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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.

About this comparison →

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

Unknown Or Other complaints

19 reports
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57,294 miles · Apr 6, 2021
Unknown Or Other

KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT ~50K MILES. TOOK IT TO A LEXUS SERVICE CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS FROM A FAILING BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. IF NOT ADDRESSED, THE FAILING PUMP COULD MAKE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE 2017 RX350S HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE B…

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KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT ~50K MILES. TOOK IT TO A LEXUS SERVICE CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS FROM A FAILING BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. IF NOT ADDRESSED, THE FAILING PUMP COULD MAKE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE 2017 RX350S HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NOTHING FOR THE 2016 RX350S. DISAPPOINTED THAT A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED WITH ONLY ~50K MILES IS ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WITH FAILING PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11406705

68,000 miles · Mar 20, 2021
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. I WAS VERY SHAKEN UP. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I WAS TRAVELING 220 CROSS LAKE BRIDGE AND AT TIME COULD NOT PULL OVER. I KEPT HEARING CRUNCHING NOISE ABOVE ME. I OPENED SUNROOF INSIDE COVER AND THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND IT WAS WHAT HAD EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI #11404010

23,685 miles · Jul 19, 2020
Unknown Or Other

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK DURING A RAINSTORM AROUND 6:30AM ON APRIL 23 2020, WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG. I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT MY SUNROOF HAD BURST AND THERE WERE GLASS FRAGMENTS RAINING ON MY HEAD. I CLOSED THE VISOR TO PREVENT MORE GLASS AND PRECIPITATION FROM …

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SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK DURING A RAINSTORM AROUND 6:30AM ON APRIL 23 2020, WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG. I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT MY SUNROOF HAD BURST AND THERE WERE GLASS FRAGMENTS RAINING ON MY HEAD. I CLOSED THE VISOR TO PREVENT MORE GLASS AND PRECIPITATION FROM FALLING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED UNDER AN AWNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE GLASS HAD BURST OUTWARD (PICTURES ATTACHED), AND THERE WERE NO DENTS OR CHIPS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY SOMETHING. OTHER THAN THE SHATTERED GLASS, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE TIME THE GLASS BURST, MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS, SO THIS COULD NOT HAVE RESULTED FROM ANY SORT OF ROAD DEBRIS KICKED UP BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SUFFERED MINOR CUTS TO MY ARMS AND HEAD, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR INJURIES. MY RX350 HAD FEWER THAN 24K MILES ON IT AND WAS 3 YEARS OLD, SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER BASIC WARRANTY. LEXUS ULTIMATELY DENIED ANY SORT OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR $1,465.

NHTSA ODI #11340199

55,650 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 3:30 PM CST, MY VEHICLE SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THE FRONT FOR AT LEAST 150 METERS.I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT. THE WIND NOISE WAS LOUD AND ALSO I HAD BOOKED THE PARKING OUTSIDE (NON-COVERED) SO I HAD TO GO BACK HOME AND TAKE MY WIFE'S C…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 3:30 PM CST, MY VEHICLE SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THE FRONT FOR AT LEAST 150 METERS.I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT. THE WIND NOISE WAS LOUD AND ALSO I HAD BOOKED THE PARKING OUTSIDE (NON-COVERED) SO I HAD TO GO BACK HOME AND TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR. IN THIS PROCESS, I ALMOST MISSED THE FLIGHT. AS PER THE WEATHER REPORT IT WAS GOING TO RAIN THE NEXT 3 DAYS SO I KNEW I COULDN'T PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE WITH THE BROKEN SUNROOF WHICH WOULD CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED SO WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED IT DIDN'T COME INSIDE AND DIDN'T HURT ME. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS OPEN?

NHTSA ODI #11309736

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2019
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

AFTER REPLACING BATTERY, THE GPS, AUDIO SYSTEM, HEAT CONTROLS, (ENTIRE DISPLAY IS BLANK) THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON-LINE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE..

NHTSA ODI #11286702

47,000 miles · Jun 30, 2019
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I TRY TO START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, I STEP ON AND BREAK AND PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON, THE CAR WON'T START AND WOULD GIVE ME A LOW BREAK POWER LIGHT MESSAGE. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER ABOUT 5 OR 6 TRIES. I ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE NOVEMBER 2018 AND IT ALREADY HAPPENED TO ME LIKE 8 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #11228543

22,000 miles · Nov 26, 2018
Unknown Or Other

POOR BRAKING, DANGEROUSLY AT TIMES. ALSO HAS TO HOLD GAS NOZZLE ALMOST ALL THE TIME WHILE FILLING UP OR THE GAS WILL SHUT OFF EVEN THE TANK IS NOT FULL

NHTSA ODI #11154099

22,865 miles · Oct 10, 2018
EngineUnknown Or OtherFire

I WAS ON MY WAY IN CAR FROM HOME (BRIDGEWATER NJ) WITH MY DAUGHTER TO DROP HER FOR VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE IN HILLSBOROUGH NJ. ABOUT IN 7-10 MINS DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER AND I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AC VENT AND ALSO NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ALERT INDICA…

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I WAS ON MY WAY IN CAR FROM HOME (BRIDGEWATER NJ) WITH MY DAUGHTER TO DROP HER FOR VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE IN HILLSBOROUGH NJ. ABOUT IN 7-10 MINS DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER AND I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AC VENT AND ALSO NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ALERT INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE CAR, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE FRONT HOOD AND SAW THE FIRE BETWEEN RADIATOR AND ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. MY DAUGHTER CALLED HER MOM SAYING OUR CAR IS ON FIRE. MY WIFE SUGGESTED MY DAUGHTER TO VIDEO TAPE THIS. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS VIDEO TAPPING THIS EVENT, THE 911 RESPONDER SUGGESTED WE GET IN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND THAT THE FIRE RESPONDERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THIS INCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES FROM THE CALL, THE FIRE CHIEF ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. BY THIS TIME, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA. WE HEARD THE AIRBAGS AND TIRES EXPLODING. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS STARTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER & FOAM. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY BURNED TO TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE NOTE MY DAUGHTER, 14 YEAR OLD AND I ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND TRAUMATIZED WITH THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING NIGHTMARES FROM THIS AND WE ARE SCARED WITH THIS EVENT.

NHTSA ODI #11139567

5 miles · Apr 27, 2018
Unknown Or Other

LEXUS MADE AN FSPORT PACKAGE FOR THE LEXUS RX350 WHICH THEY HAVE CREATED A SPORT SEAT DESIGN THAT I HAVE NO ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE DRIVER SEAT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHERE MY THIGH IS I GET A SHARP PAIN ON MY LEG AFTER SITTING ON THE SEAT FOR 15 MINUTES. I HAVE GONE TO LEXUS AND COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ISSUE WHICH THEY…

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LEXUS MADE AN FSPORT PACKAGE FOR THE LEXUS RX350 WHICH THEY HAVE CREATED A SPORT SEAT DESIGN THAT I HAVE NO ISSUE FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE DRIVER SEAT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WHERE MY THIGH IS I GET A SHARP PAIN ON MY LEG AFTER SITTING ON THE SEAT FOR 15 MINUTES. I HAVE GONE TO LEXUS AND COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ISSUE WHICH THEY ADMITTED I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SEAT ISSUE, BUT HAVE YET DONE ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PAIN I AM EXPERIENCING.

NHTSA ODI #11090439

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2018
Unknown Or Other

EXPLODING SUNROOF ON NEW CAR, I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AROUND 6:30 AM JANUARY 2018 TO GO TO WORK. AS I WAS STARTING MY CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE I HEARD A LOUD SHATTER. I IMMEDIATELY AND CAREFULLY OPENED THE VISOR BETWEEN ME AND THE SUNROOF IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. SMALL FRAGMENTS OF GLASS WERE POURING INTO MY CAR. I …

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EXPLODING SUNROOF ON NEW CAR, I WAS LEAVING FOR WORK AROUND 6:30 AM JANUARY 2018 TO GO TO WORK. AS I WAS STARTING MY CAR AND PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE I HEARD A LOUD SHATTER. I IMMEDIATELY AND CAREFULLY OPENED THE VISOR BETWEEN ME AND THE SUNROOF IT WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. SMALL FRAGMENTS OF GLASS WERE POURING INTO MY CAR. I WAS NOT EVEN DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED SO THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY A ROCK OR ANOTHER OBJECT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE WINDOW. THE CAR STILL HAS PAPER TAGS ON THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND HAD TO FILE A CLAIM. COST WAS $1200 TO REPAIR AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. I JUST DROPED IT OFF TODAY. NOBODY COULD GIVE ME ANY ANSWERED. APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE, SINCE I HAVE FOUND THIS PAGE THERE ARE 3 MORE SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS OUT OF THE TOTAL OF 29 COMPLAINTS AS OF NOW. I AS WELL FILED A POLICE FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES.

NHTSA ODI #11065319

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.