RoadVitals

2016 Lexus ES350 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
21
Latest May 4, 2022
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.
1
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since May 2, 2016

What this page shows

Our database holds 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Lexus ES350. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–21 of 21

SteeringSuspension
Filed May 4, 2022

Steering wheel vibrations after 65 MPH is reach, more noticeable when vehicle has reached the speed and cruising. Had tires rebalanced and rotated and issue still persists. The vibration feels like when a wheel lock is loose or missing.

NHTSA ID
11463348
Incident
Apr 27, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2022

2016 Lexus ES350 with the 2nd row sunroof. While driving the car the front sunroof shattered without cause, sending glass pieces into the cabin creating a very dangerous situation. This appears to be a problem that has happened many times before as there are many people that have talked about this issue. Lexus denied fault.

NHTSA ID
11460004
Incident
Apr 5, 2022
Filed Dec 22, 2021

Effective in 2022 all cellular carriers are upgrading to 5G. With this transition a majority of vehicles will no longer be able to use their vehicles emergency crash response systems. In my 2016 Lexus ES350 the Emergency SOS system utilizes 3G cellular service which will be turned off in 2022 making an automated call in the event of a crash impossible. The DOT needs to block this measure as owners of vehicles should not be forced to purchase a newer vehicle simply for emergency services.

NHTSA ID
11444708
Incident
Dec 22, 2021
Filed Jul 5, 2021

At 1 p.m. July 5, 2021, I was driving on the expressway on a short trip from home (about 5 miles). Temperature outside was 83 degrees, inside car 70 degrees. No overpasses, nearby cars, or debris noted from roadway. We heard a loud explosion. Seeing no other vehicles, feeling nothing wrong with the tires, or broken mirrors, I cracked open the moon roof slightly and noticed shattered glass. Fortunately, we had the interior moon roof flap of the vehicle closed which prevented the shards from falling on us. There was no warning that this would happen. As it is a holiday, I am awaiting a response from both the insurance company and the dealership. You will note the "upward" explosion that would not be typical of an object coming from the road. We noted nothing from the road or sky (partly cloudy day).

NHTSA ID
11423477
Incident
Jul 5, 2021
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 2021

I BOUGHT USED 2016 LEXUS ES350, MILES 84000, AND AFTER A MONTH I HEARD RATTLING NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. MOST LIKELY FROM WATER PUMP PULLY.

NHTSA ID
11406389
Incident
Apr 3, 2021
Filed Oct 29, 2020

ON FEB. 25, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 7 AM I WAS DRIVING ALONG A LOCAL ROUTE IN HICKSVILLE, NY IN MY 2016 LEXUS ES 350 TRAVELING APPROX. 40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I HEARD GLASS RATTLING AROUND ON MY ROOF. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT MY SUNROOF (PANORAMIC ROOF) HAD SHATTERED INTO 1 THOUSAND PIECES.

NHTSA ID
11367051
Incident
Feb 25, 2020
Mileage
35,000 mi
Filed Oct 7, 2020

ON OCTOBER 7 AT APPROXIMATELY 5 AM I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 285 EASTBOUND IN ATLANTA GEORGIA. I WAS DRIVING MY 2016 LEXUS ES 350. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES AN HOUR. ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I HEARD GLASS RATTLING AROUND ON MY ROOF. I PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED INTO 1 MILLION PIECES

NHTSA ID
11363194
Incident
Oct 7, 2020
Mileage
66,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jul 15, 2019
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY EITHER DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. LEXUS OF MILWAUKEE LOCATED AT 1433 W SILVER SPRING DR, MILWAUKEE, WI 53209, (414) 386-5749, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND QUESTIONED ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V198000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) SOMETIME IN 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID
11231877
Incident
Jul 11, 2019
Mileage
24,000 mi
Filed Apr 12, 2019

THIN WINDSHIELD. WINDSHIELD MUST BE EXTREMELY THIN. I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED LEXUS OCT 2016. WINDSHIELD CRACKED STARTING FROM LEFT BLACK BORDER AROUND WINDSHIELD. SAFELITE REPLACED IT. 6 DAYS LATER, DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND IT CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE STARTING FROM THE BLACK BORDER. NO ROCKS HIT IT. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 35 YEARS AND NEVER REPLACED A WINDSHIELD. NOW 2 IN 6 DAYS. SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT LEXUS.

NHTSA ID
11195857
Incident
Apr 12, 2019
Mileage
28,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SIDE COVER WAS CLOSED DUE TO THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000.

NHTSA ID
11186732
Incident
Mar 14, 2019
Mileage
31,000 mi
Filed Jan 2, 2019

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
11164635
Incident
Dec 27, 2018
Mileage
56,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 2018

WEAK BRAKE

NHTSA ID
11152933
Incident
Aug 24, 2018
Mileage
12,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 11, 2017

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 ID
11053832
Incident
Dec 9, 2017
Airbags
Filed Nov 8, 2017

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 ID
11044398
Incident
Sep 15, 2017
Filed Aug 21, 2017

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 ID
11018760
Incident
May 30, 2017
Mileage
6,700 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 28, 2017

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 ID
10981330
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Driver assistanceFuel system
Filed Oct 29, 2016

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 ID
10920004
Incident
Oct 5, 2016
Mileage
2,850 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 17, 2016

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 ID
10916895
Incident
Feb 1, 2016
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 2016

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 ID
10896708
Incident
Apr 15, 2016
Mileage
2,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2016

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 ID
10872984
Incident
Jun 7, 2016
Mileage
5,000 mi
Filed May 2, 2016

THE CAR HAS A SYSTEM JUST LIKE A COMPUTER. THE 'MOUSE' HAS A LIGHT THAT FLITS OVER THE SCREEN. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AND I FIND IT MORE DANGEROUS THEN TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. YOU REALLY SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS.

NHTSA ID
10862543
Incident
Jan 1, 2016
Mileage
50 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .