NHTSA — Unknown Or Other Problems

2016 Lexus RX 350 (Page 1 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,566 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Lexus RX 350 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2016 Lexus RX 350 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #21

Feb 172023

RX 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The vehicle sustained water damage due to Hurricane Ida in September 2021 and was repaired at the dealership. In February 2023, the battery needed replacing for a third time since then and I was told that the front and rear carpeting was soaking wet, again, and it was due to the moonroof rails being clogged. The vehicle is currently at the dealership being assessed and repairs should be borne by the dealer/manufacturer; NOT THE CONSUMER. If this is specific to my vehicle only, then I have a lemon. If it has happened to others, then it should be recalled.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

problem #20

Apr 292021

RX 350

  • miles
On April 29 while travelling on I185 toward Columbus, GA I heard a loud noise followed by the sound of crumbled glass. When I could find a safe place to pull over, I looked and discovered that my moonroof had shattered. Had the curtain under the moonroof had not been drawn, I would have been hit with the shattered glass, probably resulting in my loss of control over the vehicle at interstate speed, resulting in a serious accident or death. I returned immediately to my dealership, Hennessy Lexus in Duluth, Georgia. They contacted the Lexus regional manager, who denied Lexus' responsibility for the failure. I did, (and needed to) have the moonroof repaired by the dealership. I also contacted Lexus Corporate office by phone, and sent them by email a copy of photos of the broken moonroof and the invoice for the repair. They passed my inquiry down to the regional manager (again) who again denied Lexus responsibility for the failure. The failure occurred in fair weather on a highway with very little traffic, trees or overpasses, and there was no reason to believe that any outside forces caused the failure. I feel that this potentially dangerous failure is a result of poor manufacture or design.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

problem #19

Apr 062021

RX 350

  • 57,294 miles
Knocking sound coming from the engine at ~50K miles. Took it to a Lexus service center and was informed that the sound was from a failing brake vacuum pump. If not addressed, the failing pump could make braking the vehicle extremely difficult and potentially cause an accident. The 2017 Rx350S have a recall for this exact issue but nothing for the 2016 Rx350S. Disappointed that a vehicle that has been diligently maintained with only ~50K miles is already having issues with failing parts that could cause a serious accident.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #18

Mar 202021

RX 350

  • 68,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Shreveport, LA, USA

problem #17

Apr 232020

RX 350

  • 23,685 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. The glass had burst outward (pictures attached), and there were no dents or chips on the outside of the vehicle indicating that it could have been struck by something. Other than the shattered glass, there was no debris on the inside of the vehicle. Additionally, at the time the glass burst, my vehicle was the only car on the road within several hundred meters, so this could not have resulted from any sort of road debris kicked up by another vehicle. I suffered minor cuts to my arms and head, but did not have any major injuries. My RX350 had fewer than 24K miles on it and was 3 years old, so it should have been covered under basic warranty. Lexus ultimately denied any sort of manufacturer defect, and did not honor the warranty. I had the vehicle repaired at a Lexus dealership for $1,465.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

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problem #16

Feb 052020

RX 350

  • 55,650 miles
While I was driving on the highway around 3:30 pm cst, my vehicle sunroof just exploded and the glass shattered. There were no vehicles in the front for at least 150 meters.I was on my way to the airport. The wind noise was loud and also I had booked the parking outside (non-covered) so I had to go back home and take my wife's car. In this process, I almost missed the flight. As per the weather report it was going to rain the next 3 days so I knew I couldn't park the car outside with the broken sunroof which would cause further damage. Fortunately, the sunroof was closed so when the glass shattered it didn't come inside and didn't hurt me. I am not sure what would have happened if it was open?

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #15

Nov 152019

RX 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After replacing battery, the gps, audio system, heat controls, (entire display is blank) the dealer said they don't know what happened. There are numerous identical complaints on-line having the same issue..

- Milton, MA, USA

problem #14

Jun 302019

RX 350

  • 47,000 miles
When I try to start at the beginning of the day, I step on and break and press the ignition button, the car won't start and would give me a low break power light message. It will eventually start after about 5 or 6 tries. I only had the car since November 2018 and it already happened to me like 8 times.

- Ventura, CA, USA

problem #13

Nov 012018

RX 350

  • 22,000 miles
Poor braking, dangerously at times. Also has to hold gas nozzle almost all the time while filling up or the gas will shut off even the tank is not full

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #12

Sep 192018

RX 350

  • 22,865 miles
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.

- Bridgewater, NJ, USA

problem #11

Apr 302017

RX 350

  • 5 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Lexus made an fsport package for the Lexus RX350 which they have created a sport seat design that I have no issue for the passenger seat, but the driver seat on the left hand side where my thigh is I get a sharp pain on my leg after sitting on the seat for 15 minutes. I have gone to Lexus and complaint about the issue which they admitted I am not the only one who has complaint about the seat issue, but have yet done anything to resolve the pain I am experiencing.

- Sun Valley, CA, USA

problem #10

Jan 262018

RX 350

  • 0 miles
Exploding sunroof on new car, I was leaving for work around 6:30 am January 2018 to go to work. As I was starting my car and putting the car in reverse I heard a loud shatter. I immediately and carefully opened the visor between me and the sunroof it was completely shattered. Small fragments of glass were pouring into my car. I was not even driving at a high speed so there was no possible way a rock or another object came into contact with the window. The car still has paper tags on the vehicle. I called my insurance and had to file a claim. Cost was $1200 to repair at the Lexus dealership. I just droped it off today. Nobody could give me any answered. Apparently I am not the only one, since I have found this page there are 3 more sunroof explosions out of the total of 29 complaints as of now. I as well filed a police for insurance purposes.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #9

Dec 182017

RX 350

  • 35,000 miles
I was driving my 2016 Lexus rx 350 exiting the highway when I heard a loud boom. It was loud like a shotgun. We didn't see or feel anything hit the car, but the noise was loud and scary. Since there was no obvious evidence of anything, I carefully opened my visor for my sunroof to see that my sunroof had shattered. It just exploded. Nothing hit it or fell on it. The sunroof was convex like it exploded and not concave like something had fallen on it.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

problem #8

Jun 282017

RX 350

  • miles
I hit other car I press break. Brake not work air bag not come out, precoluation not work.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #7

Jul 182017

RX 350

  • miles
Mold and mildew car smells whole interior needs replacement

- Norwell, MA, USA

problem #6

May 042017

RX 350

  • 5,800 miles
I was driving on I-10 East close to the tx-la border, on pavement that was even, although not without some occasional roughness. Traffic was heavy and moving around 65 mph. It was 67 degrees and cloudy. I had been on the road for about 3 hours, when my friend and I heard a loud crack. It sounded as if something hit glass, but we saw no flying objects and the sound was singular; no additional or residual sounds. We both jumped and started looking to see if the windshield was damaged but did not see any damage. Later when we stopped for gas we washed the windshields and did another look, including looking for paint damage. We found nothing. We continued driving to our destination. The next morning when we got in the car and shut the door, we heard glass falling. I stood on the open door and saw that there were two small holes in the sunroof and the entire sunroof was shattered. The cobweb effect was 100%, and extended to every square inch of the glass, all the way around the perimeter. I called the Lexus dealership nearest me; and I called our insurance provider to start a claim. Given I was some distance from home, it was late Friday, and no one could get the glass, I had a local automotive repair shop (the local area contract for our insurance company) collision wrap the roof so I could drive home, avoid flinging glass on traffic, and be protected in case of rain. My husband notified the dealership where we leased the vehicle and made an appointment (we go tomorrow). No one from the two dealerships or the insurance company mentioned that sunroofs on Lexus/Toyota have been known to spontaneously "pop" since 2010. The cause of this risk must be defective design and/or glass; the sunroof materials being used are evidently unable to take the pressure and absorb the shock. The roof's most vulnerable part is exploding as a result. 2016 model; driven 6 mos; >6000 mi.

- College Station, TX, USA

problem #5

Feb 152017

RX 350

  • 7,000 miles
When I'm driving, the phone contacts are greyed out, locking me from accessing them to make a call. I can make a call using the voice command, but that is limited since I don't remember all my contact names off the top of my head. Called Lexus and they say that is a safety feature. However, if scrolling through contacts is a safety thing, then why can I access my favorite contacts and scroll through recent calls? this distracts the driver in making a phone call by "encouraging" her to manually dial the number off the phone dialpad. Yes, that's illegal and not safe. Hence this post.

- Morgan Hill, CA, USA

problem #4

Nov 262016

RX 350

  • 24,000 miles
I was at a stop light the car all of a sudden would no longer accelerate yet the car was in drive. I took it to the dealership and they can not replicate and so I am still driving the vehicle. Hoping it will not happen while driving.

- Corryton, TN, USA

problem #3

Jan 082016

RX 350

  • miles
Vehicle vibration felt standing still and worsens as acceleration slowly starts forward. Continues also at slight acceleration at higher speeds just to maintain speed limit. Vibration can be felt in steering wheel, accelerator pedal, gear shift and at specific start up speeds the entire vehicle. This does not change when driving on different surfaces or roadways. Vibration has been noted and experienced also by dealership technical personnel with no remedy. This problem has existing since purchasing vehicle in Jan 2016 and dealership complaint at 997 miles on vehicle.

- Burlington, MA, USA

problem #2

Mar 032016

RX 350

  • miles
2016 RX350 is a new platform. The passenger side car passing indicator does not always indicate a car in the "blind spot". after driving the car for a few months, I notified my local Lexus dealer. My salesman and I drove my vehicle for a test run and the problem consistently arose. The salesman said that this was a new experience for him in a Lexus vehicle with this feature. Lexus had a team inspect the vehicle. Lexus said that the lack of the passing indicator to see all vehicles in the blind spot was normal for the 2016 Lexus rx 350. I have driven the car for 8 months. I first noticed the apparent malfunction driving back to pa from fl. I believe that the car passing indicator system uses relative differences of speed between my car and the car being passed to activate the feature. For example, the indicator light will not go on while I pass a car a much greater speed than the car being passed. I would guess the difference may be 20 mph or so. However, if I pass a car slowly or at a low difference of speed, the car passing indicator light functions as one would expect. Of interest is that my wife has a 2013 Lexus RS350 with a car passing indicator system and her car will always indicate a car in the blind spot regardless of how fast the RS350 passes another vehicle. The lack of indicating a vehicle in the right blind spot at all times in my vehicle is dangerous. This safety feature has poor design. The 2016 was just introduced in late 2015. Lexus knows about this problem and calls it a normal function. I have not yet received an adequate explanation from Lexus why the car passing indicator system in the 2016 RX350 was designed this way purposely. I believe that this issue is a serious flaw. I have enclosed two documents I have received from Lexus. I did not ask for protection under the lemon law.

- Turtle Creek, PA, USA

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