IllustrationTHE NAVIGATION DISPLAYS, RADIO AND ALL EQUIPMENT THAT USES IT QUITS AND SHUTS DOWN AND WILL GO OFF AND ON 3-8 TIMES AND THEN IT SEEMS TO BE OK. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPEN MANY TIMES.
2016 Toyota RAV4
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota RAV4 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 258.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RAV4 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
810–25K
3625–50K
1450–75K
1075–100K
8100–150K
2150K+
151 reports with mileage · 88 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 59 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
33 crash reports12 fire reports21 injury reports
What owners actually said
239 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD I STARTED TO LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. AT FIRST I LOST POWER STEERING AND SHORTLY AFTER THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BE DIAGNOSED THE FUSE BOX HAD BEEN BURNED AND WIRES MELTED AND THERE WAS SMOKE INDICATING THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE AROUND T…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD I STARTED TO LOSE ELECTRICAL POWER. AT FIRST I LOST POWER STEERING AND SHORTLY AFTER THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LIT UP. WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR TO BE DIAGNOSED THE FUSE BOX HAD BEEN BURNED AND WIRES MELTED AND THERE WAS SMOKE INDICATING THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE AROUND THE FUSE/ELECTRICAL AREA
I HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE WITH MY TOYOTA RAV4. I FIRST BOUGHT A NEW 2014 AND AT MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO TRADE IT IN AND GET A NEW 2016. I STILL HAVE THIS ONE, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN LEFT ST…
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I HAVE HAD AND CONTINUE TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE WITH MY TOYOTA RAV4. I FIRST BOUGHT A NEW 2014 AND AT MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS UNCOMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO TRADE IT IN AND GET A NEW 2016. I STILL HAVE THIS ONE, BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAVE BATTERY TROUBLE. I HAVE BEEN LEFT STRANDED AT WORK WHEN MY CAR WOULD NOT START. THAT IS WHEN I FOUND MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF CORROSION, AND TO THIS DAY, THE TERMINALS CORRODE OVER EVEN WITH NEW BATTERY. THE PASSENGER DOOR DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK WITH THE KEY BUTTON BC OF THIS ISSUE. I WOULD ESTIMATE I'VE REPLACED THE BATTERY 3-5 TIMES BETWEEN THE TWO CARS, WITH NO REAL SOLUTION. BATTERIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REPLACED/INSTALLED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. (I'M SURE INVOICES COULD BE PULLED IF NECESSARY) MY CARS HAVE NOT STALLED WHILE RUNNING, THEY WON'T START OR JUST START TO HAVE ELECTRICAL ISSUES W LIGHTS, AND IT GETS CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THEY USUALLY RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT WHILE THE BATTERY IS COVERED. A SEPARATE BUT EQUALLY UNSETTLING ISSUE IS WITH THE WINDSHIELD. IT RECENTLY CRACKED DUE TO A PASSENGER FLICKING A BUG ON IT. YOU WOULD THINK A ROCK LANDED ON IT.
MY BRAND NEW CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE FRONT WHILE IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT. I CAME OUTSIDE TO LEAVE AND IT WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED FROM THE FIRE. I SAW THE RAV4 INVESTIGATION IS HAPPENING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD MY REPORT INCLUDED. THE FIRE HAPPENED IN THE FRONT LEFT (AS IT WAS STATED IN THE ARTICLE O…
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MY BRAND NEW CAR CAUGHT FIRE IN THE FRONT WHILE IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A RESTAURANT. I CAME OUTSIDE TO LEAVE AND IT WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAR WAS TOTALED FROM THE FIRE. I SAW THE RAV4 INVESTIGATION IS HAPPENING AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD MY REPORT INCLUDED. THE FIRE HAPPENED IN THE FRONT LEFT (AS IT WAS STATED IN THE ARTICLE OTHER CARS). I CAN SEND YOU ADDITIONAL DETAILS IF NEEDED BUT EVERYTHING IS MATCHING UP WITH THE OTHER INCIDENTS. IT WAS A BRAND NEW CAR WHICH IS WHY IT WAS SUCH A STRANGE EVENT.
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, …
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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.
IT SAYS IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ECO OR PCM
SOMETIMES MY BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE HARD TO PUSH, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT COME BACK UP WHEN I RELEASE IT. IF I DON'T PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP WITH MY FOOT, BRAKES WILL CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED EVEN WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. I CAN'T TELL WHY THEY WORK SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. I COULD SPEND 4 HOU…
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SOMETIMES MY BRAKES WORK NORMALLY. OTHER TIMES, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL BE HARD TO PUSH, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT COME BACK UP WHEN I RELEASE IT. IF I DON'T PULL THE PEDAL BACK UP WITH MY FOOT, BRAKES WILL CONTINUE TO BE APPLIED EVEN WHEN I'M ACCELERATING. I CAN'T TELL WHY THEY WORK SOMETIMES AND NOT OTHERS. I COULD SPEND 4 HOURS DRIVING AROUND WITH STICKY BRAKES, AND THEN SUDDENLY, THEY'RE FINE.
CAMERA NOT WORKING PROPERLY
HAVE BARELY HAD MY 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 A YEAR, WHEN LAST WEEK JUST LEFT WORK AND TURNED ONTO THE HWY ABOUT 10 MIN GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A BLAST. FIRST I THOUGHT SOMEONE SHOT THE CAR, THEN THOUGHT MUST HAVE BLOWN A TIRE, BUT IT WAS STEERING FINE. I HEARD AIR AND LOOKED UP AT THE SUNROOF AN…
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HAVE BARELY HAD MY 2016 TOYOTA RAV4 A YEAR, WHEN LAST WEEK JUST LEFT WORK AND TURNED ONTO THE HWY ABOUT 10 MIN GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT STRETCH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD A BLAST. FIRST I THOUGHT SOMEONE SHOT THE CAR, THEN THOUGHT MUST HAVE BLOWN A TIRE, BUT IT WAS STEERING FINE. I HEARD AIR AND LOOKED UP AT THE SUNROOF AND IT HAD SHATTERED AND EXPLODED, BIG CHUNK HAD BLOWN OUT. MORE LITTLE PIECES WERE BLOWING OUT SO I SHUT THE COVER. TOOK A PICTURE OF MY DISPLAY SHOWING TEMP, SPEED ETC. WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO, I WAS 30 MILES FROM TOWN, SO I DROVE TO GAS STATION FOR GAS, AND TOOK PICTURES. NEXT MORNING CALLED TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. HE MADE ME AN APPT. FOR LATER THAT DAY. I SAID IT SHOULD BE NO COST TO ME AS IT'S OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF. HE SAID WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SEE IF A ROCK HIT IT OR SOMETHING. I SAID "NO ROCK HIT IT, IT JUST EXPLODED FOR NO REASON". WENT TO APPT AND SERVICE GUY HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY SENT OUT MAINTENANCE MANAGER. SHE TRIED TO TELL ME A ROCK MUST HAVE HIT IT, I ARGUED THAT NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST EXPLODED. THEN SERVICE DIRECTOR CAME OUT, HE SAID THERE'S NO WAY TO PROVE WHAT HAPPENED AND THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MY INSURANCE COMPREHENSIVE FOR GLASS REPAIR. I SAID SURE WITH A $500 DEDUCTIBLE THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY. HE SAID WELL THERE'S NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO. THEY WROTE UP A REPAIR QUOTE AND GAVE THAT TO ME. THEN A COUPLE GUYS COVERED THE SUNROOF WITH STICKY PLASTIC TO KEEP THE RAIN AND OTHER STUFF OUT. OTHER THAN THAT THEY WERE NO HELP, THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING, WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE, SO WHEN I GOT HOME I RESEARCHED EXPLODING SUNROOFS AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. I FEEL IT IS A DEFECTIVE SUNROOF AND TOYOTA SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
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 A…
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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.
Official recalls
323V734000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Nov 1, 2023
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A battery short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the battery clamp sub-assembly, battery tray, and positive terminal cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed December 27, 2024, to 2013-2014 RAV4 owners. Additional owner notification letters will be mailed in phases, phase 2 will begin on May 14, 2025, and phase 3 in late July 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 23TB13 and 23TA13.
16V236000 · Equipment:other:labels; Tires
Apr 22, 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. The Load Carrying Capacity Modification Label may not reflect the correct added weight of the installed accessories. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:labels
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. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
Tires
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. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims for Passenger Cars."
Consequence: An incorrect label may result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET's number for this recall is SET16A.
16V198000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Apr 7, 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 February 8, 2016, and 2016 Lexus ES350 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
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 vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
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 vehicles are equipped with an ABS actuator that may have a damaged O-ring which could result in improper brake fluid pressure control during ABS, Traction Control, or Stability Control activation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is G0I, GLC.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE21005 · Battery Hold Down Bracket Thermal Events
Opened Feb 25, 2021 · Closed Aug 12, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
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 eleven allegations and additional EWR events to this PE. PE21005 focused on replacement batteries installed in the subject vehicles. No reported fire event identified in PE21005 involved the originally supplied 12V battery. The reported fires took place in vehicles known to contain aftermarket batteries or whose age exceeded the expected life of the original equipment battery. ODI identified battery dimensioning as it relates to the battery retention system (hold down bracket, radiator support bolt, J-hook, and battery tray) as the main factor set in the contact between the battery hold down bracket contacting the positive terminal of the 12V battery. The subject vehicles carried over the same battery tray and retention system from the prior generation (MY2006 – MY2012) of RAV4 vehicles. However, the subject vehicles were equipped with a dimensionally smaller battery (Group 35) than the prior generation (Group 24F). The smaller- length measurement in the Group 35 battery size in a battery tray originally designed to fit a Group 24F battery contributed to increased potential for battery movement which was exacerbated by the diversity in aftermarket battery configuration and irregularities intrinsic to battery replacement procedures. Battery movement coupled with the proximity of the B+ terminal on the battery and the grounded electrically conductive hold down bracket set the stage for a short to ground leading to an engine stall (if in operation) followed by a vehicle fire. This investigation was not able to classify the installation status, battery size, or cause of every allegation due to the fire event causing damage to the area, inaccessible vehicle, modification to the battery retention system after the event, and/or inconclusive photographic evidence. Toyota's investigation of the issue identified aftermarket battery catalogs that listed an improper battery replacement size (Group 26R) that would nevertheless fit into the subject vehicles whose battery retention system is incapable of reliably restraining a Group 26R battery. On 18 November 2021, Toyota initiated a consumer advisory campaign (21TG01) to the subject vehicle owners, notifying them of the correct size battery and offering a free inspection of the battery and retention hardware, a caution label to affix to the hold down bracket, and a discounted replacement 12V battery. This investigation with Toyota established three broad categories to characterize the battery retention system state of a given vehicle: "correct", "minor mis-installation", and "major mis-installation". - The "correct" terminology references the front bolt, bracket, and J-hook installed in a position not in contact with the positive battery terminal and the front bolt torqued to 17 Nm and the J-hook engaged with the tray hole and torqued to 4.9 Nm. - A "minor mis-installation" would describe the three retention components installed in the prescribed location, however not to the correct torque values. - The "major mis-installation" condition would constitute a retention component missing or disconnected from the system. Toyota's own testing used five exemplar batteries installed on a subject vehicle in each battery categorization resulted in: - Contact between the B+ terminal and hold down bracket in "major mis-installations" - Movement of the battery in "minor mis-installations" - No observable motion in "correct" installations. ODI conducted its own evaluation of the Toyota- specified replacement battery and 5 aftermarket Group 35 batteries. The six batteries tested conformed to the Group 35 Battery Council International (BCI) standard on overall dimensional tolerance and terminal location. That standard does not define the edge shape or material of battery casing. Physical interaction between the hold down bracket and the battery case and the friction between the casing material and the battery tray resulted in a large variability in movement forces required to incite movement when the battery was installed in the "correct" condition. Resulting in movement at an induced lateral load between 0.6 G and 1.91 G equivalent force across each battery. This force is higher than a typical vehicle could exert in a steady state turn and would only experience loads through brief shock or impulses. Multiple shock or impulse loads across time would contribute to a delay between the replacement battery installation and the fire event. Likelihood of a fire event increases as the installation method degraded from the "correct", to "minor mis-installation", and then to "major mis-installation". Protruding vent caps atop some of the batteries tested aided in restricting battery movement relative to the hold down. An absence of vent caps permitted additional movement. Following several discussions and vehicle inspections with ODI during this investigation, on 01 November 2023, Toyota filed a safety recall (NHTSA 23V-734) of 1,853,568 MY 2013 through MY 2018 Toyota RAV4 vehicles to reduce the risk of a vehicle fire with redesigned battery retention components. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.