Most common 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid problems
Share of the 7 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus RX Hybrid complaints by model year
Best RX Hybrid years: 2023, 2015, 2024. Years to avoid: 2006, 2008, 2007. Compare all years →
2016 Lexus RX Hybrid recalls (2)
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2016 Toyota Prius and Lexus RX 350, RX 350 F Sport, RX 450h F Sport and RX 450h vehicles and 2015-2016 Lexus NX 200T, NX Turbo and NX 300h vehicles.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sensors as necessary based on their serial numbers, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 12, 2018.
Air bags › Knee bolster
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles manufactured November 16, 2015, to December 23, 2015. Due to an improper weld, the gas needed to inflate the driver's knee air bag may escape from the inflator.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the knee air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid owners say
Brakes
Collision details: ' unintended acceleration and loss of control started on I-5 south in santa ana. Managed to exit on 17th street to avoid any accident on I-5. Just ahead of fairmont was trying to park the car but the vehicle unintendedly accelerated again. Could not slow down, swerved on to pavement/walkway. Collided onto iron wrought fence of a senior living complex head on. ' complete damage and loss of front and passenger side of the car. None of the air bags came on. No injury to the driver or not to any pedestrians. ' santa ana police arrived at site and checked driver and the car. Dui not reported by santa ana police. Lexus correspondence: ' several telephone calls made without any response except for case no. 1604192441 assigned above. ' Lexus assigned engineering analysis associates (eaa) for investigation. ' letter written and mailed (registered) to Lexus on May 5, 2016. …
While driving with the vehicle on cruise control, the vehicle went from 75 MPH to 0 on the interstate. I was able to coast into a nearby rest area. At this point the car would start, but none of the systems would operate. The dash displayed several system failures to include the Hybrid system, check engine, pre-collision system, braking system and all-wheel drive system. This is a brand new vehicle purchased from a Lexus dealership. The milage at the time of breakdown was only 883 miles. The dealership labeled this event as a catastrophic failure, but I have received no valid explanation as to what happened to the vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid a good car?
Based on 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 RX Hybrid rates average: 28% fewer complaints than a typical year of the RX Hybrid at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid?
The brakes — 3 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (2) and fuel & propulsion system (1).
How many recalls does the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid, the most recent from January 31, 2018 (side/window). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus RX Hybrid?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2015 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 2008 and 2007. See the full Lexus RX Hybrid years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 34,000 miles; 71% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.