2016 Lexus RX Hybrid recalls and problems

The 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid has 2 safety recalls and 7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Lexus dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
7
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2016 Lexus RX Hybrid recalls

Recall 18V-085: Air Bags

Reported Jan 31, 2018 · 48,672 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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. The air bag pressure sensors and/or the acceleration sensors may fail causing the side/curtain shield air bags and/or the front air bags to not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the air bags fail to deploy in a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: 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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are JLA, J0F.

Recall 16V-053: Air Bags

Reported Feb 1, 2016 · 5,072 vehicles affected · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Problem: 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.

Risk: A defective inflator may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Fix: 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. Toyota's number for this recall is GLA.

2016 Lexus RX Hybrid problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Service Brakes3
Air Bags2
Power Train2
Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System1
Engine1
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)1
Unknown or Other1
Structure1

Most reported parts

  • Air Bags › Side/Window — 1
  • Structure › Body — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 33,500 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · at 47,256 miles · reported May 11, 2021
Actuator (Breaks) failure on city street noise coming from under front of car when breaking slow to stop when breaking, confirmed by mavis mechanic to be issue and was sent back to dealer for replacement. Dealership tried to deny this is issue with these cars was told it was safe to drive only to find on internet it is not safe to drive the car. They want 3k to fix a known issue with the 2016 models. Car has 47k miles and is purchased dec2015 all other makes for this year (2016) appear to be recalled except the hybrid. Please consider extending the recall for the hybrid.
Power Train · at 56,920 miles · reported Aug 16, 2020
This is the same vehicle as in complaint 11342600. One week after having two transmission cooler lines and the transmission oil cooler replaced due the issues outlined in the previous complaint a third, different transmission cooler line failed resulting in transmission fluid being leaked onto the motor, transmission, exhaust, drivers side tire, wheel and brake assembly. Car was returned to eskridge lexus in oklahoma city for repair. The dealer said that they found a third split transmission cooler line in an area above that involved in the previous repair. The split was near the end of the…
Power Train · at 56,000 miles · reported Jul 31, 2020
Transmission cooler and lines are above a skid plate/shield that retains road gravel. The retained road gravel rubbed on the transmission cooler and rubber hoses leading to a significant leak of transmission fluid right above the driver's side tire. The engine, transmission, exhaust system and whole undercarriage of the SUV was covered in transmission fluid. We were fortunate that the vehicle did not start on fire. In addition, the driver's side tire, wheel and brakes were also covered in transmission fluid. We were fortunate that the vehicle did not experience a brake failure. The vehicle had…
Air Bags · at 33,500 miles · reported May 10, 2019
I was involved in an accident on 5/1/19 where a woman hit me from the side at 20-30 MPH from the side. The impact was pretty square on the front, driver-side quarter panel. None of the airbags deployed and I have a whiplash injury. When I saw the recall on some 2016 lexus rx450h for a very similar issue, I thought I'd raise the concern and ask for an investigation to see if any should have deployed. I've included the accident report (Poor quality scan but still readable), and photos. The accident report says that my car was going approximately 15 MPH but I'm pretty sure that I was at a…
Service Brakes · at 883 miles · reported Jun 15, 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…

Other Lexus RX Hybrid years

Compare all Lexus RX Hybrid years · All Lexus models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid: 18V-085 (air bags), 16V-053 (air bags). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Lexus RX Hybrid?

Owners report service brakes problems most often (3 reports), followed by air bags (2). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 33,500 miles.

Are Lexus recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Lexus dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.