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: 15 of 33 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.
Service Brakes. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2023
Electrical SystemService BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I was driving down the highway coming up on a traffic jam put on the brakes and several warning. Lights came on the dash and my power brakes failed. I was barely able to stop the car without hitting someone. From that point forward the brakes did not work properly, the regenerative braking system did not function. also, the cru…
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I was driving down the highway coming up on a traffic jam put on the brakes and several warning. Lights came on the dash and my power brakes failed. I was barely able to stop the car without hitting someone. From that point forward the brakes did not work properly, the regenerative braking system did not function. also, the cruise control stopped functioning. I took the car to the Lexus dealer, they tested the car and stated it need a new brake booster brake assembly and that there was a safety warranty issue that was extended out 10 years and up to 150,000 miles and although my car only had 79,000 miles on it was three months past the warranty date and the refused. They reset the car brakes apparently and I was able to drive the car for several days while I spoke with Lexus, and then the car brakes failed again.
NHTSA ODI #11555537
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2023
Electrical System
On my 2013 Lexus ES 350, three out of the four doors do not function properly and will not lock or lock with the key fob. my driver’s side front door, my driver’s side rear door, and my passenger’s side front door does not work. The doors also will not lock or unlock with the interior lock/unlock button. When the all the doors a…
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On my 2013 Lexus ES 350, three out of the four doors do not function properly and will not lock or lock with the key fob. my driver’s side front door, my driver’s side rear door, and my passenger’s side front door does not work. The doors also will not lock or unlock with the interior lock/unlock button. When the all the doors are locked, I must go to the passenger’s rear door to unlock the driver’s side front door with my cane. The manual door lock from the key fob does not work and will break if I continue turning it. The door locks will not automatically lock when the car goes in motion. These are safety issues trying to get a child or pet out of the car in case of an emergency such as a fire, an accident, or robbery. The power locks are extremely helpful for me. I am a combat disabled veteran who runs the risk of reinjuring myself using the only door that works attempting to open the door with my cane. I have had some of these power locks replaced before. Lexus says this is a mechanical issue associated with the actuators rather than a safety issue. I really believe this is a serious safety and security issue rather than a mechanical issue.
NHTSA ODI #11514204
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2022
Unknown Or Other
Hood latch and cable malfunction in that the hood wouldn't close and warning light and buzzer continuously beeped. Woburn Toyota in Woburn, MA said it was due to overuse and not a defect and not a safety issue! Not so. Hood not opened more than other vehicles I have had without such a problem. Other Lexus owners have posted simi…
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Hood latch and cable malfunction in that the hood wouldn't close and warning light and buzzer continuously beeped. Woburn Toyota in Woburn, MA said it was due to overuse and not a defect and not a safety issue! Not so. Hood not opened more than other vehicles I have had without such a problem. Other Lexus owners have posted similar complaints, too.
NHTSA ODI #11479664
Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2022
Air Bags
I entered the VIN and found that my car airbag was an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA ODI #11478900
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2022
Unknown Or Other
The moonroof suddenly shattered (it sounded like an explosion) while I was driving on the freeway in 70 degree weather. Initially I had no idea what it was but realized subsequently that I was shedding glass shards behind me. There were no overpasses where someone could have dropped something, I did not see a rock or other pro…
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The moonroof suddenly shattered (it sounded like an explosion) while I was driving on the freeway in 70 degree weather. Initially I had no idea what it was but realized subsequently that I was shedding glass shards behind me. There were no overpasses where someone could have dropped something, I did not see a rock or other projectile, and - when I parked the car - I found nothing that from outside seemed to have struck it and/or stayed behind in the cavity.
NHTSA ODI #11464373
Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2021
Electrical System
The automatic door locks have stopped working. I have had to replace 3 out of the 4 door lock actuators in the car. When they go out I am unable to use the door lock sensors and have to manually lock my doors. It also affects my ability to use the key fob remote to lock and unlock my door. I replaced 2 in 2018 and 1 in 2021
NHTSA ODI #11429552
32,000 miles · Jan 19, 2021
Fuel/propulsion System
ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING LEFT REDUCING POWER STEERING BOOST UNTIL DRIVER LIFTS FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AND REPUSHES TO REGAIN POWER STEERING BOOST ON CITY STREETS AT LOW SPEED FROM STOPPED POSITION.
NHTSA ODI #11388921
34,200 miles · Oct 1, 2020
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
THE PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) WARNING ICON FLASHED IN THE DISPLAY INDICATING THAT THE PCS WAS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER TO LOOK IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ONLY TO FIND THAT THE MANUAL TOLD ME TO STOP. WE PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT EXPERIENCING ANY ADVERSE HANDLING. I REALLY …
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THE PCS (PRE COLLISION SYSTEM) WARNING ICON FLASHED IN THE DISPLAY INDICATING THAT THE PCS WAS TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER TO LOOK IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ONLY TO FIND THAT THE MANUAL TOLD ME TO STOP. WE PROCEEDED TO RETURN HOME WITHOUT EXPERIENCING ANY ADVERSE HANDLING. I REALLY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR NOT KNOWING IF THE PCS SYSTEM WILL FAIL.
NHTSA ODI #11362293
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2020
Service Brakes
MY 2013 LEXUS ES 300H HAS GOT A WEAK BRAKES, SOMETIMES WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN YOU HOLD THEM AND FEW TIMES WOULDN'T BRAKE WHEN BRAKING ON A BIT ROUGH ROAD. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND WENT TO LEXUS DEALER TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID THAT MY CAR NEEDS A BRAKE ACTUATOR TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE PROCEDU…
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MY 2013 LEXUS ES 300H HAS GOT A WEAK BRAKES, SOMETIMES WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN YOU HOLD THEM AND FEW TIMES WOULDN'T BRAKE WHEN BRAKING ON A BIT ROUGH ROAD. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND WENT TO LEXUS DEALER TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID THAT MY CAR NEEDS A BRAKE ACTUATOR TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, PEOPLE IN A DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED IT AS WELL. ALSO, LEXUS ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ABS FAILURE BUT SOMEHOW YOU ARE QUALIFIED ONLY WHEN YOUR ABS FAIL. THAT'S SOUNDS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT IN 2016 IN AUSTRALIA LEXUS HAS RECALLED 2013 AND ABOVE LEXUS ES MODELS BECAUSE OF BRAKE ACTUATOR AND ABS MODULE MALFUNCTION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ARE THE SAME MODELS NOT BEING RECALLED IN USA FOR THE SAME VERY COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #11307461
45,000 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Air BagsExterior LightingStructureCrashInjury
THE LEXUS ES 350, WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO SIDE STREET WITHIN A SUB DIVISION, AND RAN UP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, AND SO MUCH DAMAGED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER UNSURE IF VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN OR JUST LOST CONTROL.…
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THE LEXUS ES 350, WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO SIDE STREET WITHIN A SUB DIVISION, AND RAN UP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, AND SO MUCH DAMAGED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER UNSURE IF VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN OR JUST LOST CONTROL. THE GREATER ISSUE OR CONCERN WAS NOT WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, BUT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER THE IMPACT AND THE DRIVER BROKE THEIR NOSE AND HAS BEEN TREATED 3 TIMES IN ER SINCE CRASH. IN SPEAKING WITH REPAIR SHOP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE 2 AIR BAG SENSORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, AND BOTH ARE NEAR THE HEADLIGHTS. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT GIVEN THE DAMAGE AND IMPACT OF THE COLLISION (TO RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BY HEADLIGHT, PICTURES ATTACHED), THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA ODI #11296969
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.
2013 Lexus Es Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year