ToyotaRAV42016Overview/toyota/rav4/2016/base/

2016 Toyota RAV4

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 RAV4.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2016 Toyota RAV4 is an SUV equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission and EPA ratings of 23/29/25 mpg, and reliability data for this model year records 233 owner complaints and three recalls, with the electrical system standing as the top-cited complaint area. Set within the model’s 1994–2025 complaint history—a span that runs from one report in 1995 to 1,002 complaints for the 2007

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy23/29/25 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 55D23L · 355 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 55D23L · 355 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/65R17, P235/55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-7.0, 7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010V020 alt 1780137021
Fuel filter770240R010 alt 7702442070
Spark plug9091901233 alt 9091901259
Battery2880036071 alt 2880028102
Front wiper blades852120R050 alt 8522202280
Serpentine belt9091602721 alt 90916A2021
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 9091603136
Cabin air filter8713907020 alt 8713950100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length181.1 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height67.3 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3891 lb
Track (front / rear)61.8 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 29 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the RAV4 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.4–9.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.40 sec — 2016 XLE Hybrid
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016XLE Hybrid 2.5L I-4 + Elec 1.6-kWh7.40 sec15.80 sec194 hpAWD
2016XLE Hybrid 2.5L I-4 + Elec 1.6-kWh7.80 sec16.00 sec194 hpAWD
2016Limited Hybrid 2.5L I-4 + Elec 1.6-kWh8.20 sec16.30 sec194 hpAWD
2016Limited Hybrid 2.5L I-4 + Elec 1.6-kWh8.30 sec16.40 sec194 hpAWD
2016SE 2.5L I-48.40 sec16.70 sec176 hpAWD
2016SE 2.5L I-48.70 sec16.70 sec176 hpAWD
2016SE 2.5L I-49.30 sec17.00 sec176 hpFWD
2017SE 2.5L I-49.30 sec17.00 sec176 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.0
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE 75W · API · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil75W-85 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.1 qt
Engine CoolantHOAT

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts72 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts98.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts98.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 217.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 159.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)950-1050 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)720-820 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerToyota
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 (2) in
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing15 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.05-1.20 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.35-2.37 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.17 lbs
Oil TypeND 11 Oil

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)44-50 @ idle or fuel pump running psi
Residual Pressure21 After 5 min, engine off psi
Engine Compression142
Engine Compressionpsi 142-210 max variation 29 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 20 /; Front: 25; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 79; Rear: 65 /; Front: 79; Rear: 65
ABS Sensor Torque6.2 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.039 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementRear: .413
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .866; Rear: .984
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .0059

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30 ft. lbs., Step 3: 9015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning Condenser (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft Flange Yoke (torque) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Toyota RAV4 sits in a notably favorable pocket of the model's federal record, registering 233 complaints, 3 recalls, 1 investigation, and 257 TSBs — figures that are lower than its immediate neighbors (302 complaints/4 recalls in 2015 and 301 complaints/3 recalls in 2017) and well below the 2006–2010 peak, when annual complaints routinely exceeded 400 and recalls hit double digits. Across this fourth-generation arc (2013–2018), TSBs show a steady downward drift from 448 in 2012 to 183 in 2018, and 2016 lands in the middle of that declining curve rather than at either extreme, suggesting early teething issues were being resolved without triggering fresh escalation. The top complaint clusters — Electrical System (34), Service Brakes (29), Unknown/Other (25), and Exterior Lighting (24) — are spread across mundane categories rather than concentrated in a single drivetrain or safety defect, and 33 crash-related and 11 fire-related complaints are moderate in absolute terms, though the underlying root causes are not specified in this data. The 2016 model year essentially represents the calmest point of the post-2012 generation before a sharp complaint surge in 20192020, which is driven by later-model issues and does not retroactively implicate this year. For a used-vehicle buyer, 2016 is a strong candidate — the federal record here is cleaner than most surrounding years, and any 2016-specific recalls should be verified as completed, but there is no signal in the data of a systemic defect unique to this model year.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
257
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
233
Owner complaints
33 involved a crash · 11 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 233 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System34
Service Brakes29
Unknown Or Other25
Exterior Lighting24
Air Bags14
Structure12
Engine9
Power Train8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V198000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 07/04/2016

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… 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…

16V236000TiresReported 22/04/2016

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… Remedy: SET will notify owners, and provide them a corrected label to be installed over the inaccurate label, free of charge. The recall began on June 3, 2016. Owners may contact SET…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 257 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
T-SB-0055-24 Rev22026-01-07Unknown Or OtherSome 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
21TG012025-06-18Electrical System21TG01 Exprired - Replaced with Campaign 23TA13 During a recent investigation of reported…
21TG012025-06-18Electrical SystemCampaign Expired - replaced with campaign 23TA13TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSUMER…
T-SB-0058-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
T-SB-0035-24 Rev22024-12-06StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RAV4. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 RAV4 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RAV4 get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 29 highway / 25 combined mpg.