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2013 Lexus ES350

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Lexus ES350 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.

About this comparison →

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

23 reports with mileage · 0 unknown

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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 3 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 reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

23 reports
43,000 miles · Jun 6, 2016
Seats

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEATHER MATERIAL ON THE DRIVER SEAT WAS PEELING OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE A RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILU…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEATHER MATERIAL ON THE DRIVER SEAT WAS PEELING OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED TO BE A RESULT OF WEAR AND TEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

NHTSA ODI #10872711

15,000 miles · Jan 22, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ON 1/20/16 I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK AROUND 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. AT THE TIME I THOUGH SOMETHING HAD HIT MY CAR OR WINDSHIELD, ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING FLY UP AT THE WINDOW. ONCE I ARRIVED AT WORK I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO CHECK MY WINDOWS AND TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE CA…

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ON 1/20/16 I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK AROUND 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON AND I HEARD A LOUD POP. AT THE TIME I THOUGH SOMETHING HAD HIT MY CAR OR WINDSHIELD, ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT SEEN ANYTHING FLY UP AT THE WINDOW. ONCE I ARRIVED AT WORK I GOT OUT OF THE CAR TO CHECK MY WINDOWS AND TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE TO THE BODY OF THE CAR. I DID NOT SEE ANY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, TRAVELLING ON THE HIGHWAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I NOTICED A WIND SOUND THROUGHOUT THE CAR. I THOUGHT MAYBE ONE OF MY WINDOWS WAS DOWN. I CHECKED ALL REMAINING WINDOWS AND THEY WERE ALL UP. WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, THE SOUND STOPPED. AT THAT MOMENT I THOUGHT MY SUNROOF SOMEHOW MAY HAVE OPENED BY ACCIDENT. I PULLED THE CLOTH COVER THAT COVERS THE SUNROOF AND NOTICED THE DAMAGE. THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED. THE GLASS WAS ALSO POINTED UPWARD. HAD SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK FALLEN ON IT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN POINTED DOWNWARD AND THERE WAS NO ROCK TO BE FOUND BY THE AUTO BODY SHOP THAT WILL BE FIXING MY VEHICLE. THE AUTO BODY SHOP HAD SEE IT BEFORE AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT YOU AND THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DIRECTLY. I ALSO HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS ARTICLES ON LINE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10821769

26,000 miles · Dec 10, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL PUMP DOES NOT TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, IGNITION OFF. UPON GOING BACK INTO GARAGE I NOTICE A LOAD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER HITTING THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY PHOB THE SOUND STOPPED. THE IS…

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FUEL PUMP DOES NOT TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY AFTER IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, PARKED IN THE GARAGE, IGNITION OFF. UPON GOING BACK INTO GARAGE I NOTICE A LOAD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER HITTING THE LOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY PHOB THE SOUND STOPPED. THE ISSUE IS GETTING WORSE. ON 12/72015 AFTER ENERGIZING THE LOCK / UNLOCK FUNCTION ON THE KEY PHOB THE FUEL PUMP DID NOT TURN OFF AS IT DID IN THE PAST. I HAD TO START THE VEHICLE AND TURN IT OFF TO STOP THE FUEL PUMP FROM CONSTANTLY RUNNING. SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES DRAINING DOWN THE BATTERY ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AT FIRST WE THOUGHT THAT MAYBE WE LEFT AN ACCESSORY ON BUT AFTER CAREFUL EXAMINATION THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. PLEASE NOTE THAT I AM A MECHANIC AND DO HAVE A VAST KNOWLEDGE OF TODAY'S VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES SYSTEMS. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUE TO RUN IN AN ACCIDENT OR AN ISSUE OCCURS WITH AN UNATTENDED VEHICLE AND THE FUEL PUMP CONTINUES TO RUN. I HAVE A VIDEO WITH SOUND DOCUMENTING MY LAST EXPERIENCE BUT THE FILE IS TO LARGE GOT UPLOAD.

NHTSA ODI #10809380

16,500 miles · Oct 5, 2015
Visibility/wiper

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN LATE JUNE 2015. THE WINDSHIELD HAS A DISTORTION THAT IS EXACERBATED AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS AND REAR TAIL LAMPS APPEAR IN TRIPLE ON VEHICLES. ON DARK/DIM LIT ROADS, THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC'S HEADLIGHTS APPEARS IN VERTICAL MULTIPLES AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD BORDERING ON BEING A FAT…

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WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN LATE JUNE 2015. THE WINDSHIELD HAS A DISTORTION THAT IS EXACERBATED AT NIGHT. HEADLIGHTS AND REAR TAIL LAMPS APPEAR IN TRIPLE ON VEHICLES. ON DARK/DIM LIT ROADS, THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC'S HEADLIGHTS APPEARS IN VERTICAL MULTIPLES AND IS A SAFETY HAZARD BORDERING ON BEING A FATAL INCIDENT. TWO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH NHTSA UNDER THE ES300 CATEGORY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A LAMINATION PROBLEM AND A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. LEXUS DENIES SEEING THE PROBLEM. YET, EVERY PASSENGER TO RIDE IN MY VEHICLE NOTICES THE PROBLEM WITHOUT ME SAYING ANYTHING. THE SERVICE STAFF AT JOHNSON LEXUS, RALEIGH, NC, DENIES SEEING THE MULTIPLE IMAGES. THE VEHICLE IS UNDER A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND LEXUS HAS FAILED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE DISTORTION IS VISIBLE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #10779920

35,000 miles · Sep 30, 2015
SteeringWheels

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIMS NEED…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN GOING OVER 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RIMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI #10778760

24,900 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Seats

I BOUGHT PRE-OWNED 2013 LEXUS ES300H CAR IN MOTH OF APRIL AND STARTED HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN, I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH FACT THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH SEAT, PLEASE HELP ME AS I AM HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN EVERY SINGLE TIME I USE THE CAR. LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN GOING ROUND ABOUT AND NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE,…

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I BOUGHT PRE-OWNED 2013 LEXUS ES300H CAR IN MOTH OF APRIL AND STARTED HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN, I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH FACT THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH SEAT, PLEASE HELP ME AS I AM HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN EVERY SINGLE TIME I USE THE CAR. LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN GOING ROUND ABOUT AND NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, THEY DID NOT EVEN PROPERLY INSPECTED THE SEAT AND DISMISSED THE CASE. NO GOOD SOLUTION PROVIDED. (LEXUS ASK ME TO SELL THE CAR!!!) I URGE NHTSA TO INTERVENE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, IT NOT EASY TO SELL AND BUY CAR, I WILL LOSE LOT OF MONEY. I AM FEELING THAT COMMON MAN HAS NO SAY IN FRONT OF THESE BIG CORPORATIONS, THIS IS EXACT SAME WAY HOW LEXUS TREATED THIS CASE.

NHTSA ODI #10759984

29,000 miles · Jul 16, 2015
Service BrakesSteeringStructureCrash

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN, I FIRST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD, PAUSED TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND PULLED FORWARD AND .STARTED TO TURN TO MY LEFT. AS I DID I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL LIT AT ONCE. MY CAR DRIFTED ACROSS T…

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WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN, I FIRST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD, PAUSED TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND PULLED FORWARD AND .STARTED TO TURN TO MY LEFT. AS I DID I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL LIT AT ONCE. MY CAR DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT ENDED UP PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT AN EMBANKMENT. MY CAR SUSTAINED FRONT BUMPER AND GRILLE DAMAGE.

NHTSA ODI #10734664

900 miles · Sep 22, 2014
Electrical System

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM SEWELL LEXUS IN FT. WORTH TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 2013. SHORTLY THERE AFTER IN LATE OCTOBER, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE WHICH IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, DEAD BATTERY. I JUMP STARTED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TOTAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS…

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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM SEWELL LEXUS IN FT. WORTH TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 2013. SHORTLY THERE AFTER IN LATE OCTOBER, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE WHICH IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, DEAD BATTERY. I JUMP STARTED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TOTAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 2-3 DAYS IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE NEVER LET THE CAR SIT MORE THAN 5 DAYS, BUT WHEN I DO LET IT SIT FOR 3-5 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD. CURRENT MILEAGE IS AROUND 4200. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN SEP. 2014. DEALER COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE AND SAID THE BATTERY IS FINE. 2 WEEKS AFTER I LEFT THE DEALER, MY VEHICLE BATTERY DIED AGAIN. DEALER RECOMMENDED A NEW BATTERY. A NEW AFTERMARKET BATTERY (INTERSTATE) WAS PUT IN THE VEHICLE. 2 WEEKS AFTER THE NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED, MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE CAR HAS NO AFTERMARKET PARTS, ACCESSORIES, OR REMOTE START. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM. SEWELL LEXUS CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT THIS, AND LEXUS ADVISED THEM THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH MY MODEL YEAR VEHICLE AND THEY BELIEVE IT IS AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER PART RANDOMLY TURNING ON AND DRAINING THE BATTERY. THEY SAID THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WITH VEHICLES SITTING FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT FIX FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED INSTALLING A BATTERY TENDER IN MY CAR. TOO WHICH, I DECLINED AS IT DOES ME NO GOOD TO HAVE THAT INSTALLED IF I AM ON VACATION, PARKED AT THE AIRPORT, ECT. I AM REQUESTING A NEW CAR AS I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND OR REFUND MY MONEY DUE TO THEY CANNOT FIX MY CAR. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR AND I AM AWAITING LEXUS TO COMPLETE THEIR INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638126

23,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES SIZE 215/55 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON EVEN ROAD SURFACES AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES SIZE 215/55 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON EVEN ROAD SURFACES AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND THERE WAS A THREE INCH HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LOW TIRE PRESSURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE DOT WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10579151

6,000 miles · Mar 19, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND HER HUSBAND LEASED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT, THEY BROKE THE LEASE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 05/08/14

NHTSA ODI #10573417

Official recalls

1

15V728000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking

Nov 3, 2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.

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.