2016 Lexus RX350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
58 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
17,866 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 58 complaints (32.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 20.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 19 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 5 |
Unknown Or Other: 19; Air Bags: 9; Service Brakes: 8; Power Train: 7; Electrical System: 5; Engine: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 12 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 4 |
2016: 13; 2017: 15; 2018: 11; 2019: 5; 2020: 10; 2021: 4
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10892295 · 2016-08-01 (August 1, 2016)
MY 2016 LEXUS 350 RX WAS IN THE GARAGE. I NEEDED TO MOVE THE CAR FORWARD SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE. AS SOON AS I RELEASED THE BRAKE, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD WITH GREAT SPEED (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION). THE CAR CRASHED INTO SOME BICYCLES AND SHELVES AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED LEXUS OF TAMPA BAY AND THEY CAME OUT TO PICK IT UP. THAT WAS ALMOST 8 WEEKS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN RESOLVED.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10954465 · 2017-02-14 (February 14, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10954465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10861106 · 2016-04-23 (April 23, 2016)
BRAND NEW CAR. ON FREEWAY MIDDLE LANE IN RUSH HOUR AND LOST THROTTLE. LUCKILYI ABLE TO GET OFF FREEWAY AND CALLED TOW TRUCK AND WENT TO DEALER. TOLD IT IS THROTTLE. 2 MONTH OLD CAR AND 1500 MILES. I AM SCARED IT SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND AM GLAD I DID NOT MEET AN ACCIDENT BUT SCARED ABOUT THIS ESPECIALLY AS NEW CAR. THIS IS SAFETY HAZARD. CAR ERRORS ON PANEL WHEN IT FAILED SAID; ENGINE, THROTTLE, TRANSMISSION, AWD AND SAFETY ERROR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10861106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10967087 · 2017-03-19 (March 19, 2017)
WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, A LOUD GROAN CAN BE HEARD FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE POWERTRAIN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, DURING THE ACCELERATION PROCESS, A DELAY OCCURS FROM THE TIME I STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE HESITATION IS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10967087 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876244 · 2016-06-23 (June 23, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM INTERMITTENTLY DID NOT FUNCTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT BLANK AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNDETERMINED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876244 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11090870 · 2018-04-29 (April 29, 2018)
FIRST PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL WAS WHEN THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WENT COMPLETELY BLANK WHILE DRIVING DURING BROAD DAYLIGHT. DON'T KNOW THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. THOUGHT IT WAS A REBOOT BY ENFORM. THOUGHT NOTHING ABOUT IT. ON 12/21/2017, CHECK ELECTRIC BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED MY CAR IN THE MORNING AFTER IT HAD BEEN SITTING ALL NIGHT. TOOK INTO THE DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH IT OR ANY ERROR CODES INDICATING ANY PROBLEM. THEY RESET THE ERROR LIGHT. ON 4/23/2018, I STOPPED FOR A STOP SIGN AT ABOUT 12:30 PM,…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,731 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10926604 · 2016-11-17 (November 17, 2016)
VEHICLE VIBRATION FELT STANDING STILL AND WORSENS AS ACCELERATION SLOWLY STARTS FORWARD. CONTINUES ALSO AT SLIGHT ACCELERATION AT HIGHER SPEEDS JUST TO MAINTAIN SPEED LIMIT. VIBRATION CAN BE FELT IN STEERING WHEEL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL, GEAR SHIFT AND AT SPECIFIC START UP SPEEDS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. THIS DOES NOT CHANGE WHEN DRIVING ON DIFFERENT SURFACES OR ROADWAYS. VIBRATION HAS BEEN NOTED AND EXPERIENCED ALSO BY DEALERSHIP TECHNICAL PERSONNEL WITH NO REMEDY. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTING SINCE PURCHASING VEHICLE IN JAN 2016 AND DEALERSHIP COMPLAINT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10926604 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10928872 · 2016-11-30 (November 30, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 01/26/2017*CT CARFAX CANNOT PROCESS VIN UPDATED 7/12/18*JB *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316239 · 2020-03-05 (March 5, 2020)
I HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONED FOUR TIMES IN 2 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT RANDOMLY STALLING BRIEFLY WHILE TURNING. OCCASIONALLY I LOSE POWER WHILE GOING UPHILL, AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF MY VEHICLE 'JUMPING' OR SURGING. IT HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT THE MAJORITY IF THE TIME I HAVE NOTICED IT, IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM TURNING OR ACCELERATING. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON, BUT I HAVE HAS THIS ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE OF BUYING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I SAW THE RECALL THAT WAS EXPANDED TODAY ON TOYOTA AND LEX…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11373770 · 2020-11-09 (November 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 I…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,701 miles reported. Look up ODI 11373770 at NHTSA ↗