Verdict
2016 Lexus ES: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2016 Lexus ES — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.
Owners filed 37 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 59% of 2016 sedans. Unknown Or Other leads the reports (38%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2016 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
37
Reports to NHTSA, 2016
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
32
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 59% of 2016 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2016 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Unknown Or Other issues lead owner complaints (38% of 37 reports), followed by service brakes (16%).
+ 5 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 37 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11327197, ODI 11129222, ODI 11444708, ODI 11423477, ODI 11367051.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES 300h | 2.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S6) | 40 | 39 | 40 |
| ES 350 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 21 | 31 | 24 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2016 Lexus ES: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2016 Lexus ES?
Owners filed 37 NHTSA complaints about the 2016 Lexus ES — fewer complaints than 59% of comparable 2016 sedans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2016 Lexus ES?
The most-reported problem areas are Unknown Or Other (38% of complaints) and service brakes (16%).
How many recalls does the 2016 Lexus ES have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2016 Lexus ES as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Lexus ES get?
The EPA rates the 2016 Lexus ES between 24 and 40 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.