Home · 2016 Lexus RX 350h · Complaints

What 85 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Lexus RX 350h

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (85)Crash / fire / injury (13)Brakes (12)Transmission & drivetrain (11)Airbags (10)Body & structure (9)Electrical system (9)Engine (9)Visibility & wipers (7)Speed control (5)Fuel system (4)Steering (3)

13 of 85 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Mar 7, 2023BrakesCrash

2016 LEXUS RX-360. CONSUMER STATED THAT FAILED TO STOP WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11510552

Jul 28, 2020AirbagsCrash1 injury

A BROADSIDE COLLISION CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR, INJURY TO THE DRIVER WITH FORCE OF THE COLLISION, AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11341947

Sep 23, 2019AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* 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. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V085000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. *TT *AS

NHTSA ODI 11257368

Oct 10, 2018EngineFire

I WAS ON MY WAY IN CAR FROM HOME (BRIDGEWATER NJ) WITH MY DAUGHTER TO DROP HER FOR VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE IN HILLSBOROUGH NJ. ABOUT IN 7-10 MINS DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER AND I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AC VENT AND ALSO NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ALERT INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE CAR, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE FRONT HOOD AND SAW THE FIRE BETWEEN RADIATOR AND ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. MY DAUGHTER CALLED HER MOM SAYING OUR CAR IS ON FIRE. MY WIFE SUGGESTED MY DAUGHTER TO VIDEO TAPE THIS. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS VIDEO TAPPING THIS EVENT, THE 911 RESPONDER SUGGESTED WE GET IN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND THAT THE FIRE RESPONDERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THIS INCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES FROM THE CALL, THE FIRE CHIEF ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. BY THIS TIME, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA. WE HEARD THE AIRBAGS AND TIRES EXPLODING. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS STARTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER & FOAM. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY BURNED TO TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE NOTE MY DAUGHTER, 14 YEAR OLD AND I ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND TRAUMATIZED WITH THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING NIGHTMARES FROM THIS AND WE ARE SCARED WITH THIS EVENT.

NHTSA ODI 11139567

Jul 31, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngineCrash

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. WE DID REPORT IT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A SERVICE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SLASH TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FOOT WAS GOING ON TO THE BREAK AND THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR INTO THE CENTER POST OF A 2 CAR GARAGE. I LUCKILY WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT. IT TOOK DOWN BOTH GARAGE DOORS AND THE CENTER PILLAR ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REBUILT AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11114970

Dec 22, 2017BrakesCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LEGS, CHEST, AND BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED LEXUS OF TOWSON (1040 YORK ROAD, TOWSON, MD 21204; 410-769-9400) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE VEHICLE HAVING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11056148

Dec 20, 2017AirbagsBody & structureEngineCrash3 injuries

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 ODI 11055748

Nov 11, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash

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. THE CAR WENT ON TO A GAS STATION LOT. I CONTINUED TURNING TO AVOID THE GAS PUMPS, STILL MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR KEPT GOING AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A POLE ON THE GAS STATION LOT. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE DEPRESSED, THEY FELT AS IF THE CONSUMER WAS STEPPING ON A BRICK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME DEFECT, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11045283

Aug 5, 2017AirbagsBrakesCrash

I HIT OTHER CAR I PRESS BREAK . BRAKE NOT WORK AIR BAG NOT COME OUT, PRECOLUATION NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11013044

Apr 18, 2017Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesCrash

I WILL GIVE YOU A BRIEF DESCRIPTION AS TO WHAT OCCURRED. I ENTERED OUR GARAGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF BACKING THE LEXUS OUT OF THE GARAGE SO WE COULD LOAD NEWLY PURCHASED PATIO FURNITURE INTO THE GARAGE. I ENTERED THE LEXUS, APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDDLE TO START THE AUTOMOBILE. ONCE THE AUTO WAS STARTED, KEEPING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO ALLOW MY SHIFTING, I MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND TO MY SURPRISE, THE CAR BEGAN MOVING WITH NEVER REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. IT IS A VERY TIGHT SQUEEZE BACKING OUT OF OUR GARAGE SO WHEN THE CAR STARTED MOVING, I PRESSED MORE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE PROGRESS AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE HARDER AND WHEN IT KEPT CONTINUING TO NOT RESPOND, I TRIED TO LOCATE THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM BY PUSHING WITH MY LEFT FOOT ON THE FLOOR TRYING TO ENGAGE IT. THE WHOLE INCIDENT LASTED ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS CAUSING THE COLLISION TO OCCUR. THIS WAS REPORTED TO HARTFORD INSURANCE COMPANY AUTO CLAIM # PA0016731644 WHOSE ULTIMATE CONCLUSION WAS AS FOLLOWS: "UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION WE DETERMINED....THE TOYOTA MOTOR COMPANY TO BE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY." MY LAST COMMUNICATION WITH TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA WAS WITH CARLOS GARCIA IN THE LEGAL CLAIMS DEPARTMENT DATED FEBRUARY 10TH, 2017, COPY ATTACHED ALSO ATTACHED IS MY CORRESPONDENCE OF MAY 11, 2016 THE BOTTOM LINE IS TOYOTA HAS NOT CONDUCTED AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION OF A SIGNIFICANT FAILURE IN THE DESIGN/MANUFACTURE OF THEIR AUTOMOBILE. THEY ARE TOTALLY RELYING ON HEARSAY EVIDENCE WHICH IS THIRD HAND AND FALSE, HOPING THIS WILL ALL GO AWAY. I MADE MY AUTOMOBILE AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL AS MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO WITNESSED THE EVENT. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A INNOCENT CHILD THAT WAS DAMAGED, RATHER THAN ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE FOR YOU, IF REQUESTED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN.

NHTSA ODI 10979064

Feb 14, 2017BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR, BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FOR THE HIGHWAY PATROL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED, BUT NOT DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 10954465

Oct 2, 2016AirbagsBody & structureSeatsCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT 30-35 MILES PER HOUR I HIT A MINI VAN FROM BEHIND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MY LEXUS AT THIS POINT HAD 2500 MILES WAS 3 MONTHS OLD AND I WAS DRIVING ALONE WITH NO PASSENGERS. WHEN I HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE EVERY AIRBAG (AROUND 12) DEPLOYED WHICH IN CONJUCTION WITH SEEMINGLY MINOR EXTERIOR DAMAGE RESULTED IN THIS BRAND NEW CAR BEING TOTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 10911024

Aug 1, 2016Speed controlCrash

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 ODI 10892295

Working with the data? Download all 85 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 21, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Lexus RX 350h verdict →