Problems · NHTSA complaints
2016 Lexus ES300H problems
Owners filed 7 complaints about the 2016 Lexus ES300H with NHTSA between Apr 2016 and Oct 2021. The most-cited component is service brakes (4).
Complaints
7
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes4
- Vehicle speed control1
- Engine1
- Power train1
- Steering1
- Electrical system1
- Air bags1
- Other / unknown2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
0
1
1
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes
4 reports1 crash
“The vehicle started experiencing the vaccum leak in the master brake cylinder/actuator/booster where the booster pump would run continually every 15 seconds causing the danger to brake failure. Dealer was contacted but refused to help. Eventhough toyota prius hybrids and newer and some other toyota that share the same design brake booster and master cylinder has been recalled previously. It is common failing component but dealer does not provide any assistance leaving vehicle owners pay thousands to replace abs brake components and bleed the system. Need your help!”
Vehicle speed control
1 report
“APRIL 26, 2019 WAS DRIVING WITH FAMILY OUR 2016 LEXUS ES300H ON I-44 WEST, HEADING INTO JOPLIN, MO. THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 75 MPH, AND I WAS DRIVING IN LEFTMOST PASSING LANE BEHIND A CAR GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WHICH KEPT MY SPEED ALSO AT 65 MPH. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME MOVED TO AN OPEN LANE TO THE RIGHT, WITH CLEAR PATH IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE TO ALLOW ACCELERATION UP TO 75 MPH. NOTE: IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, SLIGHTLY CLOUDY, ROAD WAS FLAT, NO CURVES. INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY INSTEAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANYTHING I DID TO INCREASE OR MAINTAIN SPEED, WITH VEHICLE QUICKLY COMING TO A STOP AS I MOVED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN AREA SEPARATING THE FREEWAY BEFORE CAR DIED IN THE PASSING LANE. COLLISIONS WAS BARELY AVOIDED AS PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND VEERED INTO MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID HITTING ME OR GETTING REAR ENDED THEMSELVES FROM BEHIND. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP EVEN THOUGH ENTIRE TIME I HAD ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. ONCE STOPPED I EXITED THE CAR, TALKED TO THE OTHER DRIVER, WHO INFORMED ME MY BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ON DURING THE ENTIRE INCIDENT. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR WHICH…”
Engine
1 report
“I HAVE A LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID THAT ADVERTISES 39/40 MPG. I HAVE BEEN GETTING IN THE UPPER 28-31 MPG FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS NOW .WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST MONTH I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BREAK IN FOR 500 MILES. AFTER THAT I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A 2000 MILE BREAK IN . I KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE EXCUSES AND THE RUN AROUND. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVING HABIT. I HAVE A CLASS A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING BIG RIGS FOR OVER 15 YEARS . I NOW HOW TO DRIVE AND I HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD WITH NO INCIDENTS TO DATE. SO THAT EXCUSE WAS ANOTHER PASS-THE-BUCK ROUTINE FROM LEXUS. I LET THIS GO FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, SINCE I WAS DISCOURAGED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM LEXUS. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO UNDERSTAND. I HAD A LEXUS 200 CT PRE PAID LEASE THAT GAVE ME VERY GOOD MPG. I WANTED A LARGER VEHICLE SO AFTER SEEING THE MARONEY 39/40 MPG BOASTED ON THE LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID AND ON MANY NATIONAL ADVERTISEMENTS, I DECIDED TO TURN MY CT 200 IN SIX MONTHS EARLY AT A $2000 PRE PAYMENT LOSS TO ME. THIS…”
Power train
1 report
“WHILE PLACING THE STICK SHIFT IN APPROPRIATE POSITION, THE TOP OF THE SHIFT KNOW BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE GRIP OF STICK. THIS OCCURRED INITIALLY WITH VEHICLE STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. UPON CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP (LEN STOLER, LEXUS OF TOWSON) AND BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, TWO SERVICE REPS AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGREED THAT THE KNOB SHOULD NOT SPIN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER DROPPING THE CAR OFF, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO STATE THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. IF SO, THIS IS A BAD DESIGN. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE TOP PART OF THE STICK SHIF TO BE LOOSE AND SPIN AROUND? THE CHEAP DESIGN IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED.”
Steering
1 report1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.”
Electrical system
1 report1 crash
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.