AI Damage2016 Lexus ES: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Lexus ES filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and air bags. The maker issued 13 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 22% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 11% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 11% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (22% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 1 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 2.5 L · hybrid · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- CVT
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 5 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Conversely, the driver's front steering wheel airbag failed to deploy completely during the impact. A corporate inspection by Toyota Motor North America/Engineering Analysis Associates confirmed severe, localized separation of the right front strut, knuckle, tie rod end, brake line, and ABS wiring.
The contact stated while at a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to engage and the vehicle unintentionally accelerated which caused the front driver's side of the vehicle to crash into another vehicle. There was severe cosmetic damage however, no injuries was sustained.
This is a known issues for this vehicle's braking system and results in a sudden loss of power braking assistance. The failure requires increased pedal pressure and eventually brkaing failure, creating a significant safety hazard and increasing the risk of collision.
There were no warning lights, engine performance issues, or visible signs of oil loss leading up to this. During my prior service appointment in December 2024, I was told the car was in excellent condition with no issues.
The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle was vibrating abnormally. The contact pulled over and called Roadside Assistance. The Roadside Assistance technician made the contact aware of a blowout of the driver's side rear tire. The contact was shown that the entire sidewall had detached from the tread.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,524 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 27% least complained about).
On average one model year of the ES has 6 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The…
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™
The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- TSB
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. Follow the procedures outlined in this service bulletin to aid in locating…
NHTSA lists 13 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Lexus ES?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, air bags, engine. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (33%), windows, sunroof (22%), airbags did not deploy (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Lexus ES?
NHTSA lists 13 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2016 Lexus ES from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2016 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.