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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

Service Brakes complaints

8 reports
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25,000 miles · Mar 25, 2020
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension

THE CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI #11319210

15,000 miles · Feb 26, 2019
Service Brakes

WE TOOK A CAR FOR LEASE FROM LEXUS. THE FIRST WEEK, WE REALIZED THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING WELL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. LAST WEEK, AFTER 2 YEARS, I WAS DRIVING AND SO WAS MY DAUGHTER ( TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ) AND WE…

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WE TOOK A CAR FOR LEASE FROM LEXUS. THE FIRST WEEK, WE REALIZED THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING WELL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. LAST WEEK, AFTER 2 YEARS, I WAS DRIVING AND SO WAS MY DAUGHTER ( TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ) AND WE COULDN'T BREAK THE CAR. THE CAR DROVE RIGHT PAST THE INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO PEDESTRIANS OR VEHICLES AT THAT SECOND. WE BROUGHT IT TO ALEXUS AND THEY TESTED THE BRAKES AND SAW A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THE METAL WAS SCRAPING. THEY ASKED FOR A LARGE SUM AND SAID WE NEVER COMPLAINED BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI #11182678

17,731 miles · Apr 29, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes

FIRST PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL WAS WHEN THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLANK WHILE DRIVING DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT. DON'T KNOW THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. THOUGHT IT WAS A REBOOT BY ENFORM. THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT. ON 12/21/2017, CHECK ELECTRIC BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AFTER IT HAD …

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FIRST PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL WAS WHEN THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLANK WHILE DRIVING DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT. DON'T KNOW THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. THOUGHT IT WAS A REBOOT BY ENFORM. THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT. ON 12/21/2017, CHECK ELECTRIC BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT. TOOK INTO THE DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT OR ANY ERROR CODES INDICATING ANY PROBLEM. THEY RESET THE ERROR LIGHT. ON 4/23/2018, I STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 12:30 PM, NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AT WHICH POINT I NOTICED I HAD NO LIGHTS ON ANYWHERE ON MY CAR. IT WAS DEAD. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE START IT AFTER A COUPLE OF TRIES. CALLED FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE, LET LEXUS DEALER KNOW MY CAR WAS GOING TO BE TOWED TO THEM, AND SAT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES WHEN A GENTLEMAN CAME ALONG BEFORE EMERGENCY SERVICE REP GOT THERE. HE WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD AFTER 4 DAYS THAT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. AM NOW DRIVING IT, BUT AFRAID SOMETHING ELSE MAY HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI #11090870

18,000 miles · Dec 22, 2017
Service BrakesCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LEGS, CHEST, AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED LEXUS OF TOWSON (1040 YORK ROAD, TOWSON, MD 21204; 410-769-9400) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI #11056148

10,000 miles · Nov 11, 2017
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ON TO A BRIDGE, THE CAR PULLED THE RIGHT A LITTLE, I PULLED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE TO STRAIGHTENED IT BACK UP APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS AT THE RED LIGHT, I CONTINUED APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND WAS PICKING UP SPEED. I PULLED TO THE LEFT TO AVO…

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WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ON TO A BRIDGE, THE CAR PULLED THE RIGHT A LITTLE, I PULLED TO THE LEFT A LITTLE TO STRAIGHTENED IT BACK UP APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WAS A LINE OF CARS AT THE RED LIGHT, I CONTINUED APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND WAS PICKING UP SPEED. I PULLED TO THE LEFT TO AVOID ALL THE CARS. CAR STILL WOULD NOT STOP INSPITE OF PRESSING MY FOOT HARD ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR CONTINUED MOVING WENT ACROSS A LARGE STREET, STILL TURNING THE CAR TO THE LEFT TO AVOID OTHER CARS. THE CAR WENT ON TO A GAS STATION LOT. I CONTINUED TURNING TO AVOID THE GAS PUMPS, STILL MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR KEPT GOING AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A POLE ON THE GAS STATION LOT. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED, THEY FELT AS IF THE CONSUMER WAS STEPPING ON A BRICK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #11045283

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2017
Air BagsService BrakesUnknown Or OtherCrash

I HIT OTHER CAR I PRESS BREAK . BRAKE NOT WORK AIR BAG NOT COME OUT, PRECOLUATION NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #11013044

2,000 miles · Apr 18, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesCrash

I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AS TO WHAT OCCURRED. I ENTERED OUR GARAGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BACKING THE LEXUS OUT OF THE GARAGE SO WE COULD LOAD NEWLY PURCHASED PATIO FURNITURE INTO THE GARAGE. I ENTERED THE LEXUS, APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO START THE AUTOMOBILE. ONCE THE AUTO WAS STARTED, KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE T…

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I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AS TO WHAT OCCURRED. I ENTERED OUR GARAGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BACKING THE LEXUS OUT OF THE GARAGE SO WE COULD LOAD NEWLY PURCHASED PATIO FURNITURE INTO THE GARAGE. I ENTERED THE LEXUS, APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO START THE AUTOMOBILE. ONCE THE AUTO WAS STARTED, KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ALLOW MY SHIFTING, I MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR BEGAN MOVING WITH NEVER REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. IT IS A VERY TIGHT SQUEEZE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE SO WHEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING, I PRESSED MORE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE PROGRESS AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE HARDER AND WHEN IT KEPT CONTINUING TO NOT RESPOND, I TRIED TO LOCATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM BY PUSHING WITH MY LEFT FOOT ON THE FLOOR TRYING TO ENGAGE IT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT LASTED ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS CAUSING THE COLLISION TO OCCUR. THIS WAS REPORTED TO HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY AUTO CLAIM # PA0016731644 WHOSE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION WAS AS FOLLOWS: "UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE DETERMINED....THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY TO BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY." MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA WAS WITH CARLOS GARCIA IN THE LEGAL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT DATED FEBRUARY 10TH, 2017, COPY ATTACHED ALSO ATTACHED IS MY CORRESPONDENCE OF MAY 11, 2016 THE BOTTOM LINE IS TOYOTA HAS NOT CONDUCTED AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE IN THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURE OF THEIR AUTOMOBILE. THEY ARE TOTALLY RELYING ON HEARSAY EVIDENCE WHICH IS THIRD HAND AND FALSE, HOPING THIS WILL ALL GO AWAY. I MADE MY AUTOMOBILE AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO WITNESSED THE EVENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A INNOCENT CHILD THAT WAS DAMAGED, RATHER THAN ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR YOU, IF REQUESTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI #10979064

12,000 miles · Feb 14, 2017
Service BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI #10954465

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.