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2016 Lexus ES 350
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
21 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Lexus ES350 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Lexus ES 350, plotted where owners report it happening.
Brakes
14%3 complaints
“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 DEALE…”
Engine
10%2 complaints
“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.”
Airbags
10%2 complaints
“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 APOLOG…”
Electrical system
10%2 complaints
“DRIVING IN A STORM ALL THE FORWARD LOOKING SENSORS FAILED AS THE SENSOR BECAME COVERED WITH SNOW AND ICE. THESE ARE THE SENSORS THAT CONTROL COLLISION ALERT, LANE DEPA…”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 16V198000
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."
Risk: Insufficient brake fluid pressure may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Lexus ES 350 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every ES 350 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Lexus ES 350 against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.