The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is a SUV that came with a 2.5L 4-cyl engine. At 10 years old, many are reaching the point where repairs cost more than the car is worth. Running or not, we'll make you an offer and tow it away for free.
| Body style | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|
| Engines | 2.5L 4-cyl |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S6), Automatic (AV-S6) |
| Drive | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
| Fuel economy | 22–34 city / 28–30 highway / 24–32 combined MPG |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,100–$2,800 a year (EPA estimate at current fuel prices, 15,000 miles) |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 274–362 grams per mile |
| EPA fuel economy score | 6–8 out of 10 |
| EPA greenhouse gas score | 6–8 out of 10 |
| Curb weight (NHTSA test vehicle) | 3,597 lb |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 4,525–4,640 lb |
| Versions tested by EPA | 5 configurations: RAV4, RAV4 LE/XLE, RAV4 AWD, RAV4 Limited AWD/SE AWD, RAV4 Hybrid AWD |
| Age | 10 years |
Specs, fuel cost and emissions from the EPA's fueleconomy.gov data; weights from NHTSA crash-test records. Your car's exact equipment may differ.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls covering the 2016 Toyota RAV4. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles. Certain replacement 12-volt batteries may not fit properly in the battery tray, allowing the battery to move and contact the hold-down bracket, possibly causing a short circuit.
Risk: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2016 Toyota Yaris, Rav4, Land Cruiser and 4Runner vehicles, and Scion FR-S, iM, and TC vehicles manufactured January 28, 2016, to March 14, 2016. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories.…
Risk: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
Risk: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners have filed 257 complaints about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 with NHTSA. 37 reports involved a crash and 12 reports involved a fire. Owners reported 27 injuries.
Complaints are reports from owners and aren't verified by NHTSA. One complaint can list several components. Mileage is the median odometer reading owners reported for that component.
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Toyota RAV4, by version tested.
| Version | Overall | Frontal crash | Side crash | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suv, AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16.9% |
| Suv, FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 17.4% |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP). Ratings from different model years or rating systems aren't directly comparable.
Manufacturers have filed 257 technical service bulletins and communications with NHTSA covering the 2016 Toyota RAV4. These are repair instructions for known issues, not recalls.
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicab
Some 2005 - 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to r
21TG01 Exprired - Replaced with Campaign 23TA13 During a recent investigation of reported battery fires in 2013-2018 RAV4 vehicles with gasoline engines (excluding hybrid
Campaign expired - replaced with campaign 23ta13technical instructions for consumer advisory 21tg01 12-volt battery size and installation inspection certain 2013 - 2018 r
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this S
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins).
NHTSA opened 1 defect investigation covering the 2016 Toyota RAV4.
Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to understand the contributing factors and frequency of vehicle fires originating from the battery region of the engine compartment in Model Year (MY) 2013-2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles on 25 February 2021. At the time of opening, ODI attributed
It depends on its condition, whether major parts like the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still there, and current scrap and parts prices where you live. As a heavier vehicle, its scrap weight adds to the offer. Enter your ZIP code above for a free offer on your specific car.
Yes. We buy 2016 RAV4s that don't start, were in an accident, failed inspection or have a blown engine or transmission. Towing is always free.
Yes. Open recalls don't prevent a junk sale. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 Toyota RAV4; you can check whether any are still open on yours with the VIN lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Usually the title and a photo ID. Rules differ by state, including what to do with your plates and whether to file a notice of sale. Check our state-by-state car title guides for the official forms.
Data retrieved October 2026.
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