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2016 Lexus RX350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Lexus RX350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 29.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

46 reports with mileage · 12 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

7 reports
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50,000 miles · May 22, 2020
Exterior LightingPower Train

AUTO BRIGHT HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM DEACTIVATES/REACTIVATES INDISCRIMINATELY, MOST FREQUENTLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING IN THE MORNING (STILL DARK). LACK OF PROPER BRIGHT LIGHT CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT GREATLY REDUCES VISIBILITY MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEO EVIDENCE TO LEXUS DEALER DEMONSTRATING THE PROB…

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AUTO BRIGHT HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM DEACTIVATES/REACTIVATES INDISCRIMINATELY, MOST FREQUENTLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING IN THE MORNING (STILL DARK). LACK OF PROPER BRIGHT LIGHT CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT GREATLY REDUCES VISIBILITY MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEO EVIDENCE TO LEXUS DEALER DEMONSTRATING THE PROBLEM WHO CONSULTED WITH CORPORATE LEXUS; LEXUS CLAIMS THAT THEY FOUND MY VEHICLE TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS AND HAS REFUSED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE NOR REPAIR. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE INTERNET BY NUMEROUS LEXUS RX-350 OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM - ONE SUGGESTING THAT PROPER CLEANING OF THE CAMERA LENS FIXED THE PROBLEM; I PROVIDED THE EVIDENCE TO LEXUS AND LEXUS REFUSED TO ATTEMPT THIS SOLUTION. FOLLOWING IS LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER RESPONSE; DEAR MR.: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER. THE ENTIRE LEXUS ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEXUS CUSTOMERS WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE. IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION, WE ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING IN THE RESOLUTION PROCESS. AS YOU REQUESTED, WE ARE RESPONDING IN WRITING. YOUR 2016 RX 350, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER XX, WAS INSPECTED BY LEXUS OF XX, AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS. WE APOLOGIZE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT LEXUS HAS DOCUMENTED YOUR DISSATISFACTION FOR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY, XX CASE MANAGER, EASTERN AREA LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER THIS IS MY THIRD LEXUS AND MAY BE MY LAST!

NHTSA ODI #11325590

14,900 miles · Jul 31, 2018
Electrical SystemEnginePower TrainCrash

THIS CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE BEING PUT INTO PARK. THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CENTER POSTS OF THE TWO CAR GARAGE AND ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUGHT ON THE SUPPORTS IN THE FOUNDATION. WE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR…

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THIS CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE BEING PUT INTO PARK. THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CENTER POSTS OF THE TWO CAR GARAGE AND ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUGHT ON THE SUPPORTS IN THE FOUNDATION. WE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE OWN THE CAR WHEN WE WERE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WE DID REPORT IT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A SERVICE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SLASH TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FOOT WAS GOING ON TO THE BREAK AND THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR INTO THE CENTER POST OF A 2 CAR GARAGE. I LUCKILY WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT. IT TOOK DOWN BOTH GARAGE DOORS AND THE CENTER PILLAR ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REBUILT AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11114970

500 miles · May 31, 2018
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS (6600 W. SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV, 702-942-6600), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS (6600 W. SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV, 702-942-6600), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERENCED TSB NUMBER: L-SB-0109-17 TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESETTLED THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE TSB INSTRUCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500.

NHTSA ODI #11099067

20 miles · May 18, 2018
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION HAS THREE SETTINGS. IN ANY OF THEM, START UP OFTEN RESULTS IN ERRATIC SHIFTING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES ABRUPT LURCHING FORWARD. THIS HAS RESULTED IN ALARMING SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXR IS NOT SMOOTH NOR CONTRIBUTES TO SAFE START-UP IN MY OPINION - AND I AM OVER 80…

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THE TRANSMISSION HAS THREE SETTINGS. IN ANY OF THEM, START UP OFTEN RESULTS IN ERRATIC SHIFTING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES ABRUPT LURCHING FORWARD. THIS HAS RESULTED IN ALARMING SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXR IS NOT SMOOTH NOR CONTRIBUTES TO SAFE START-UP IN MY OPINION - AND I AM OVER 80 AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS AND TRUCKS - WORST SHIFTING IN MY EXPERIENCE AND IS DANGEROUS. DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL.

NHTSA ODI #11096764

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2017
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

CAR HAS HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. CAR RATED FOR UNLEADED NOT PREMIUM AND SHOULD HAVE NOT TO DRIVE CAR IN SPORT MODE ALL THE TIME

NHTSA ODI #11000793

4,000 miles · Mar 19, 2017
Power Train

WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, A LOUD GROAN CAN BE HEARD FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE POWERTRAIN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, DURING THE ACCELERATION PROCESS, A DELAY OCCURS FROM THE TIME I STEP ON THE GAS PEDDL…

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WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, A LOUD GROAN CAN BE HEARD FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE POWERTRAIN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, DURING THE ACCELERATION PROCESS, A DELAY OCCURS FROM THE TIME I STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE HESITATION IS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI #10967087

24,000 miles · Dec 2, 2016
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE YET THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE AND SO I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HOPING IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929600

Official recalls

3

18V085000 · Air Bags:frontal; Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE ; Air Bags:side/window

Jan 31, 2018

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Air Bags:side/window

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Air Bags:frontal

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

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.

16V053000 · Air Bags:knee Bolster

Feb 1, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles manufactured November 16, 2015, to December 23, 2015. Due to an improper weld, the gas needed to inflate the driver's knee air bag may escape from the inflator.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A defective inflator may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the knee air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is GLA.

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.