2016 Lexus ES350: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
21 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 21 complaints (38.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 19.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 4.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.8% |
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 | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System) | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Service Brakes: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Equipment:Electrical:Navigational System(Global Positioning System): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 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 (7). 9 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 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2016: 5; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10862543 · 2016-05-02 (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.
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10872984 · 2016-06-07 (June 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10872984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896708 · 2016-08-17 (August 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916895 · 2016-10-17 (October 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 OP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10916895 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920004 · 2016-10-29 (October 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 DAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920004 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981330 · 2017-04-28 (April 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 P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10981330 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11018760 · 2017-08-21 (August 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11018760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11044398 · 2017-11-08 (November 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 DRIVIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11044398 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V198000 · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 2016-04-07 (April 7, 2016)
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."
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗