2013 Lexus ES350

Routine

Owners filed 23 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly4
000
Unknown or Other3
000
Air Bags3
202
Vehicle Speed Control2
000
Service Brakes2
201
Seats2
000
Visibility/Wiper1
000
Tires1
000
Structure › Body1
101
Steering1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Forward Collision Avoidance › Crash Imminent Braking15V728000
Filed Nov 3, 201530,812 vehiclesToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Aug 25, 2021135,394 milesMI

The contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact heard a loud gunshot like sound and the sunroof shattered into pieces. The contact stated that small fragments of glass fell all over him due to the failure however, he was not injured. The contact pulled over, cleaned out his vehicle and was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called the dealer where he was informed that there were no recalls on his vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 135,394.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Dec 23, 202064,000 milesGA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE TO THE SUN ROOF, THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT CONTACTED CHATHAM PARKWAY LEXUS (1120 CHATHAM PKWY, SAVANNAH, GA 31405, (912) 330-6051) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Nov 29, 201955,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN EXPLOSION LIKE SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Nov 30, 201823,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED OR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF WINTER PARK (305 N SEMORAN BLVD, WINTER PARK, FL 32792, (407) 678-2000) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 11, 201738,450 milesSC

TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 14, 201770,000 milesKY

I WAS DRIVING ON I75 IN LOUISVILLE, KY, GOING APPROX 70-75 MPH WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT! PANICKED, I LOOKED AROUND IMMEDIATELY BUT THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS CLOSE BY AND NO OVERPASSES. THEN I REALIZED THAT GLASS WAS ALL OVER MY RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER, AND THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT MY MOON ROOF WAS SHATTERED. AFTER REALIZING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, I CLOSED THE SHADE SO MORE GLASS DID NOT FALL ON ME AND INSIDE MY CAR. I TOOK AN EXIT AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I TOLD THEM I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD HAPPENED, THAT NO ONE WAS AROUND BUT THAT MY MOON ROOF HAD JUST EXPLODED. THEY GAVE ME THE COMPANY TO CONTACT TO GET IT FIXED AND I TOOK IT THERE TO GET IT FIXED THE NEXT DAY. I HAVE PICS OF IT THOUGH. SO SCARY! I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY MOON ROOF WOULD JUST EXPLODE WITHOUT ANY EXTERIOR FORCE BEING EXERTED AND I AM SO AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 8, 201749,000 milesGA

PASSENGER-SIDE LEG AIRBAG FAILED TO FULLY DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT ALSO EXPLODED AND EXPELLED ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED PROPERLY. THIS WAS DURING A FRONT-END COLLISION WITH THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS PROCEEDINGSTRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A PARKWAY-LIKE CITY DRIVE. ..UPDATED 09/26/17 *BF *JS

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 6, 201742,300 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVELER FRACTURED FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,300. UPDATED 06/13/17*LJ *CN

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 24, 201722,300 milesCA

I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF A STORE. CAR WAS IN PARKING SPOT, READY TO STOP. ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, WENT THRU SIDEWALK INTO THE STORE AHEAD. LUCKILY, STORE WAS VACANT. CAR KEPT GOING THRU THE STORE, CAME OUT FROM THE BACK WALL ONTO THE RAIL GUARDS WHICH FINALLY STOPPED CAR. CAR WAS DAMAGED.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 26, 201664,000 milesFL

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER CAR WAS IN A WRECK. FRONT END DEMAGED OF 12,000 IN DAMAGES. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.

Seats
Filed Jun 6, 201643,000 milesGA

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.

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 22, 201615,000 milesAK

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 10, 201526,000 milesIL

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.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 5, 201516,500 milesNC

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.

Steering
Filed Sep 30, 201535,000 milesMD

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.

Seats
Filed Aug 28, 201524,900 milesTX

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.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jul 16, 201529,000 milesNY

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.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 22, 2014900 milesTX

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 VAC

Tires
Filed Apr 11, 201423,000 milesMD

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 19, 20146,000 milesNY

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

20 of 23 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231000Routine
20222000Routine
20215000Routine
20205100Routine
20195200Routine
20185200Routine
201722100Routine
201621100Routine
201516100Routine
201428100Routine
2013 — this page23100Routine
201289320Routine
2011153300Routine
2010137500Routine
2009145525Fatalities reported
2008255510Above average
2007539564Fatalities reported

Compare every ES350 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.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 3, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.