VehicleVerdict

2016 Toyota RAV4 engine problems

The 2016 Toyota RAV4 has 24 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 8% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

24

Engine complaints

8%

Share of year

3

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

RAV4 engine complaints by model year237 complaints1994: 1 complaints1996: 6 complaints1997: 13 complaints1998: 6 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 2 complaints2001: 37 complaints2002: 63 complaints2003: 47 complaints2004: 30 complaints2005: 15 complaints2006: 151 complaints2007: 237 complaints2008: 162 complaints2009: 35 complaints2010: 31 complaints2011: 36 complaints2012: 24 complaints2013: 31 complaints2014: 31 complaints2015: 37 complaints2016: 24 complaints2017: 33 complaints2018: 34 complaints2019: 211 complaints2020: 194 complaints2021: 36 complaints2022: 25 complaints2023: 23 complaints2024: 37 complaints2025: 9 complaints
RAV4 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“OUR 2016 RAV4 PRODUCED A LOUD CLUNK THEN LOST POWER (AFTER BEING DRIVE 5-10 MINUTES) AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER NOR THE CAR POWER COME BACK ON. WHITE SMOKE BEGAN WITHIN 30 SECONDS OF LOSING POWER AND WITHIN ONE MINUTE FLAMES BEGAN SHOOTING OUT UNDER THE DRIVER'S…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · May 4, 2021 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 2016 Toyota RAV4 have?

NHTSA has 24 complaints about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 engine — 8% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.