LexusRC3502016Overview/lexus/rc350/2016/base/

2016 Lexus RC350

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 RC350.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2016 Lexus RC350 is a passenger car equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission that achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. This model year recorded zero recalls and accumulated only one total owner complaint, with that complaint pertaining to vehicle speed control and service brakes. The combination of no recall activity and minimal owner-reported issues positions the 2016 RC350 as a notably trouble-free example within its model lineage, suggesting strong component durability and quality control execution during its production period.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182016

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy19/28/22 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · NS 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 NS · NS CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHOTOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131170
Fuel filter7702430160
Spark plug9091901249
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521253100 alt 8522224150
Serpentine belt99367K1550
Thermostat1632631050 alt 1603131020
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 28 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine ATF in the differential, SAE J1703 · DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity3.9
Brake FluidSAE J1703 · DOT 3
Differential Gear OilATF
Engine CoolantHOAT
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 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 HubInstall a new nut and torque to 217.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 214.0 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.028 - .031 in
Spark Plug Torque15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.15-1.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.80-3.90 oz

Service checks

RPM44-50 @ idle rpm
Residual Pressure21 After 5 min, engine off psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimumpsi
RPM28-50 @ idle rpm
Residual Pressure21 After 5 min, engine off psi
Engine Compressionpsi 142 - 203 Max variation 15 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 1.063; Rear: .650
Maximum Rotor Runout.002
Maximum Drum DiameterParking brake 7.520

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Spark 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 RC350 posts the generation's lowest complaint count at just one — a single report spanning Vehicle Speed Control and Service Brakes — with zero crashes, fires, or recalls, and one open investigation. Its 180 TSBs reflect typical first-year service activity, a figure that drops to 156 in 2017 while complaints inch up to two, suggesting the initial bulletin wave addressed early production items without generating a broader complaint trend. Both model years share an identical recall count of zero and one investigation each, indicating no systemic safety actions emerged across the two-year snapshot. The 2016 model sits at the favorable start of this arc: minimal owner-reported issues, no safety campaigns, and a declining TSB trajectory into the following year. For a buyer prioritizing a quiet federal record, the 2016 RC350 is a strong candidate — its data shows no red flags and a pattern of early resolution rather than escalating problems.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
180
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
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 filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes1

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 180 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…
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.
KLG Technical In2022-12-01EquipmentTI: 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 RC350. 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 RC350 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the RC350 get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.