This page covers 2 recalls and 34 owner complaints for the 2016 Lexus RX.
Complaints about the 2016 Lexus RX cluster most heavily around structural issues and the powertrain. On the structural side, owners report door components failing to operate correctly, particularly the driver-side door, along with trim pieces separating from the front bumper and wheel well area, and a recurring pattern of sunroofs shattering unexpectedly while closed and not in use. Powertrain complaints describe hesitation, rough engagement, and performance concerns consistent with transmission or drivetrain behavior. A smaller cluster of engine-related reports rounds out the mechanical complaints. Separately, owners describe the center display screen going pink and then going dark entirely, cutting off access to navigation and climate controls, with the problem persisting even after battery resets.
34
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Lexus RX has two recalls, both involving airbag systems that can fail to protect occupants in a crash.
One recall covers the side curtain and front airbags: faulty pressure or acceleration sensors can prevent these bags from deploying when needed, leaving occupants without that layer of protection in a collision. The second recall affects the driver's knee airbag, where a defective inflator can allow the inflation gas to escape, meaning the bag may not fully deploy in a crash. The knee airbag recall applies only to vehicles built in a narrow window between mid-November and late December 2015.
At a glance
What can fail
Air bag pressure and acceleration sensors may fail, preventing side, curtain shield, and front air bags from deploying during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the faulty sensors at no cost based on serial number verification.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
An improper weld in the driver's knee air bag inflator may allow gas to escape, preventing the air bag from inflating properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the knee air bag assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
