RoadVitals

2016 Lexus RX350

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
58
Latest Apr 6, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
3
Latest Jan 31, 2018
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
12
6 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 58 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Lexus RX350, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and powertrain (other) categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 190 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags915.3%
  • Brakes813.6%
  • Powertrain (other)711.9%
  • Driver assistance711.9%
  • Visibility58.5%
  • Electrical58.5%
  • Engine58.5%
  • Fuel system35.1%

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

Safety recalls

3 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
18V085000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE; AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

Jan 31, 2018
48,672 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
The 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingManufacturer number JLA, J0FView on NHTSA.gov
16V198000

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC); SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Apr 7, 2016
16,656 units potentially affected
The defect: 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."
The risk: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingManufacturer number G0I, GLCView on NHTSA.gov
16V053000

AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER

Feb 1, 2016
5,072 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A defective inflator may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The 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.
Toyota Motor Engineering & ManufacturingManufacturer number GLAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 58
Filed Apr 6, 2021

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 ID
11406705
Incident
Apr 6, 2021
Mileage
57,294 mi
Filed Mar 20, 2021

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 ID
11404010
Incident
Mar 20, 2021
Mileage
68,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 22, 2021

KELLY EDGE A/S TIRES WENT BALD AFTER 6100 MILES OF LIGHT CITY DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11397341
Incident
Feb 22, 2021
Mileage
62,600 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 21, 2021

RODENT DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS OF MY 2016 LEXUS RX 350 CAUSED BY LEXUS USING A SOY BASE COVERING ON THE WIRES THAT ATTRACT RODENTS. LEXUS TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR THAT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BASE ON ALL THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS AND SHOULD LED TO A RECALL

NHTSA ID
11389298
Incident
Jan 17, 2021
Mileage
65,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 29, 2020

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED

NHTSA ID
11376944
Incident
Nov 29, 2020
Mileage
23,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 9, 2020

THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND SPUTTERING AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 0.1 MILE ON A CITY STREET. AFTER CONTACTING THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, THEY DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS 51,701 MILES ON IT. THE TOWING CHARGE WAS $101, AND THE REPAIRS WERE $808.96. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER, I SAW THAT TOYOTA AND LEXUS WERE RECALLING VARIOUS MODELS AND YEARS WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT WE EXPERIENCED. ALTHOUGH THE 2016 RX350 IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED, I CONTACTED LEXUS BECAUSE THE COINCIDENCE WAS TOO MUCH TO IGNORE. LEXUS ADVISED THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA 20V012000.

NHTSA ID
11373770
Incident
Sep 23, 2020
Mileage
51,701 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 23, 2020

I REPORTED THE SPEEDOMETER ISSUE TO LEXUS CHANTILLY, VA WHEN I DROVE ON HIGHWAY FROM VA TO IN, THE LEXUS SPEEDOMETER SHOWS 83, AND MY WAZE SHOWS 75. ITS 8 MPH DIFFERENCE. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED OF THE MPH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 6 TO 8 MPH. LEXUS SAID, I REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHEN THIS SPEEDOMETER IS DEFECTED BY LEXUS DESIGN. IT HAS DO NOTHING WITH PERSONAL WEAR, ETC. I DROVE OTHER HONDA PILOT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED CORRECTLY AGAINST THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND WAZE APP, BUT THE 2016 LEXUS DOESNT SHOW THE CORRECT BASED ON TRAFFIC FLOW, AND WAZE APP. THE TRAVEL FROM LEESBURG, VA TO INDIAOPOLIS, IN SHOULD BE 547, BUT ENDED AT 601 MILES. IM OK IF ITS JUST FEW MILES DIFFERENCES, BUT 50 MILES PER EVERY 500 MILES IS HUGE, 5% ERROR. I THINK ITS BECAUSE OF SPEEDOMETER AND IMPACT ERROR ACTUAL MILES. I WENT TO LEXUS CHANTILLY, VA TO PERFORM RECALL FOR OTHER THING, DOOR HANDLE, BUT THEY SAID, WONT LOOK AT SPEEDOMETER ISSUE, UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. THEN I CALLED LEXUS CORPORATION TO OPEN THE CASE, AND THE LEXUS CASE MANAGER WONT HONOR OR FIX MY ISSUE. THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY LEXUS DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE ISSUE. I HAVE 4 PHOTOS TO ATTACH.. CAN YOU ASSIST ME TO CONTACT LEXUS TO FIX BASED ON PHOTOS. THANK YOU... I CAN BE REACHED VIA [XXX] - [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11360842
Incident
Sep 13, 2020
Airbags
Filed Jul 28, 2020
Crash reported1 injury reported

A BROADSIDE COLLISION CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR, INJURY TO THE DRIVER WITH FORCE OF THE COLLISION, AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
11341947
Incident
Jan 10, 2020
Mileage
55,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Bulletin

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

SPOC: Effective immediately, Lexus is issuing a stop sale on part numbers 85212-YZZ2L-LX & 85212-YZZ2M-LX, which may have a quality concern relating to a missing kit component (mispack). Lexus is requesting the return of ALL Dealer inventory of these parts to your facing PDC for credit and inspection.

LSB000323

AIR BAGS; BACK OVER PREVENTION

TSB: Some 2016 ? 2022 model year RX 350 vehicles may exhibit a droning noise from the exhaust system at takeoff or under light acceleration. Countermeasure parts are available to reduce the droning noise. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to address this condition.

LSB000318

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OBSOLETE NOTICE February 02, 2023: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0003-23.

19LE05 Technical

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

TI: 19LE05 Expired December 1, 2022

19LE05 Dealer Pa

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

DP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.

KLG Dealer Packa

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

DP: Limited Service Campaign KLG expired December 01, 2022

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus RX350 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023410—
2022100039.6
2021110—
2020710—
2019313047.0
2018181043.1
2017463055.8
2016Viewing583053.7
2015421045.1
2014150047.2
2013591046.1
2012331051.6
2011301051.4
2010941051.4
2009970037.3
20081260039.8
20071671147.4
2006011—
2005011—
2004011—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.