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2016 Lexus ES350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Lexus ES350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all ES350 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

Limited mileage data: 12 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

21 reports
56,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
Unknown Or Other

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI #11164635

12,000 miles · Nov 20, 2018
Service Brakes

WEAK BRAKE

NHTSA ODI #11152933

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

DRIVING IN A STORM ALL THE FORWARD LOOKING SENSORS FAILED AS THE SENSOR BECAME COVERED WITH SNOW AND ICE. THESE ARE THE SENSORS THAT CONTROL COLLISION ALERT, LANE DEPARTURE ALERT, CRUSE CONTROL ETC. THE SAFETY FUNCTIONS MOST REQUIRED IN BAD WEATHER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #11053832

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL: I WAS CALLED BY LEXUS TO SAY THERE WAS A RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND LEFT MY CAR THERE. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER. THEY CALLED AND APOLOGIZED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY DID AND I RETURNED THE LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR BACK. THEN A MONTH LATER HEY CALL…

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TAKATA RECALL: I WAS CALLED BY LEXUS TO SAY THERE WAS A RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND LEFT MY CAR THERE. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER. THEY CALLED AND APOLOGIZED THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE REPLACEMENT PART. THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY DID AND I RETURNED THE LOANER AND TOOK MY CAR BACK. THEN A MONTH LATER HEY CALLED AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AGAIN FOR THE SAME REASON. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK IF THEY HAD THE PART, AND THEY CALLED ME BACK AN HOUR LATER SAYING 'OOPS WE STILL DON'T HAVE THE PART'. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I AM DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR FOR OVER 2 MONTHS AND AM WORRIED I AM AT RISK.

NHTSA ODI #11044398

6,700 miles · Aug 21, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE OWN TWO LEXUS'S A 2014 AND 2016 AND IT APPEARED THAT THE WINDSHIELDS ARE EXTREMELY THIN BECAUSE I HAVE HAD ROCKS CRACK THEM ON THE INTERSTATE, ON BOTH OF THE DIFFERENT CARS. I AM CERTAIN THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS TROUBLES AS WELL. I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11018760

Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2017
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE TURNING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THERE WAS COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF, AND SEVERAL SECONDS PASSED BEFORE I COULD RE-START THE CAR, THIS OCCURRING IN MORNING RUSH HOUR, AND BARELY AVERTED AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR ALSO HAS HAD NUMEROUS RANDOM AND OCCASIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MIRRORS MOVING ON THEIR OWN, GARAGE OPENER …

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WHILE TURNING RIGHT FROM ONE STREET TO ANOTHER, THERE WAS COMPLETE ENGINE SHUT-OFF, AND SEVERAL SECONDS PASSED BEFORE I COULD RE-START THE CAR, THIS OCCURRING IN MORNING RUSH HOUR, AND BARELY AVERTED AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR ALSO HAS HAD NUMEROUS RANDOM AND OCCASIONAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MIRRORS MOVING ON THEIR OWN, GARAGE OPENER NOT WORKING, SEAT MEMORY NOT WORKING, ETC. SHOP CAN'T DUPLICATE THEM AND THEREFORE CANNOT FIX. LEXUS DOES NOT RESPOND. WORRY IS THAT ENGINE CUT-OFF MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND ALSO WORRY THAT THERE IS AN OVERALL ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT AFFECTS MAJOR SYSTEMS, INCLUDING ENGINE OPERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10981330

2,850 miles · Oct 29, 2016
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND PULL BACK TO A STANDSTILL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING WOULD STOP THE DECELERATION. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SINCE THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CO…

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I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND PULL BACK TO A STANDSTILL. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR BUT NOTHING WOULD STOP THE DECELERATION. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY SINCE THE CAR EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND PUSHED THE BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I FELLT THAT I COULD REENTER TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO BUT WITHOUT THE CRUISE COUNTROL ENGAGED. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED OR GONE OFF THE ROAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT NIGHT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD CONSEQUENCES.

NHTSA ODI #10920004

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2016
Forward Collision Avoidance

2016 LEXUS ES350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM/ BRAKE ACTUATOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX WEEKS AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM/BRAKE ACTUATOR SYSTEM ENGAGED FOR NO REASON; BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO AN UNCONTROLLED ABRUPT STOP, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CO…

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2016 LEXUS ES350. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM/ BRAKE ACTUATOR SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX WEEKS AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM/BRAKE ACTUATOR SYSTEM ENGAGED FOR NO REASON; BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO AN UNCONTROLLED ABRUPT STOP, WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY LEXUS MECHANICS, ENGINEERS AND SPECIALIST THE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER SENT A PAYMENT OF $1000, INDICATING THE COST OF DISCONNECTING THE PCS OPTION. THE CONSUMER RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED THE OFFER.*JS

NHTSA ODI #10916895

2,500 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Service Brakes

THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON LEXUS 2016 ES 350 IN APRIL 2016 FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE PRESSURE TO FAIL. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN ESCONDIDO, CA. TELLS ME....... "WE DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN WE GET THE PARTS." I AM DRIVING A BRAND NEW CAR THAT DOES NOT COMPLY …

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THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON LEXUS 2016 ES 350 IN APRIL 2016 FOR THE BRAKE ACTUATOR WHICH COULD CAUSE BRAKE PRESSURE TO FAIL. I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL TIMES THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN ESCONDIDO, CA. TELLS ME....... "WE DON'T HAVE THE PARTS AND WE WILL CALL YOU WHEN WE GET THE PARTS." I AM DRIVING A BRAND NEW CAR THAT DOES NOT COMPLY WITH A PORTION OF FMVSS 126, LOSS OF VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. IT IS NOW MID AUGUST 2016. I WILL PROBABLY BE DEAD IF THE BRAKES GO OUT AND I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REPORT TO YOU WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED. WHAT CAN I DO TO SAVE MY SELF AND POSSIBLY OTHERS?

NHTSA ODI #10896708

5,000 miles · Jun 7, 2016
Equipment

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES350. WHILE LEAVING A PARKING LOT, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILED AND AFFECTED THE RADIO. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE ENGINE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA ODI #10872984

Official recalls

1

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.