YearToAvoid

2016 Lexus RX350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2016 Lexus RX350 has a complaint index of 67 and ranks 7th worst out of 19 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Owners logged 58 complaints, mostly involving the engine, airbags, and brakes, plus 3 recalls.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
67/100
#7 of 19 RX350 years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
58
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
11
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
6
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
22.5
19.5 city / 26.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0

Top 2016 Lexus RX350 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Other19 (33%)
  2. Engine10 (17%)
  3. Airbags9 (16%)
  4. Brakes8 (14%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain7 (12%)
  6. Electrical System6 (10%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers5 (9%)
  8. Fuel System3 (5%)
  9. Steering3 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some drivers report unintended acceleration when shifting into drive or park, with the vehicle surging forward and crashing into objects in the garage or driveway.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in front-end and rear-end collisions, in some cases even at low speeds around 30-35 mph.
  • Owners describe the brake pedal traveling to the floor without stopping the vehicle, leading to rear-end collisions while exiting highways or approaching red lights.
  • One owner reported smoke coming from the AC vent and front hood while driving, with no dashboard warning before the fire.
  • A driver noted an unusual sound from the air conditioner tied to a Takata recall, described by Lexus as a design characteristic rather than a defect.
2016 Lexus RX350 complaints: complaints filed per month3Mar 2016Oct 2016Mar 2017Aug 2017Apr 2018Nov 2018Feb 2020Nov 2020
58 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2016 to Apr 2021; peak Jun 2016 (3).

2016 Lexus RX350 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 18V085000Jan 31, 2018Airbags48,672 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 16V198000Apr 7, 2016Brakes16,656 vehicles

    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."

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 16V053000Feb 1, 2016Airbags5,072 vehicles

    Air bags:knee bolster

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2016 Lexus RX350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19.5 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
22.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,875
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other RX350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Good2815021
2015Caution5042121
2016Caution6758322.5
2017Caution5646322.5
2018Good3318122

All Lexus RX350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Lexus RX350 reliable?
NHTSA lists 58 complaints for the 2016 RX350, giving it a complaint index of 67 and a Caution verdict. It ranks 7th worst among the 19 model years with data, so it is more problematic than most other RX350 years but not the worst.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Lexus RX350?
Owner complaints center on the engine (17% of complaints), airbags (16%), brakes (14%), and transmission/powertrain (12%). The engine category also shows 3 crashes and 1 fire linked to it.
Does the 2016 Lexus RX350 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2016 RX350: one for a brake actuator issue, and two related to airbag defects, including an improper weld in the knee airbag assembly. None of these are do-not-drive recalls.
Which Lexus RX350 model years are worse than 2016?
Several years rank worse than 2016, including 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, all of which carry an Avoid verdict with higher complaint indexes than the 2016 model's 67.
What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Lexus RX350?
The 2016 RX350 gets an EPA-rated 22.5 mpg combined (19.5 city / 26.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,875.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.