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2016 Lexus ES problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Lexus ES. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 18% of relevant complaints.
Better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Does the 2016 Lexus ES have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 37 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Lexus ES concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 20% and the 2017 scores 14%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Lexus ES years
Of the 10 Lexus ES years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 5th-worst on engine and transmission share (18%). The worst is the 2019 (59%), the best the 2021 (0%). By volume, the 2016 drew 37 complaints (6 drivetrain), against 27 for the 2015 and 25 for the 2017.
Lexus ES years to avoid and best years →
2010 ES problems · 2011 ES problems · 2012 ES problems · 2013 ES problems · 2014 ES problems · 2015 ES problems · 2016 · 2017 ES problems · 2019 ES problems · 2021 ES problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Lexus ES
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 6 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Lexus ES engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Lexus ES, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Lexus ES? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2016 Lexus ES have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 6 of 37 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Lexus ES concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (18%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Lexus ES?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Lexus ES is service brakes: 9 of 37 complaints (24%) name it, followed by air bags (4) and engine (4). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 18% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Lexus ES reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 18% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 90% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 10 Lexus ES years we score, it ranks 5th-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Lexus ES?
No. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Lexus ES, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Lexus ES years are better?
Among the Lexus ES years we track, the 2012 (0%), the 2021 (0%) and the 2010 (8%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (18%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/lexus-es
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.