1996 Lexus ES Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ES years
- Not enough data 29th of 30 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1996 Lexus ES. That ranks 29th out of 30 ES model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 235,600 miles. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
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- 1owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Lexus ES problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 100% | 235,600 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 100% | 235,600 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
1996 Lexus ES recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1996 Lexus ES.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
I smelled what i thought was transmission fluid or anti-freeze. The next day my wife smelled gas and some friends called my cell to tell me gas was running out from under the car. I could not find a leak under the car. I lifted the hood and found gas running down the side of the engine. After…
Other Lexus ES years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 ES | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 ES | 9 | 2 |
| 2023 ES | 10 | 2 |
| 2022 ES | 11 | 0 |
| 2021 ES | 28 | 1 |
| 2020 ES | 18 | 1 |
| 2019 ES | 34 | 1 |
| 2018 ES | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 ES | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 ES | 9 | 0 |
| 2015 ES | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 ES | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 ES | 34 | 0 |
| 2012 ES | 31 | 0 |
| 2011 ES | 46 | 0 |
| 2010 ES | 41 | 0 |
| 2009 ES | 28 | 0 |
| 2008 ES | 68 | 0 |
| 2007 ES | 125 | 0 |
| 2006 ES | 12 | 0 |
| 2005 ES | 58 | 0 |
| 2004 ES | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 ES | 23 | 0 |
| 2002 ES | 27 | 0 |
| 2001 ES | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 ES | 6 | 0 |
| 1999 ES | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 ES | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 ES | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
See all Lexus ES problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Lexus ES?
Owners most often report engine, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 1 complaint.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Lexus ES?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1996 Lexus ES a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ES model years, the 1996 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.