2012 Lexus ES350 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ES350 years
- Far more complaints than other years 6th of 17 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 3 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Lexus ES350. That ranks 6th out of 17 ES350 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (77 complaints, 87%), typically at around 40,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 89owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Lexus ES350 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 77 | 87% | 40,000 | “takata air bags” (48%) | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3% | 59,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 2% | 35,100 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 2% | 89,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 2% | 43,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | 15,200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 1% | 51,163 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 1% | 14,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 1% | 25,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Lexus ES350 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module; air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2009 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Yaris, Yaris HB, Scion xB, Pontiac Vibe, Lexus, ES350, IS250, IS350, and IS-F vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Toyota is recalling certain 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and IS350, 2007-2008 Lexus ES350, Toyota Yaris, Yaris HB, and 2008 Lexus IS-F and Scion xB vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on February 1, 2017. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), H0A (Toyota Zone C), GLG (Lexus Zone A), GLH (Lexus Zone B) and HLA (Lexus Zone C).
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the key was detected, and trunk open warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the doors would lock and unlock independently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus es350. The contact stated that the door locks failed to latch securely when the doors were closed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who stated that the door locks needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO LOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. LEXUS OF CLEARWATER (27547 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33761, [redacted]) DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATORS NEED TO BE REPAIRED. THE…
On feb 7, 2019 vehicle was being serviced by dealer regarding a recall the vehicle was on dealers lift at time of detection of leak on feb 8, 2019 power steering rack leak was found by dealer on feb 8, 9 and 10, 2019 dealer replaced leaking power steering rack.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 lexus es350. The contact stated that the dashboard and instrument panel were melting and sticky. There was no cushion protection on the dashboard. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer informed the contact that the 2012 lexus es350 was not…
Other Lexus ES350 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 ES350 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 ES350 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021 ES350 | 5 | 0 |
| 2020 ES350 | 5 | 1 |
| 2019 ES350 | 5 | 2 |
| 2018 ES350 | 5 | 2 |
| 2017 ES350 | 22 | 1 |
| 2016 ES350 | 21 | 1 |
| 2015 ES350 | 16 | 1 |
| 2014 ES350 | 28 | 1 |
| 2013 ES350 | 23 | 1 |
| 2012 | 89 | 3 |
| 2011 ES350 | 153 | 3 |
| 2010 ES350 | 137 | 5 |
| 2009 ES350 | 145 | 5 |
| 2008 ES350 | 255 | 4 |
| 2007 ES350 | 539 | 4 |
See all Lexus ES350 problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Lexus ES350?
Owners most often report air bags, latches/locks/linkages, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 77 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Lexus ES350?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Lexus ES350 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ES350 model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.