2016 Toyota RAV4 Exterior lighting Problems

Headlights and taillights are fogging/hazing up to where they dimmed out the lights when turned on making is somewhat difficult to see or others behind me to see me.

NHTSA ID

11648864

Incident

Mar 17, 2025

A fogging/white residue has developed over time on the inside of the tail lights. As this continues to progress it would make the lights much dimmer and harder to see. ( I see several references to the same issue doing an online search for 2016 rav4 taillight fogging)

NHTSA ID

11581201

Incident

Apr 4, 2024

All 6 of mine lights (front/fog and inside/outside rear) are collecting haze / contamination on the inside of the lens. Lights are a primary safety/warning device. Anything (like interior fogging) that interferes with this function is a SERIOUS safety defect that the manufacturer should fix under a safety recall. I have already spent money replacing one of the side rear light assemblies, due to these being a safety hazard. I would like to avoid an accident or possible legal tickets.

NHTSA ID

11575378

Incident

Sep 1, 2023

I took my car to Toyota for multiple issues with my electrical. My headlights go out every 5-10 minutes when trying to drive at dark. The headlights turn off or do not work if I try to use my blinker or windshield wipers. Three times now my car has stalled when I tried to turn on my headlights while driving. And one time it stalled when I went to make a left turn. Toyota ran a diagnostic and said everything was fine. I took it to autozone, they said the battery was fine. A third opinion and a new battery later and I’m still having the same problems. No one can tell me what’s wrong.

NHTSA ID

11506212

Incident

Jan 13, 2023

Rear taillight covers are deteriorating. Discoloration and fog

NHTSA ID

11496012

Incident

Dec 1, 2021

After looking through Google reviews I see that so many have the same situation that we are having. The headlights keep blowing randomly about every 3-4 months. We were out West on back roads when ours blew this last time and had to drive with only one headlight, which was dangerous. I feel someone should look into all the numerous complaints showing up online regarding the headlights of the 2016 Toyota Rav4s.

NHTSA ID

11480560

Incident

Aug 18, 2022

CONDENSATION IS APPEARING ON BOTH OF THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS THE CAR HAS 40000 MILES NOT SURE SHY THIS IS HAPPENING I BELIEVE THAT THE SEAL HAS BEEN BROKEN ON THE RIM OF THE BACK LIGHTS

NHTSA ID

11416697

Incident

Feb 1, 2021

HEADLIGHT WATER CONDENSATION....IN MADE IN JAPAN MODEL....MY HEADLIGHT GOT WATER CONDENSATION LOOKS WORST OVER THE TIME... I LOOK ON INTERNET N FOUND THAT'S RAV4 ASSEMBLED IN JAPAN HAS SPECIFIC WITH HEADLIGHTS.... HTTPS://WWW.RAV4WORLD.COM/THREADS/MOISTURE-IN-HEADLAMPS.294553/

NHTSA ID

11405450

Incident

Mar 21, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FOB FAILED TO START THE VEHCILE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FILLED WITH WATER AND WERE INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED NYC MOTORCARS OF THE BRONX (3748 BOSTON RD, THE BRONX, NY 10469, (347) 966-4272) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

NHTSA ID

11403332

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

Mileage

39,000 mi

ALL 4 TAIL LIGHTS ARE DEVELOPING A WHITE HAZE ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS THAT WILL EVENTUALLY AFFECT THE VISIBILITY OF THE AFFECTED SAFETY LIGHT. THIS INTERNAL LENS CONTAMINATION CANNOT BE CLEANED AND WILL CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO MEET THEIR ORIGINAL DOT APPROVED SPECIFICATIONS CREATING A SAFETY/CRASH HAZARD. THIS DEFECT APPEARS TO AFFECT ALL 2016-2018 RAV4S SUPPLIED WITH LIGHT ASSEMBLIES MADE BY ICHIKOH/VALEO. NOTE: THIS ISSUE IS NOT CAUSED BY ISOLATED DEFECTIVE CRACKED OR BROKEN LIGHT ASSEMBLIES CONTAMINATED BY WATER. BASED ON MY OWN VEHICLE AND A ROUGH PARKING LOT SURVEY ALL OF THESE LIGHTS WILL DEVELOP THIS ISSUE OVER TIME. MY CURRENT WORKING THEORY IS THAT THIS INSIDE LENS FOGGING IS CAUSED BY LEACHING PLASTICIZERS FROM THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES COMPONENTS VAPORIZING AND THEN DEPOSITING ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. THE AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT RECEIVED SEEMS TO CORRELATE WITH THE SEVERITY OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11376241

Incident

Nov 23, 2020

Mileage

38,500 mi

THE AUTO HIGHBEAM FEATURE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11269566

Incident

Oct 19, 2019

Mileage

31,500 mi

THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO COMPLAINT #11268870, CONCERNING A HEADLIGHT PROBLEM WITH OUR 2016 RAV 4 LE. THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS CREATED BY THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS MOVES UP AND DOWN WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR AS THE VEHICLE ADJUSTS TO THE VAGARIES OF THE ROAD. IT BECOMES A DANGEROUS DISTRACTION BECAUSE YOU ARE TRYING TO SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE PAST ABOUT 60 FEET. SO YOU ARE DEALING NOT ONLY WITH LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE AND AN OMINOUS CURTAIN OF DARKNESS, ITS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY BECAUSE THE DARKNESS CONTINUES TO MOVE UP AND DOWN AS YOU DRIVE CAUSING A SERIOUS DIVERSION OF CONCENTRATION. PUTTING ALL THE FACTORS TOGETHER CREATES A VERY STRESSFUL, ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11268896

Incident

Oct 12, 2019

Mileage

40,500 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON THE VISIBILITY DISTANCE IS LIMITED TO ABOUT 60 FEET. AFTER THAT ALL THAT YOU CAN SEE IS A BLACK VEIL LIKE A CURTAIN HUNG OVER THE LIGHTS. NOTHING CAN BE SEEN OR DETECTED IN THE DARKNESS BEYOND WHERE THE LIGHT ABRUPTLY ENDS PRESENTING A VERY DANGEROUS DRIVING EXPERIENCE. THE CONDITION IS AMPLIFIED ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS WHERE THERE IS NO STREET LIGHTING OR OTHER AMBIENT LIGHT. DRIVING ON HIGH BEAMS IS THE ONLY SAFE OPTION, BUT EVEN THEN THE HIGH BEAMS CONFLICT WITH EACH SIDE AND THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL VISION MAKING TURNING A SAFETY ISSUE AS WELL. SEARCHING THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BRINGS UP A NUMBER OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS NOT ONLY FOR THE 2016 RAV 4 LE BUT THROUGH 2018 AS WELL. DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IS A VERY DANGEROUS COMMUTE, AND SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS INCLUDE HITTING DEER, DRIVING OFF THE ROAD WHILE TURNING, AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DETECT ANY MOVEMENT OR OBSTACLES IN THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS THAT THESE HEADLIGHTS CREATE. STATEMENTS IN THE COMPLAINTS MENTION THAT THE DEALERSHIPS SAY THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS A MANUFACTURED PROBLEM AND THEY CAN ONLY ADJUST TO TOYOTA'S SPECS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY SMALL ON THIS VEHICLE SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE SOLUTION IS. AS FAR AS I KNOW NO ONE HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS FLAW, BUT PERHAPS IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THAT OCCURS, UNLESS THIS VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM CAN BE CORRECTED. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE SAFELY IN THIS VEHICLE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON. AND TO DRIVE WITH ONLY THE HIGH BEAMS AT ALL TIMES PRESENTS ANOTHER HAZARD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA MANUFACTURING BEFORE THE WORST HAPPENS BECAUSE OF IT. I AM ATTACHING PICTURES TAKEN OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT SHOWS THE LIMITED SIGHT DISTANCE AND THE CURTAIN OF DARKNESS THAT FALLS BEYOND THE LIGHT.

NHTSA ID

11268870

Incident

Oct 12, 2019

Mileage

40,500 mi

PURCHASED 2016 RAV4 FROM LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER IN JUNE 2019. HAD BADLY FOGGED TAIL LIGHTS ON PURCHASE (AS DID FOUR OTHER 2016 RAV4S I LOOKED AT ON DEALER LOTS). PAID LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP $650 ON 6/24/19 TO REPLACE TAIL LIGHTS WITH OEM. LESS THAN 2 MONTHS LATER (8/17/19) HAD RAIL STORM AND SAW CONDENSATION INSIDE RIM OF ALL 4 TAIL LIGHTS. CAN REPLACE THEM AGAIN BUT THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A FACTORY DEFECT THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN LIGHTS ARE DIMMED FROM FOGGING.

NHTSA ID

11245763

Incident

Aug 17, 2019

Mileage

45,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE NOT ADEQUATE. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH DOWN THE ROAD TO SEE OBJECTS ON THE ROAD, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2017, I NEARLY HIT TWO DEER ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE THEM.

NHTSA ID

11154139

Incident

Sep 16, 2017

Mileage

20,000 mi

I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HEADLIGHTS FROM DAY ONE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED PROPERLY. SINCE THEN MY WIFE HAS HIT A DEER BECAUSE SHE CAN NOT SEE MORE THAN ONE CAR LENGTH IN FRONT WITHOUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON. NOW SHE ALWAYS DRIVES WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. THISORNING SHE WAS VERBALLY ACCOSTED FROM ANOTHER DRIVER FOR DRIVING WITH HER HIGH BEAMS ON. WE LIVE IN A MORE RURAL AREA WITH VERY FEW STREET LIGHTS. GET A RAV 4 PUT IT IN A TOTALLY DARK AREA AND TURN ON THE HEAD LIGHTS. MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN BUMPER AND END OF LIGHT. THEN YOU WILL SEE THE ISSUE. THE LIGHTS MIGHT HAVE THE SQUARE FOOTAGE REQUIREMENT MEET BUT THE SQUARE FOOTAGE GOES LEFT AND RIGHT AND NOT FORWARD WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11141041

Incident

Oct 17, 2018

Mileage

40,000 mi

DIM HEADLAMPS ARE LIFE THREATENING. FIELD OF VISION IS SHORT WITH A LINE AND DARKNESS ABOVE LIMITING VISION. RIGHT AND LEFT TURNING VISION NON EXISTENT. AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS AND OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TOYOTA REPAIR SAYS THERE IS NOTHING ELSE THEY CAN DO, LAMPS MEET FEDERAL STANDARDS. EVENING TEST DRIVES SHOULD BE MANDATORY. I WOULD LIKE SOMEONE WITH AUTHORITY TO TRY AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE DARK. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE A RESOLUTION. MY LIFE IS IN DANGER.

NHTSA ID

11138861

Incident

Jul 25, 2016

Mileage

1,000 mi

AUTO HIGH BEAMS - INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN "LOW" I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT CAN'T REPRODUCE IT ON DEMAND. LAST INSTANCE WAS ON A STRAIGHT, FLAT RURAL ROAD WITH NO LIGHTS, SIGNALS OR SAME DIRECTION TRAFFIC TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. WAS APPROACHED BY ONCOMING CAR WHICH FAILED TO DIM LIGHTS. MINE DIMMED BUT DID NOT RETURN TO BRIGHT. HAD TO POWER CYCLE THE LIGHTS TO GET THE HIGH BEAMS BACK. A MINUTE LATER WAS APPROACHED BY 3 CARS CLOSE TOGETHER WITH OVERLY BRIGHT LIGHTS. MINE DIMMED AND STAYED DIM JUST LIKE BEFORE. HAD TO POWER CYCLE TO GET THE BRIGHTS BACK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO NOT HAVE BRIGHTS IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING BLINDED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC!

NHTSA ID

11080715

Incident

Feb 16, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THIS VEHICLE ARE HORRIBLE! IT IS LIKE YOU ARE DRIVING IN A POORLY LIT TUNNEL WITH VERY LITTLE PERIPHERAL VISION. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING ONCOMING DRIVERS FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS AT ME WHILE DRIVING WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM, SO IT MUST BE AFFECTING THEIR ABILITY TO SEE. VERY DANGEROUS FOR BOTH DRIVERS! THIS IS A VERY POOR HEADLIGHT SETUP AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED ON ALL THE AFFECTED MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11067002

Incident

Dec 1, 2016

Mileage

1,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE TURNED ON TO HAVE SUFFICIENT VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ST. COULD TOYOTA (418 2ND ST S, WAITE PARK, MN 56387 (320) 227-8052). THE TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS AND STATED THAT NO FURTHER ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE STILL NOT SUFFICIENT. THE STOCK HEADLIGHTS WERE STILL INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AND WERE NOT REMOVED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND TOYOTA STATED THAT THE STOCK LIGHTS WERE DESIGNED PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TT CONSUMER STATED CANNOT SEE MORE THAN 2 TO 3 CAN LENGTHS AHEAD WHEN ON, DIM AT START UPDATED 8/27/18*JB

NHTSA ID

11054125

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

I HAVE A 2016 RAV4 LIMITED WITH 12000 MILES ON IT. NOTHING HAPPENED YET, BUT THE LED HEADLIGHTS ARE OBVIOUSLY INADEQUATE AND I'M AFRAID I MIGHT RUN INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT SOME DAY. WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT, I CANNOT SEE THE ROADS CLEARLY AT ALL. I HOPE A RECALL COULD BE SET TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11020909

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS BECAME TOO BRIGHT AND CAUSED OTHER DRIVERS TO FLASH THEIR HEADLIGHTS, WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VISION. TOYOTA OF NICHOLESVILLE, KENTUCKY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.

NHTSA ID

10994543

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

Mileage

6,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING ANY SPEED AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS FOCUSED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE AFTER MARKET BULBS, BUT THEY PERFORMED WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL BULBS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED ONLY, A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000.

NHTSA ID

10984239

Incident

Feb 26, 2017

Mileage

4,000 mi

DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING SPEEDOMETER IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. DEALER REPORT THAT EVERYTHING IS "WORKING AS IT SHOULD", BUT I CANNOT DETERMINE MY SPEED ACCURATELY.

NHTSA ID

10970372

Incident

Mar 18, 2016

Mileage

6,500 mi

HEADLIGHT BEAMS ARE CAPPED BY WHAT APPEARS AS A HORIZONTAL LINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD AS IF A SHADE IS HALFWAY DOWN. LIMITED ROAD IS VISIBLE BELOW THE LINE AND JUST PITCH BLACK ABOVE. IF THE VEHICLE IS PITCHED DOWN AS WHEN GOING DOWN A HILL YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT FIFTY FEET AHEAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY HAVE HIGH-BEAMS ON AND THOSE ARE DIRECTED TO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD RATHER THAN HAVING A BROAD BEAM. ALSO, THERE IS NO LIGHT TO THE FRONT OF EITHER SIDE SO TURNING AT NIGHT IS BLIND AS YOU MAKE THE TURN. WE NEED THIS FLAW CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY. WHAT RECOURSE DO WE HAVE?

NHTSA ID

10927301

Incident

Nov 19, 2016

Mileage

200 mi