City Toyota (255 san pedro rd, daly city, ca 94014, (650) 204-8135) was contacted and stated that the service manager would give the contact a call back. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1810082932. The approximate failure mileage was 43,744.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #6

Oct 182017

RAV4

  • 26,000 miles

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

Passenger front wheel sensor harness was damaged by rodent. Vehicle has 26K miles and Toyota refused to repair the break, and would only replace the entire harness at a cost not covered of $6300. The material change of these parts attract rats. This damaged cause ABS, lane departure, blind spot monitoring and cruise control systems to fail. The vehicle was parked in my driveway and I live in a gate community. I called the Toyota customer line and was given the same explanation of the lack of warranty coverage. Case #1710230814

- Marana, AZ, USA

problem #5

Mar 272017

RAV4

  • 5 miles
The rav 4 has an aggressive idle speed which cause the car to "creep" forward when stopped. If excess force isn't applied to the brake, the car will move forward at stop lights etc. I initially reported the problem to Toyota of vacaville ca. On 8/25/216. I had rented a Toyota corolla while the dealership investigated the problem along with routine maintenance. The report came back that the car operated normally. I then asked to do a "test drive" with the chief mechanic. We went out in the corolla first to a flat level location in the parking lot. After stopping the car I released the brake to demonstrate how docile the car reacted when the brake was released. We then got into my rav 4 and returned to the same location. I repeated the process and noted with the mechanic how much more aggressive the rav reacted when the brake was released. My assumption is that the idle is set too high which causes this problem of "creeping" while stopped. The mechanic agreed that it appeared more aggressive but wanted to do further testing, so on 8/28/2017 I returned the car to the dealership. The mechanic test drove another rav 4 and did a time test on how fast it went from point a to point B. he repeated the process with my car. His report stated that both rav 's performed the same. Unsatisfied with the testing done at the dealership I called Toyota customer care on 8/30/207 and stated my concern. I was told that the dealership could not adjust the idle on the car because that's the way the car was designed and to change it would void the warranty. So Toyota engineered into the rav 4 a problematic idle speed? I feel this is a safety issue and one day I will rear end someone. I have owned over 30 Toyota during my life, rented hundreds of cars during my career and have never had a car respond the way this rav 4 does.

- Napa, CA, USA

problem #4

Dec 142016

RAV4

  • 1,025 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated while in park on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but the failure was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,025.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #3

Apr 182016

RAV4

  • 500 miles
Toyota Rav4 limited-at all times of incidences this vehicle was in motion. Safety issue!!! 1. I purchased the vehicle March 26, 2016, to commute to new job. 2. highway-warning 1 on apx 4/4 Monday (9 days after purchase) "check Toyota park assist have vehicle checked by a dealer" the cause was snow on sensors....since we are in Montana there will be snow on sensors at least 8 months a year. 4. highway-warning 2 on apx 4/18/16 "AWD system malffunction 2 wheeldrive mode engaged dealer said loose gas cap caused this. 5. hiway-apx 4/12/16-4/14/16 I was passing a double car hauler. The car hauler was going about 50-60 on incline around a corner. I was going 80 (speed limit) with 2 vehicles behind me at the same speed. We were all passing the car hauler. All of a sudden warning sounds in front of car went off and car braked to almost an immediate stop then alarms in back of cars were going off because the cars behind me were coming up on my rear. I pressed the gas and the brake and nothing, turned the wheel toward left and car started to go. I am fearful of this vehicle. I am a widow and am afraid to put my children in it. I parked the car after this incident and contacted Toyota manufacturer. They rejected repurchase. I had been in constant contact with dealer (over 20 logged calls and almost 100 texts) they offered to trade vehicle at $28K for a vehicle that was 2 weeks old. I owed $34K on it. That is a loss of $6000 in 2 weeks on a vehicle with safety issues. The car had 63 miles on it when I drove it off the lot, I drove from dealership to home which was 225+ miles. Then I commuted from home to new job from (80 miles each way to work) from March 28-April 18=16 work days and 1 or 2 overtime days/visit friends (3,168 miles) I am at about 3,300 miles now.

- Helena, MT, USA

problem #2

Apr 232016

RAV4

  • 2,500 miles
The cruise control on my 2016 Rav4 le AWD with 6 speed automatic transmission is very erratic. At highway speed (60-70 mph) it is fine on a flat road, but at the slightest incline will downshift to fifth, then slam into fourth gear with the engine rpms going up to over 4000. It will then either stay downshifted or constantly shift up and down until I am well over the top of the hill. The dealer said they all do that, so it's normal. I've stopped using the cruise because I'm concerned about possible engine and transmission damage from the harsh shifting and high rpms, but it also is very distracting to the driver which makes it a safety issue. I've complained to "ask Toyota" customer service twice. They just say they'll pass along my complaint to the proper department.

- Omaha, NE, USA

problem #1

Apr 012016

RAV4

  • 3,500 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Toyota Rav4. The vehicle accelerated forward while the contact's father was gently depressing the brake pedal. The contact's father depressed the brake pedal all the way down, but the vehicle continued to accelerate and struck a gate. The contact stated that her father had to remove the key from the ignition in order to stop the vehicle. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed, but no failure was detected. The front bumper was damaged. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 3,500.

- Taylor, MI, USA

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