2009 Lexus ES

Routine

Owners filed 28 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags14
201
Unknown or Other2
000
Electrical System2
200
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Interior Panels › Dashboard1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical SystemCrash
Filed Oct 29, 2025CA

Experienced unintended acceleration when pulling into a parking space. My vehicle went over the curb and into a ditch. The bushes and embankment of the ditch stopped the vehicle. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of a problem.

Electrical SystemCrash
Filed Oct 27, 2025CA

On Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 at approximately 11:50 am, my vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. I was pulling into a parking spot and suddenly accelerated and jump the barrier into a ditch. Luckly there were bushes to stop me. I was standing on the brake. There were no prior indications there was an issue.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 2, 202525,000 milesCA

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal, almost causing the vehicle to crash into the residence. The struck other materials inside the garage, causing front-end damages to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Structure › Interior Panels › Dashboard
Filed Jun 18, 202495,000 milesFL

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the dashboard had become sticky and had started to melt. Over time, the contact stated that glare had started to reflect from the windshield onto the dashboard, obstructing visibility while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was acknowledged that the defect was a known failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that the Extended Warranty coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 29, 2023CA

Dashboard is sticky, shiny, and melting from the heat. All lint, dust and cloth sticks to the sticky dashboard. Shiny dashboards can pose safety hazards that affect visibility with a glare bouncing off the windshield, and overall health issues since melted dashboards can emit harmful odors. Lexus is saying their Customer Support Program ZLZ expired in 2021. I never received any mail from them about this program even though they claim they mailed it to me in 2018. I have been having my vehicle serviced at Longo Lexus since 2009, with the last maintenance service done on 6/21/23, and the dealership just noted this problem sticky dashboard issue to me, after the Lexus customer support program expired. The server advisor at Longo told me they could replace my dashboard for $2,572, but don't understand why they didn't offer to replace it for free in 2018-2021, like they did my floor mats, which was also a safety hazard. This sticky and melting dashboard problem is a manufacturer defect and my dashboard needs to be replaced by Lexus at no cost to me regardless if my vehicle is out of warranty. Also, the expiration date for this Customer Support Program needs to be extended for all owners of Lexus vehicles with this problem, regardless of mileage.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 16, 2023LA

Dashboard is melting from heat and needs to be replaced. Company refuses to replace saying recalls expired 2021. Never received any mail from them even though they said they mailed it to me. Be going to Price LeBlanc for service since 2013 never mentioned anything about it. Thanks

Steering
Filed Mar 31, 2023IN

I was driving home from work & just before 5pm I hit a section of the side of the road that has deteriorated on SR 68 between Tecumseh high school & Lynnville, IN. It blew out the inner wall of my tire & I had to get it replaced. I have seen this happen to other drivers on this road as well. The road needs to be repaired before someone gets seriously injured. This incident caused me to replace all 4 of my tires prematurely. Please repair the road - there are at least 2 areas that need to be repaired

Structure › Body
Filed May 30, 2021FL

DASHBOARD ON 2009 LEXUS ES 350 HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND ON SUNNY DAYS THE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AND REDUCES VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION THE MELTING PLASTIC IS VERY STICKY AND COULD BE HAZARDOUS FOR DRIVER NOT TO MENTION THE POISON EXPOSURE TO ITS VAPORS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2007 AND 2008 MODELS. THE 2009 IS IDENTICAL IN DESIGN AND LEXUS SHOULD FIX THIS. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY A SMALL PORTION OF THE $1700 REPAIR COSTS.

Engine
Filed Sep 30, 2020105,000 milesGA

BROKEN ENGINE VALVE SPRING. ONLY ONE SO FAR THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 2019124,300 milesOH

VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE PRESSING BRAKE, EVEN MOVING FORWARD AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jun 28, 2019134,000 milesOH

HAD CAR ACCIDENT JUNE 14,2019. HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 28, 2019134,000 milesOH

TAKAT RECALL: HAD CAR ACCIDENT . HIT BY ANOTHER CAR WHILE TURNING; RAN OVER STREET SIGN AND HIT IRON FENCE INFRONT OF APARTMENT BUILDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

Air Bags
Filed Mar 14, 2018NY

I CALLED LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTER LI NY TODAY REGARDING "URGENT SAFETY RECALL" NOTICE I RECEIVED. SADLY LEXUS DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER UNTIL END OF MARCH... CAN'T EVEN MAKE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE LEXUS FIX THE PROBLEM "TAKATA FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATORS" FOR AN URGENT SAFETY RECALL - I HAVE HAD NO VEHICLE PROBLEMS YET...

Air Bags
Filed Dec 20, 201799,000 milesMD

TAKATA RECALL THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER HAS YET TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE FAULTY AIRBAGS. I HAVE BEEN IN A 'LOANER' VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 21, 2017NC

TAKATA RECALL

Air Bags
Filed May 16, 2017CA

TAKATA RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS DEALER AT 700 SERRAMONTE BLVD, COLMA CA 94014 SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING PASSENGER AIR BAG OF MY CAR BUT I AM BEING IGNORED AND ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING AS IT IS. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY BECAUSE IT IS OUR FAMILY CAR AND THEY TRAVEL WITH ME ALL THE TIMES.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 28, 2017IL

[XXX] LEXUS FAILED TO ACCOMMODATE WITH A LOANER VEHICLE AND JUST KEEPS TELLING ME "JUST BE PATIENT" EVERY TIME I CALL THEM TO DISCUSS MY VEHICLE AND THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE "NOT DRIVEN ALL THAT TIME" FOR OVER FOUR YEARS SINCE ME AND MY HUSBAND ARE FEARFUL FOR SAFETY OF OUR LIVES. THE DEALER HAS NOT ACCOMMODATED WITH ANY RECOURSE AND JUST SENDS LETTERS WITH BOLD RED PRINT THAT I AM CONSIDERED "ZONE B" AND WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN IT SAYS "REMEDY SUSPENDED". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Air Bags
Filed Jan 14, 2017NJ

TAKATA RECALL

Air Bags
Filed Jan 11, 201720,000 milesTX

LEXUS SENT A RECALL NOTICE ON MAY 23, 2016, ADVISING US NOT TO USE THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT DUE TO THE POTENTIAL DANGER FROM EXPLODING SHRAPNEL FROM THE TAKATA AIRBAG. IT IS NOW JANUARY 17, 2017, A FULL 8 MONTHS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE THE VEHICLE AS DESIGNED, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION PROVIDED, NO REPAIRS AND NO TARGET DATE FOR A FIX, WE ARE EFFECTIVELY UNABLE TO USE OF THE VEHICLE. REQUESTS FOR A LOANER VEHICLE AT SEVERAL DEALERS HAS BEEN DENIED, WITH ADVICE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER, WHO THEN ADVISED US TO CALL DEALERS. THIS IS UNCONSCIONABLE BEHAVIOR AND IS POTENTIALLY WORSE THAN THE VOLKSWAGON DEBACLE. THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE HAS ESSENTIALLY DISAPPEARED AND IT CANNOT BE USED FOR BUSINESS OR PERSONAL FAMILY USE. TOYOTA MUST BE HELD LIABLE AND EITHER COMPENSATE OWNERS, PROVIDE A LOANER VEHICLE FOR THE DURATION OR PAY FOR RENTAL VEHICLES, PLUS A SUBSTANTIAL FINE FOR THE EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE DELAY.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 10, 2016FL

TAKATA RECALL - SINCE THE RECALL NOTICE ADVISES NOT TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT I HAVE NOT USED THE PASSENGER SEAT SINCE I RECEIVED THE NOTICE OF RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS TAKING SO LONG TO GET A FIX. MY LEXUS DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD PROBABLY BE OKAY TO USE THE PASSENGER SEAT SINCE IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT I WOULD HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION THAT WOULD CAUSE THE BAG TO GO OFF. UNBELIEVABLE!! WE'VE ENDED UP WITH FOUR FIFTHS OF A CAR SINCE I HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT WHENEVER WE USE THE CAR.

20 of 28 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20254110Routine
20249200Routine
202310200Routine
20229000Routine
202128100Routine
202018100Routine
201934100Routine
20185000Routine
20172000Routine
20169000Routine
20155000Routine
20144000Routine
201333000Routine
201231010Routine
201146000Routine
201041000Routine
2009 — this page28000Routine
200868000Routine
2007125010Routine
200612000Routine
200558000Routine
200416000Routine
200323000Routine
200227050Routine
20012000Routine
20006030Routine
19998130Routine
19981100Routine
19972100Routine
19961000Routine

Compare every ES year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.