2016 Lexus RX350 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 RX350 most often describe brakes that feel weak or do not slow the car, and hesitation, stalling, or sudden loss of power while driving. Other common themes are sunroof glass that breaks without an impact, unexpected movement when shifting, and airbags that did not deploy in collisions. Mileage varies widely, but the shifting reports with recorded mileage are all under 15,000 miles, while the sunroof reports fall between roughly 23,000 and 68,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes feel weak or fail to stop the car

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2021

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor, poor braking, and a car that kept moving after the brake was pressed, in some cases ending in a crash. A complaint describes a knocking sound that the service center traced to a failing brake vacuum pump. According to complaints, the shop reported nothing wrong after an earlier check, and the problem later returned. Reported between about 10,000 and 57,000 miles, sometimes at low speed, such as at a red light or while exiting a highway.

   Recall 16V198000

   What to check: On a test drive, check the brake pedal feel and stopping, and ask the dealer to inspect any knocking sound from the engine area, since a complaint links such a sound to a failing brake vacuum pump. Ask whether recall 16V198000, which covers an ABS actuator on certain 2016 RX350 builds, has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We took a car for lease from Lexus. The first week, we realized the brakes weren't working well. We took the car to the shop and they said nothing was wrong. Then, a couple of months later it happened again and they said the same thing. Last week, after 2 years, I was driving and so was my daughter ( two different times ) and we couldn't break the car. The car drove right past the intersection on a red light. Thank god there was no pedestrians or vehicles at that second. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11182678, filed 2019-02, 15,000 miles

   “Was making a left turn on to a bridge, the car pulled the right a little, I pulled to the left a little to straightened it back up applying the brakes, the car would not stop. There was a line of cars at the red light, I continued applying the brakes, the car would not stop and was picking up speed. I pulled to the left to avoid all the cars. Car still would not stop inspite of pressing my foot hard on the brake. The car continued moving went across a large street, still turning the car to the left to avoid other cars. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11045283, filed 2017-11, 10,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Hesitation, stalling, or sudden loss of power

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 24,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2020

   Owners describe a delay after pressing the accelerator, the car not accelerating at a stop light, and a sudden loss of throttle on the freeway. Other reports describe the engine stalling briefly while turning, losing power on hills, and surging or jumping. A complaint says the dealer determined the fuel pump needed replacement after the car stalled and sputtered soon after starting to drive, and another says the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Reported from about 1,500 to 52,000 miles, sometimes at low speed when pulling away from a stop or while turning.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation when pulling away from a stop and during a highway on-ramp, and ask the dealer whether any engine or fuel-system codes were stored. Ask whether the fuel pump has been checked, since a complaint describes a pump replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11316239, filed 2020-03, 33,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10967087, filed 2017-03, 4,000 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Sunroof glass shatters without an impact

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 29,342 mi at 4.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2021

   Owners describe a sudden loud bang while driving, after which the sunroof glass was found shattered with fragments falling into the cabin. Some say the glass broke outward, the roof showed no dents or chips, and nothing had struck the car. A complaint describes the sunroof failing on a new car with paper tags still on it, and the owner filed an insurance claim. Reported between about 23,000 and 68,000 miles, and also on a new car with temporary tags still attached.

   What to check: Inspect the sunroof glass closely for hidden cracks or chips, and ask the seller whether the glass has ever been replaced. Ask the dealer whether any sunroof-related service bulletin or warranty coverage applies to the glass.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 complaint #11404010, filed 2021-03, 68,000 miles

   “Sunroof spontaneously exploded. I was driving about 45mph on my way to work during a rainstorm around 6:30am on april 23 2020, when I suddenly heard a very loud bang. I looked up to see that my sunroof had burst and there were glass fragments raining on my head. I closed the visor to prevent more glass and precipitation from falling into the vehicle, and pulled under an awning to assess the damage. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11340199, filed 2020-07, 23,685 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Sudden movement or lurching when shifting

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 10,450 mi at 1.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2020

   Owners describe the car moving forward or in reverse unexpectedly when shifting out of Park or into Drive, including a case where the car hit garage posts. Others describe erratic, rough shifts at startup and a sudden jerk at various speeds. According to complaints, the dealer said the startup shifting was normal, and a technician reset the transmission following bulletin instructions. Every case with recorded mileage is under 15,000 miles, and some were reported within the first 1,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for sudden movement when shifting from Park to Reverse and into Drive while braking. Ask the dealer whether any transmission-related service bulletin has been applied, since complaints mention a bulletin-based reset.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This car experienced an unintended acceleration at the top of my driveway while being put into park. The car took off and hit the center posts of the two car garage and only stopped because it was caught on the supports in the foundation. We had experienced this sudden unintended acceleration several times during the first year we own the car when we were getting onto the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11114970, filed 2018-07, 14,900 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10892295, filed 2016-08, 6,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in collisions

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 15,000 mi at 2.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2020

   Owners describe collisions, including side impacts and front-end crashes, in which the airbags did not deploy. In another case, the airbags did not deploy after the brake pedal went to the floor and the car struck the vehicle ahead, with no warning lights shown. Reported between about 12,000 and 55,000 miles, and every case in this group involved a collision.

   Recall 18V0850001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether recall 18V085000, which covers airbag pressure and acceleration sensors, has been completed. Ask whether the service bulletin for an intermittent warning light with a center airbag sensor code has been applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Auto accident / other driver fault- 20 + miles per hour in motion front end collision/ impact . Frame damage to both sides of SUV. Total 3 passengers. No airbags deployed on front driver. No airbags deployed at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #11055748, filed 2017-12, 25,000 miles

   “The contact owned a 2016 Lexus RX350. While accelerating from a stop sign at approximately 10 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the driver's side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact was transported to the emergency room where a cat scan was completed, which showed a large hematoma on the contact's head. The contact also mentioned that he took blood thinner medication and later his entire face turned black and blue. A police report was filed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11257368, filed 2019-09, 15,000 miles

Buying note. Someone considering a 2016 RX350 may want to ask a dealer to check whether the airbag sensor recall and the ABS actuator recall have been completed, using the vehicle identification number. A test drive focused on brake response, shifting from a stop, and the condition of the sunroof glass can show whether these themes apply to a specific car.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.