The brand Toyota is almost synonymous with reliability and people prefer the brand for that sole reason. The Toyota RAV4 is a key player in the compact SUV segment and Toyota has sold over 350,000 units of the 2016 RAV4, which is indeed a massive number. This by itself validates the fact that this is a reliable vehicle but what further strengthens that point is the fact that its gets just 179 complaints and 2 recalls, which are extremely low for a vehicle that was sold in a large number. The 2016 RAV4 is up against the Ford Escape, the Honda CR-V, and the Mazda CX-5.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Battery – The car was said to reset all its electronics back to factory setting due to a battery issue and there were cases where the users smelt something burning in the cabin right before they noticed fire coming from both the front AC vents. This burnt the car completely and the dealers could not identify the source of the issue but NHTSA has opened an investigation and suspects the positive terminal on the 12-volts battery that is causing an electrical shorting on its hold-down frame.
- Rear hatch – The tailgate motor stopped working, leaving the users not able open the hatch to load cargo. Toyota has admitted to being aware of the faulty motor but hasn’t initiated any fix or recall.
- Wiring harness – Users faced the warning light flickering and other electrical functions malfunctioning. Upon checking, it was found that the wiring harness was chewed by rodents as it was soy-based and the dealers stated that this damage can’t be claimed using the warranty.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The users faced a hesitation while driving and the engine stalled while at a red signal. Getting the car started again was difficult and some users also stated that the gas pedal wasn’t responsive at times. The dealers were able to find an issue in the engine timing that was caused by an ECU error.
- Powertrain – The User was driving the car when he noticed a shudder that later stalled the car. The engine didn’t fire back up and the dealer had to conduct a diagnosis that revealed a broken torque converter that had to be replaced. A few users also reported hearing a whining noise when trying to accelerate which the dealers stated could be due to low transmission fluid which was lost due to a leak from a missing bolt.
- Brakes – Users stated the brakes behave weird at times. Most of the time, the pedal feels normal but suddenly becomes hard to apply. Dealers found the vacuum hose to be damaged and replacing it solved the issue.
- Steering – The steering wheel tends to lock at times while driving and this increases the risk of losing control and causing an accident. Dealers suggested replacing the steering column as the one in the car had a defect from the manufacturer.
Safety Problems
- Airbags – There were multiple head-on collisions where the airbag was reported to not deploy, causing injuries to the occupant. Dealers confirmed that the airbag control unit had to be replaced due to moisture damage.
Exterior Problems
- Taillights – Bothe the taillights were seen to have condensation forming inside which has managed to damage the bulbs and also disturbs the light intensity.
- Sunroof – The sunroof was reported to shatter randomly without any contact.
Interior Problems
- Seat – The driver seat cushion fabric was found to fray too soon and this was happening due to the use of poor quality material.
2016 Toyota RAV4 recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
22nd April 2016 |
16V236000 |
Incorrect load carrying capacity label |
Unintentional overloading of the vehicle may lead to losing out driving stability. |
Dealers will provide the corrected label. |
|
2. |
17th April 2016 |
16V198000 |
Brake actuator may have a damaged O-Ring. |
Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control. |
The brake actuator will be replaced. |
Should you buy the 2016 Toyota RAV4?
It’s a big fat yes to that question as there really aren’t any major flaws or drawbacks with the 2016 Toyota RAV4 and this SUV manages to provide all that customer looks for in this segment for a reasonable price. NHTSA however has an investigation going on regarding a fire that is suspected to be a shorting. Nonetheless, the number of affected cars is super low and it shouldn’t be a reason to avoid the RAV4. Brakes are something that people have had issues with, hence we would ask you to give the brakes a check before signing the cheque.
