RoadVitals

2016 Lexus ES Hybrid Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
7
Latest Oct 10, 2021
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 Lexus ES Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Brakes440.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%
  • Airbags110.0%
  • Engine110.0%
  • Powertrain (other)110.0%
  • Steering110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

The vehicle started experiencing the vaccum leak in the master brake cylinder/actuator/booster where the booster pump would run continually every 15 seconds causing the danger to brake failure. Dealer was contacted but refused to help. Eventhough toyota prius hybrids and newer and some other toyota that share the same design brake booster and master cylinder has been recalled previously. It is common failing component but dealer does not provide any assistance leaving vehicle owners pay thousands to replace abs brake components and bleed the system. Need your help!

NHTSA ID 11436189 · filed Oct 10, 2021

I ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY BRAKING ON ELEVATED HIGHWAY DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. PRESSED FIRMLY ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING. NOTHING. BEGAN PUMPING ON BRAKES AND STILL NOTHING. STEERED CAR AWAY FROM BRAKING VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND VEERED CAR INTO MEDIAN WALL TO AVOID REAR END COLLISION. . SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR, BUT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND AVOIDED HITTING ANY OTHER CARS. I'VE HAD ABS ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THERE WAS NO BRAKING. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO HITTING THE INTERIOR HIGHWAY WALL. THIS IS A CERTIFIED LEXUS VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED JUST OVER ONE YEAR AGO (12/31/19). I JUST HAD MY SECOND SIX MONTH CHECK UP COVERED BY LEXUS UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 36K MILES.

NHTSA ID 11396375 · filed Feb 15, 2021

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

APRIL 26, 2019 WAS DRIVING WITH FAMILY OUR 2016 LEXUS ES300H ON I-44 WEST, HEADING INTO JOPLIN, MO. THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 75 MPH, AND I WAS DRIVING IN LEFTMOST PASSING LANE BEHIND A CAR GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WHICH KEPT MY SPEED ALSO AT 65 MPH. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME MOVED TO AN OPEN LANE TO THE RIGHT, WITH CLEAR PATH IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE TO ALLOW ACCELERATION UP TO 75 MPH. NOTE: IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, SLIGHTLY CLOUDY, ROAD WAS FLAT, NO CURVES. INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY INSTEAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANYTHING I DID TO INCREASE OR MAINTAIN SPEED, WITH VEHICLE QUICKLY COMING TO A STOP AS I MOVED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN AREA SEPARATING THE FREEWAY BEFORE CAR DIED IN THE PASSING LANE. COLLISIONS WAS BARELY AVOIDED AS PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND VEERED INTO MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID HITTING ME OR GETTING REAR ENDED THEMSELVES FROM BEHIND. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP EVEN THOUGH ENTIRE TIME I HAD ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. ONCE STOPPED I EXITED THE CAR, TALKED TO THE OTHER DRIVER, WHO INFORMED ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR WHICH WAS STILL RUNNING, CAR ONCE AGAIN RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED, AND WE CONTINUED OUR JOURNEY. IT APPEARS THE PRE COLLISION SYSTEM WHICH THIS CAR HAD TURNED ON AT THE TIME IMPROPERLY ENGAGED, EVEN THOUGH NOTHING WAS IN FRONT TO HAVE CAUSED PROPER ACTIVATION. WE WERE LUCKY, WE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN REAR ENDED BY A SEMI-TRUCK AS THEY HEAVILY TRAVEL THIS FREEWAY, OR POSSIBLY BEEN IN A LOCATION WHERE THERE WAS NOT A GOOD SHOULDER TO ALLOW THE QUICK STOP WITH MINIMAL IMPACT TO TRAFFIC GOING AT HIGH SPEED.

NHTSA ID 11209302 · filed May 22, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.

NHTSA ID 10860565 · filed Apr 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE A LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID THAT ADVERTISES 39/40 MPG. I HAVE BEEN GETTING IN THE UPPER 28-31 MPG FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS NOW .WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST MONTH I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BREAK IN FOR 500 MILES. AFTER THAT I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A 2000 MILE BREAK IN . I KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE EXCUSES AND THE RUN AROUND. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVING HABIT. I HAVE A CLASS A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING BIG RIGS FOR OVER 15 YEARS . I NOW HOW TO DRIVE AND I HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD WITH NO INCIDENTS TO DATE. SO THAT EXCUSE WAS ANOTHER PASS-THE-BUCK ROUTINE FROM LEXUS. I LET THIS GO FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, SINCE I WAS DISCOURAGED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM LEXUS. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO UNDERSTAND. I HAD A LEXUS 200 CT PRE PAID LEASE THAT GAVE ME VERY GOOD MPG. I WANTED A LARGER VEHICLE SO AFTER SEEING THE MARONEY 39/40 MPG BOASTED ON THE LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID AND ON MANY NATIONAL ADVERTISEMENTS, I DECIDED TO TURN MY CT 200 IN SIX MONTHS EARLY AT A $2000 PRE PAYMENT LOSS TO ME. THIS DECISION WAS SOLELY BASED ON THE PROCLAIMED ADVERTISEMENT CLAIMS UNDER FEDERAL LAW AND TESTING UPDATES THAT I SOLELY RELIED ON . I NOW FEEL THAT I WAS EXPLOITED TO LEASE MY 300 ES HYBRID UNDER FALSE ADVERTISMENT CLAIMS AND FRUADULENT CLAIMS BY LEXUS.WHY DO I SAY THAT? BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER GIVEN ME ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE MILEAGE CLAIMED , NEVER HAVE I HAD 35 + MILES ON THIS VEHICLE AND MOST OF THE TIME ALWAYS EXCLUSIVELY IN THE 29-31 MPG RANGE. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM I CAUSED. THIS IS A PROBLEM LEXUS CAUSED. I HAVE BEEN CHEATED AND DECEIVED AND IGNORED, TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO . I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THEY GAVE ME A SONG AN D DANCE STORY. SINCE THEY NEED THE CAR FOR A WHILE TO CHECK THIS.

NHTSA ID 11129222 · filed Sep 13, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE PLACING THE STICK SHIFT IN APPROPRIATE POSITION, THE TOP OF THE SHIFT KNOW BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE GRIP OF STICK. THIS OCCURRED INITIALLY WITH VEHICLE STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. UPON CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP (LEN STOLER, LEXUS OF TOWSON) AND BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, TWO SERVICE REPS AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGREED THAT THE KNOB SHOULD NOT SPIN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER DROPPING THE CAR OFF, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO STATE THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. IF SO, THIS IS A BAD DESIGN. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE TOP PART OF THE STICK SHIF TO BE LOOSE AND SPIN AROUND? THE CHEAP DESIGN IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID 10934805 · filed Dec 12, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.

NHTSA ID 10860565 · filed Apr 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.

NHTSA ID 10860565 · filed Apr 20, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .