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Research · Midsize Cars

2016 Lexus ES350Recalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 21 owner complaints for the 2016 Lexus ES350. Most complaints involve service brakes (3) and engine (2). The EPA rates it 24 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

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Combined MPG
24mpg
EPA · 1 version
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Apr 2016
Owner complaints
21
Top: service brakes
Fuel cost / yr
$2,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Service brakes

Free remedy

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."

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Apr 7, 2016NHTSA 16V198000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

21 complaints filed with NHTSA · May 2016 – May 2022
  1. Service brakes3
  2. Engine2
  3. Air bags2
  4. Electrical system2
  5. Vehicle speed control2
  6. Steering1
  7. Suspension1
  8. Structure1
  9. Visibility1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each ES350 model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2007664
2008323
2009173
2010178
2011197
2012116
201350
201428
201516
201621
201722
20185
20200
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Service brakes

3 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO SLOW OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY EITHER DRIVERS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. LEXUS OF MILWAUKEE LOCATED AT 1433 W SILVER SPRING DR, MILWAUKEE, WI 53209, (414) 386-5749, WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND QUESTIONED ABOUT POSSIBLE RECALLS FOR WHICH THE VEHICLE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V198000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL) SOMETIME IN 2017. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *DT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2019Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11231877

Engine

2 reports
“I BOUGHT USED 2016 LEXUS ES350, MILES 84000, AND AFTER A MONTH I HEARD RATTLING NOISE FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. MOST LIKELY FROM WATER PUMP PULLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 5, 2021EngineODI 11406389

Air bags

2 reports1 crash
“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 DRIVING AN UNSAFE CAR FOR OVER 2 MONTHS AND AM WORRIED I AM AT RISK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2017Air bagsODI 11044398
All 2016 ES350 problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

1 version rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S6)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
ES 350
Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
213124$2,600363
  • ES 350
    Auto (S6), 6 cyl, 3.5 L
    21 city · 31 hwy · $2,600/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Lexus ES350 4 DR FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
4 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
11.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 10093
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 ES350 questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Lexus ES350 have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Lexus ES350 problems?

Owners filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are service brakes (3), engine (2), air bags (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Lexus ES350 get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Lexus ES350 at 24 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).

How safe is the 2016 Lexus ES350?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Lexus ES350 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026