What 234 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Toyota RAV4 Phev

While shopping at the grocery store, I experienced an incident upon leaving the parking lot. After reaching my first red light, I noticed smoke rapidly billowing from under the hood of my vehicle. My husband, who was driving behind me, immediately saw the smoke and instructed me to pull over. Once I stopped, he asked me to pop the hood. Upon opening it, he urgently removed his shirt to try and extinguish the fire. The damage was extensive — a hole burned through the hood, significantly compromising the vehicle’s crash safety rating. Additionally, melted plastic covered the battery area, and the radiator hose was damaged, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive.

NHTSA ODI 11657186

I had a significant car accident in 2020 and luckily only broke my thumb. I was rear ended. The car I had at the time was a brand new Toyota Rav4, which luckily did have side airbags and they deployed appropriately. However, I have since had the opportunity to drive other vehicles and would like to ensure the safety of myself and others on the road whether the car be foreign or domestic. Please see the following requests: 1. Toyota's electronics freeze intermittently. This is not the first Toyota Rav4 that I have had and it seems to have done this in the majority of them (2/3). This is dangerous as it can become a distraction to the driver if not familiar with this abnormality. The backup camera also variously changes it's functions, preferences, and layout. 2. The navigation system has to be updated by a chip instead of updated wirelessly. 3. It is not an electric vehicle. 4. I should not have to pay for gasoline or electricity if the sun can be used as a fuel source. Please research the and utilize solar cell panel paint to charge all electric cars and implement that into all domestic and foreign electric cars as soon as possible due to the inflating economy. 5. With full self driving availability please ensure that all cars on the road, whether they be electric or gas, have this capability due to safety issues as well as the extent of morbidity and mortality cases due to trauma patients. I have already emailed you on this problem. Please follow up. 6. Due to the younger generation and their addiction to social media as well as their cell phones, please ensure that there is voice capability within all cars. It may also be beneficial for a camera to be installed inside of the car since the younger generation is so prone to filming themselves. This would also help with liability issues if an accident were to occur. 7. Ensure there is a way to charge a cell phone without needing to plug in the phone.

NHTSA ODI 11640194

While exiting slowly from the parking lot, the Toyota started to make a beeping alarm noise, then suddenly lurched forward. Applying the brake had no effect, and the car accelerated across the LRT tracks, climbed onto the passenger platform, and only stopped when it collided with an electrical box there.

NHTSA ODI 11559394

The car rapidly caught on fire while parked and off. Smoke first appeared from the hood and subsequently flames came out of the hood causing the entire car to catch in fire. There were no warning lights/messages. The car was inspected by our insurance, USAA

NHTSA ODI 11496910

While my wife was driving the car it suddenly shutoff. She was in the middle of a turn and was able to get to the side of the road. I few moments later she saw what she assumed was steam coming from under the hood and she immediately got out of the car. Within a minute of getting out of the car she saw flames dripping down from the engine. She called the fire department who put the flames out, but the car is most likely totaled. The fire department told her it looked like the battery exploded. I want to make sure you are aware of this as I see you have had other complaints.

NHTSA ODI 11482632

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 SIDE UPPER HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11415425

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE STARTED SMELLING AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR BEFORE FLAMES STARTED COMING UP FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND OUT OF THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE VENTS. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AND STARTED POURING WATER FROM A COOLER ONTO THE FIRE TO TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES HOWEVER, THE FLAMES REIGNITED. ANOTHER MOTORIST PULLED OVER TO ASSIST AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. A BUSINESS OWNER ALSO STOPPED BY, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED HOWEVER, THE FIRE WAS ALREADY EXTINGUISHED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BURNS ON BOTH HANDS HOWEVER, MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT SOUGHT. THE DRIVER CONTACTED FIESTA KIA (7400 LOMAS BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87110, (505)999-2700) WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PURCHASED ONLY 22 DAYS EARLIER. THE DEALER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT REMAINED STILL UNREPAIRED. THE INSURANCE PROVIDER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT A FIRE INVESTIGATOR WOULD BE SENT OUT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE PROVIDER HAD NOT YET DECIDED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414617

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING; HOWEVER, HER HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE UPON DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AS THEY CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES AND AFTER THE THIRD FAILURE, A BLACKISH SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A WATER BOTTLE. THE AUTHORITIES WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMOVED THE BATTERY FROM THE VEHICLE. A FIRE AND POLICE REPORT WERE FILED; NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHEEHY TOYOTA OF STAFFORD(95 GARRISONVILLE RD, STAFFORD, VA 22554) WHERE THEY INITIALLY GAVE THE CONTACT AN ESTIMATE TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE PARTS IN ORDER TO CHECK IF THE VEHICLE WAS STILL OPERABLE. DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF THE REPAIR, HER INSURANCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL LOSS AND WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,156. *BF THE CONSUMER PROVIDED THE REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11398767

IT WAS A COLD DAY IN MASSACHUSETTS. I WARMED UP THE CAR IN THE MORNING FOR 10 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING TO DRIVE TO WORK. I GOT ONTO THE MASSACHUSETTS PIKE AND AFTER A COUPLE EXITS OF CRUISING AT 60 HIT STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AT ONE OF THE ENTRANCES AND WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP IN THE TRAFFIC MY CAR FLASHED THE BATTERY CRITICAL CHARGING ERROR FOR A SPLIT SECOND BEFORE SAYING EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE RESTARTED BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. AFTER THAT, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT ON HAZARDS UNTIL ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER OF TRYING TO GET THE POWER BACK ON DID THE CAR START UP. WITHIN THAT TIME A DRIVER BEHIND ME DECIDED TO HIT ME IN THE REAR. ON RESTART THE CAR DIDN'T SHOW THE FAULT BUT UPON LOOKING UP THE BATTERY CRITICAL CHARGING FAILURE IT STATES TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR AND TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE IT TO A SHOP. THE SHOP CANNOT FIND THE CODE DUE TO IT BEING WIPED MAKING SOLVING THE ISSUE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ODI 11063443