Lexus ES Problems by Year
NHTSA has 670 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls on file for the Lexus ES, across 30 model years (1996–2025). The 2007 model year has the most complaints (125). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
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Lexus ES years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical ES year: 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2007 ES: 125 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2008 ES: 68 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2005 ES: 58 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Lexus ES problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 227 | 20 | 39 |
| Structure | 74 | 15 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 58 | 20 | 10 |
| Power Train | 57 | 17 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 56 | 15 | 25 |
| Engine | 49 | 18 | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 46 | 19 | 17 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 30 | 12 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 28 | 8 | 0 |
| Steering | 24 | 12 | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 7 | 4 |
| Suspension | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| Wheels | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Tires | 9 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Equipment | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Lexus ES model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 ES | 5 | 1 | — | Back Over Prevention | |
| 2024 ES | 9 | 2 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2023 ES | 10 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2022 ES | 11 | 0 | — | Tires | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2021 ES | 28 | 1 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2020 ES | 18 | 1 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 ES | 34 | 1 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 ES | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2017 ES | 3 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2016 ES | 9 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2015 ES | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2014 ES | 4 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2013 ES | 34 | 0 | — | Service Brakes | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 ES | 31 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 ES | 46 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2010 ES | 41 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 ES | 28 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 ES | 68 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 ES | 125 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 ES | 12 | 0 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2005 ES | 58 | 0 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 ES | 16 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 ES | 23 | 0 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 ES | 27 | 0 | — | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 ES | 2 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2000 ES | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1999 ES | 8 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1998 ES | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 1997 ES | 2 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 1996 ES | 1 | 0 | — | Engine |
More from Lexus: all Lexus models · Lexus VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus ES years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2002 (27), 2003 (23), 2005 (58), 2007 (125), 2008 (68), 2009 (28), 2010 (41), 2011 (46), 2012 (31), 2013 (34), 2019 (34), 2021 (28) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical ES year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Lexus ES?
Air Bags, with 227 complaints across 20 model years.
How many recalls does the Lexus ES have?
4 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.