LexusGS3502016Overview/lexus/gs350/2016/base/

2016 Lexus GS350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 GS350.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2016 Lexus GS350 is a passenger car paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, returning an EPA-rated 20 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. With only three owner complaints filed for the model year and zero recalls on file, it stands out as one of the cleanest entries in the GS lineup's 2011-2019 complaint history, sitting in marked contrast to the 2013 model's peak of 41 complaints and even improving on the 2012 low of just one. Steering emerges as the lone noted concern among those few reports, but the absence of any manufacturer-issued recalls suggests any issues were isolated rather than systemic. For a researcher weighing long-term dependability, the 2016 model year represents a quietly reliable point in a generation that otherwise saw wide variance in owner-reported problems.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy20/28/23 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 580 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 580 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnBECUOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225/50R17, P235/45R18, P235/40R19, P265/65R19OEM · verified
Wheel / rimNA, 8.0, 8.0, 9.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131170
Spark plug9091901263
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521230480 alt 8522230650
Serpentine belt90916A2026
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131071
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 28 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine SAE90 · SAE80W · 75W-85 · GL-5 in the differential, SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.5
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.7
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Differential Gear OilSAE90 · SAE80W · 75W-85 · GL-5
Engine CoolantHOAT
Engine Coolant Capacity9.9

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs81.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts41.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.039 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.15-1.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity2.88-3.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance580 cca

Service checks

RPM28-85 @ idle rpm
Residual Pressure21 After 5 min, engine off psi
Engine Compression142-199 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI
Engine Compressionpsi 142-199 max variation 15 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: NA; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 100; Rear: 92
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.062; Rear: .650
Maximum Rotor Runout.002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking brake: 7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
184.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 144.0 inch lbs.84 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (road test) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Lexus GS350 sits at the low‑point of the model’s federal complaint and recall activity, with only three complaints, no recalls, and 184 technical service bulletins (TSBs) – far fewer than the 41 complaints and three recalls recorded in 2013, the peak of the generation’s issues. From 2011 through 2015, complaints fluctuated between 7 and 41 while recalls ranged from zero to three, but both metrics began a steady decline after 2013, reaching a trough in 2016 before modestly rising again in 2017‑2019. The drop in 2016 is reinforced by the absence of crash‑related or fire‑related complaints, and the few issues reported were limited to steering and engine/fuel‑propulsion systems, each noted only once. This downward trend suggests that 2016 benefited from earlier engineering fixes and exhibits the most benign reliability record in the series, making it a strong year to consider for purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
184
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Steering1
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 184 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
LSB0005232023-02-09Fuel System, GasolineTSB: Some 2013 ? 2020 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit a hard start and/or MIL ON…
23LE022023-02-09Service Brakes, HydraulicDL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was…
23LE012023-02-09Fuel System, GasolineDL: On December 20, 2022, a settlement of claims for certain low pressure fuel pumps was…
KLG Dealer Packa2022-12-01EquipmentDP: Limited Service Campaign KLG expired December 01, 2022
19LE05 Dealer Pa2022-12-01EquipmentDP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific GS350. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 GS350 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the GS350 get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 28 highway / 23 combined mpg.