Total Complaints
12 filings
LEXUS ES HYBRID · model year
12 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2016LEXUSES HYBRID carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2016 ES HYBRID is service brakes with 4 filings, followed by unknown or other (2) and air bags (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2016 ES HYBRID. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
12 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
The vehicle started experiencing the vaccum leak in the master brake cylinder/actuator/booster where the booster pump would run continually every 15 seconds causing the danger to brake failure. Dealer was contacted but refused to help. Eventhough toyota prius hybrids and newer and some other toyota that share the same design brake booster and master cylinder has been recalled previously. It is common failing component but dealer does not provide any assistance leaving vehicle owners pay thousands to replace abs brake components and bleed the system. Need your help!
I ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY BRAKING ON ELEVATED HIGHWAY DURING SNOWY CONDITIONS. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH. PRESSED FIRMLY ON BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTHING. NOTHING. BEGAN PUMPING ON BRAKES AND STILL NOTHING. STEERED CAR AWAY FROM BRAKING VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME AND VEERED CAR INTO MEDIAN WALL TO AVOID REAR END COLLISION. . SEVERE DAMAGE TO CAR, BUT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND AVOIDED HITTING ANY OTHER CARS. I'VE HAD ABS ON MULTIPLE TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST, I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THERE WAS NO BRAKING. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE CAR, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DUE TO HITTING THE INTERIOR HIGHWAY WALL. THIS IS A CERTIFIED LEXUS VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED JUST OVER ONE YEAR AGO (12/31/19). I JUST HAD MY SECOND SIX MONTH CHECK UP COVERED BY LEXUS UNDER WARRANTY. MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 36K MILES.
Mileage: 36,000
A DELAY/SLIPPAGE IS OCCURRING NOT FROM BRAKES BUT WITHIN THE PEDAL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN APPLY HARD STOP., CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS BUT NOISE STILL OCCURRING I BELIEVE ITS FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE PUMP. NO RECALLS FOUND FOR 2016 BUT SAME ISSUE AND RECALL FOUND IN 2019 ES300H. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL MY CERTIFIED MASTER TECH LOOKED AT IT. AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS SCARY. *TR
Mileage: 18,000
A DELAY/SLIPPAGE IS OCCURRING NOT FROM BRAKES BUT WITHIN THE PEDAL INSIDE THE CAR WHEN APPLY HARD STOP., CHANGED BRAKES AND ROTORS BUT NOISE STILL OCCURRING I BELIEVE ITS FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE PUMP. NO RECALLS FOUND FOR 2016 BUT SAME ISSUE AND RECALL FOUND IN 2019 ES300H. I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL MY CERTIFIED MASTER TECH LOOKED AT IT. AND THE LOOK ON HIS FACE WAS SCARY. *TR
Mileage: 18,000
APRIL 26, 2019 WAS DRIVING WITH FAMILY OUR 2016 LEXUS ES300H ON I-44 WEST, HEADING INTO JOPLIN, MO. THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 75 MPH, AND I WAS DRIVING IN LEFTMOST PASSING LANE BEHIND A CAR GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WHICH KEPT MY SPEED ALSO AT 65 MPH. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME MOVED TO AN OPEN LANE TO THE RIGHT, WITH CLEAR PATH IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE TO ALLOW ACCELERATION UP TO 75 MPH. NOTE: IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, SLIGHTLY CLOUDY, ROAD WAS FLAT, NO CURVES. INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY INSTEAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANYTHING I DID TO INCREASE OR MAINTAIN SPEED, WITH VEHICLE QUICKLY COMING TO A STOP AS I MOVED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN AREA SEPARATING THE FREEWAY BEFORE CAR DIED IN THE PASSING LANE. COLLISIONS WAS BARELY AVOIDED AS PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND VEERED INTO MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID HITTING ME OR GETTING REAR ENDED THEMSELVES FROM BEHIND. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP EVEN THOUGH ENTIRE TIME I
Mileage: 52,000
APRIL 26, 2019 WAS DRIVING WITH FAMILY OUR 2016 LEXUS ES300H ON I-44 WEST, HEADING INTO JOPLIN, MO. THE RADAR CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 75 MPH, AND I WAS DRIVING IN LEFTMOST PASSING LANE BEHIND A CAR GOING ABOUT 65 MPH, WHICH KEPT MY SPEED ALSO AT 65 MPH. THE CAR DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME MOVED TO AN OPEN LANE TO THE RIGHT, WITH CLEAR PATH IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE TO ALLOW ACCELERATION UP TO 75 MPH. NOTE: IT WAS A CLEAR DAY, SLIGHTLY CLOUDY, ROAD WAS FLAT, NO CURVES. INSTEAD OF ACCELERATING MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY INSTEAD APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT RESPONSIVE TO ANYTHING I DID TO INCREASE OR MAINTAIN SPEED, WITH VEHICLE QUICKLY COMING TO A STOP AS I MOVED INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN AREA SEPARATING THE FREEWAY BEFORE CAR DIED IN THE PASSING LANE. COLLISIONS WAS BARELY AVOIDED AS PICKUP TRUCK BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES AND VEERED INTO MEDIAN GRASS TO AVOID HITTING ME OR GETTING REAR ENDED THEMSELVES FROM BEHIND. MY CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP EVEN THOUGH ENTIRE TIME I
Mileage: 52,000
I HAVE A LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID THAT ADVERTISES 39/40 MPG. I HAVE BEEN GETTING IN THE UPPER 28-31 MPG FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS NOW .WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST MONTH I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BREAK IN FOR 500 MILES. AFTER THAT I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A 2000 MILE BREAK IN . I KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE EXCUSES AND THE RUN AROUND. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVING HABIT. I HAVE A CLASS A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING BIG RIGS FOR OVER 15 YEARS . I NOW HOW TO DRIVE AND I HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD WITH NO INCIDENTS TO DATE. SO THAT EXCUSE WAS ANOTHER PASS-THE-BUCK ROUTINE FROM LEXUS. I LET THIS GO FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, SINCE I WAS DISCOURAGED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM LEXUS. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO UNDERSTAND. I HAD A LEXUS 200 CT PRE PAID LEASE THAT GAVE ME VERY GOOD MPG. I WANTED A LARGER VEHICLE SO AFTER SEEING
Mileage: 800
I HAVE A LEXUS 300 ES HYBRID THAT ADVERTISES 39/40 MPG. I HAVE BEEN GETTING IN THE UPPER 28-31 MPG FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS NOW .WHEN I FIRST RECEIVED THE VEHICLE IN THE FIRST MONTH I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS GAS MILEAGE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BREAK IN FOR 500 MILES. AFTER THAT I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED A 2000 MILE BREAK IN . I KEEP GETTING MORE AND MORE EXCUSES AND THE RUN AROUND. THEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY DRIVING HABIT. I HAVE A CLASS A COMMERCIAL DRIVERS LICENSE AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING BIG RIGS FOR OVER 15 YEARS . I NOW HOW TO DRIVE AND I HAVE A VERY GOOD DRIVING RECORD WITH NO INCIDENTS TO DATE. SO THAT EXCUSE WAS ANOTHER PASS-THE-BUCK ROUTINE FROM LEXUS. I LET THIS GO FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, SINCE I WAS DISCOURAGED AND VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY FROM LEXUS. THIS WAS JUST TOO MUCH TO UNDERSTAND. I HAD A LEXUS 200 CT PRE PAID LEASE THAT GAVE ME VERY GOOD MPG. I WANTED A LARGER VEHICLE SO AFTER SEEING
Mileage: 800
WHILE PLACING THE STICK SHIFT IN APPROPRIATE POSITION, THE TOP OF THE SHIFT KNOW BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND, CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE GRIP OF STICK. THIS OCCURRED INITIALLY WITH VEHICLE STOPPED AND ATTEMPTING TO PUT VEHICLE IN PARK. UPON CONTACT WITH DEALERSHIP (LEN STOLER, LEXUS OF TOWSON) AND BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION, TWO SERVICE REPS AND A SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGREED THAT THE KNOB SHOULD NOT SPIN. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. AFTER DROPPING THE CAR OFF, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO STATE THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. IF SO, THIS IS A BAD DESIGN. WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT THE TOP PART OF THE STICK SHIF TO BE LOOSE AND SPIN AROUND? THE CHEAP DESIGN IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BE CORRECTED.
Mileage: 7,900
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.
Mileage: 2,429
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.
Mileage: 2,429
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE PRE COLLISION AND LANE DEPARTURE ASSIST FAILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND THEN A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,429.
Mileage: 2,429
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.