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2012 Lexus Es

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 14 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

19 reports
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82,000 miles · Jul 23, 2026
Air BagsCrashInjury

The contact owned a 2012 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front, resulting in a three-vehicle crash. The impact caused the hood to unlatch, and the hood flew up. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's gran…

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The contact owned a 2012 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front, resulting in a three-vehicle crash. The impact caused the hood to unlatch, and the hood flew up. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's grandson was a passenger in a rear-facing car seat, and the contact was unable to determine whether the child had sustained any injuries. The contact suffered a sore neck and body, and medical attention was received. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and requested that the vehicle be retrieved to access the Event Data Recorder (EDR). The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

NHTSA ODI #11752348

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2022
Air BagsCrashInjury

Airbag recall was replaced 8/02/2022. Car accident occurred 8/03/2022. Airbags did not deploy.

NHTSA ODI #11478255

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2020
Air Bags

I RECEIVED A LETTER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO NEAREST DEALER FOR AIR BAG RECALL REPLACEMENT PROCESS, AND I CALLED AND INITIATED ONLINE CHATTING W/ THE LEXUS AIR BAG RECALL SUPPORT TEAM NUMEROUS TIMES BUT FAILED TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM. ONLINE CHAT REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY CAN'T HELP WITH SCHEDULING, AND REPRESENTATIVES OVER …

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I RECEIVED A LETTER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO NEAREST DEALER FOR AIR BAG RECALL REPLACEMENT PROCESS, AND I CALLED AND INITIATED ONLINE CHATTING W/ THE LEXUS AIR BAG RECALL SUPPORT TEAM NUMEROUS TIMES BUT FAILED TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THEM. ONLINE CHAT REPRESENTATIVE STATED THEY CAN'T HELP WITH SCHEDULING, AND REPRESENTATIVES OVER THE PHONE, MORE THAN 6 TIMES OF ATTEMPT, EITHER HUNG UP DURING THE CALL AND KEPT ON TRANSFERRING. IT HAPPENED SINCE MARCH ON A DIFFERENT DATES AND THEY STILL REFUSED TO COMPLETE THE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULING PROCESS.

NHTSA ODI #11363245

67,632 miles · Dec 21, 2019
Air Bags

LIGHT CAN ON AND OFF 12/20/2019 WHEN I WAS DRIVING, I PULL INTO PARKING LOT AND CUT OFF ENGINE...WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED CAR BACK UP IT WENT AWAY, THE NEXT DAY 12/21/2019 WHEN I STARTED UP MY CAR IT CAME ON WHILE STILL PARK AND STAY ON, NOT A GOOD FEELING .

NHTSA ODI #11290583

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 2017
Air Bags

THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO ACQUIRE A REPLACEMENT AIR BAG FOR MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO CARRY PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT, WHICH IS IMPOSSIBLE THEREFORE A RISK TO MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI #11054884

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2017
Air Bags

RECALL

NHTSA ODI #11039722

Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED AN INTERIM RECALL NOTICE ON 02-23-2017. I AM STILL WAITING FOR A NOTICE THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES VIA EMAIL TO DISCUSS THE DELAY BUT LEXUS REPRESENTATIVES REFUSE TO RESPOND TO MY QUESTIONS VIA EMAIL. THEY INSIST I CONTACT THEM BY TELEPHONE.

NHTSA ODI #11039293

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2017
Air Bags

NO ACTION ON THE AIRBAG RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11035971

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

TAKATA RECALL AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. LEXUS RECALLED VEHICLE IN JAN 2017 WARNING THAT NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN FRONT SEAT FOR DURATION. NO PROVISION FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS MENTIONED. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE FRONT SEAT. THEY SAY THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER. OUR VEHICLE IS ALSO GETTING MY WIF…

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TAKATA RECALL AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. LEXUS RECALLED VEHICLE IN JAN 2017 WARNING THAT NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN FRONT SEAT FOR DURATION. NO PROVISION FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS MENTIONED. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE FRONT SEAT. THEY SAY THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER. OUR VEHICLE IS ALSO GETTING MY WIFE STRANDED. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 BATTERIES IN 3 YEARS. LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX IT. PLEASE REFERENCE ATTACHED RECALL LETTER. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THE COMPLETE SET OF DOCS WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTION DUE TO FILE SIZE.

NHTSA ODI #11035214

43,000 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL WHILE THE RECALL LETTER WAS UNDATED, I RECEIVED IT IN JANUARY 2017 OR AT THE LATEST, EARLY FEBRUARY 2017. I CHECKED WITH TWO LEXUS DEALERSHIPS ON MARCH 20, 2017, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON 2010 MODELS AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR MY MODEL LEXUS. FOR 8 MONTHS I HAVE…

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TAKATA RECALL WHILE THE RECALL LETTER WAS UNDATED, I RECEIVED IT IN JANUARY 2017 OR AT THE LATEST, EARLY FEBRUARY 2017. I CHECKED WITH TWO LEXUS DEALERSHIPS ON MARCH 20, 2017, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY WERE WORKING ON 2010 MODELS AND THAT I WOULD BE NOTIFIED WHEN PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR MY MODEL LEXUS. FOR 8 MONTHS I HAVE AVOIDED HAVING PASSENGERS IN THE FRONT SEAT. THAT IS A LONG TIME. THERE IS SOME FOOT-DRAGGING ON THE PART OF TAKATA OR LEXUS OR BOTH. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO EXPEDITE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG?

NHTSA ODI #11024547

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.