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Lexus ESModel year report

2012 Lexus ES Problems

Compared with other Lexus ES years

Typical for this model

36/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
66,316miles, 14 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2012 Lexus ES (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lexus ES. The part named most often is air bags, with 19 complaints (61% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and other or unknown (4). 14 of the complaints include a mileage, and 36% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,316 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 43 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Lexus ES model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 36 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “I have called the number provided on the letter that notified me of the recall to make arrangements. I was told the new air bags are not available yet and in the meantime, I can rent a car (not a Lexus) through enterprise rent a car. That is not acceptable. I bought a Lexus and since my car is not safe to drive until the air bag is replaced, I should have a comparable car to drive.”

NHTSA complaint #10957792, filed 2017-03, 32,000 miles

Electrical system: “On the passenger side dashboard next to temperature control switch, dashboard vinyl is melting, it has bubble and one bubble was broken to make a hole. I noticed it on april 1, 2014. When I changed the cabin air filter on march,31 in glove compartment, I didn't see it. I brought my car to new country Lexus and described the issue hoping that their technician may see issue with temperature control resistance may causing wiring to heat that is causing vinyl to melt. …”

NHTSA complaint #10576878, filed 2014-04, 29,500 miles

Other or unknown: “Incident Description: The instrument panel (dashboard) and interior trim panels of my 2012 Lexus ES 350 have suffered a complete material failure, transforming from a solid surface into a viscous, melting adhesive. This is a known manufacturing defect documented under Lexus Customer Support Program ZLZ. This failure creates a critical safety risk because the degraded surface has become highly reflective, producing a blinding glare on the windshield that severely obstructs my visibility while driving. …”

NHTSA complaint #11721695, filed 2026-03

Body and structure: “Driving down the interstate and out of the blue my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gunshot and I was driving 80mph. I almost ran into another driver due to glass falling on me.”

NHTSA complaint #11637350, filed 2025-01

Mileage when problems were reported

36% of the 14 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 42,000 and 82,000 miles.

0%0–107%10–2529%25–5036%50–757%75–10021%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (14 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 66,316 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20142016132019202120242026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2012 Lexus ES in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 43 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 43 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20255—1525—Too new
2024910,1002526—Too new
20231050,0902544—Too new
2022116,8320528—Not enough data
20212838,000152848 · TypicalRising
20201827,6901544—Rising
20193411,0001544100 · MoreFalling
201852000—40—Not enough data
20169115,5000—40—Not enough data
20155115,0000—40—Not enough data
20133445,0000—4054 · TypicalStable
20123166,3160——36 · TypicalStable
20114647,0000——82 · MoreRising
20104170,0000——11 · FewerStable
20092879,0000——36 · TypicalRising
20086862,0000——52 · TypicalRising
200712580,1230——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200612115,0000———Not enough data
2005598,8500——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20041689,0000———Falling
20032368,0000———Rising
20022796,1500——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20006140,0000———Not enough data
1999885,0000———Not enough data

All Lexus ES model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2012 Lexus ES have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2012 Lexus ES as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2012 Lexus ES is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 19 complaints (61% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2012 Lexus ES been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2012 Lexus ES reported?

Among the 14 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,316 miles and the middle half falls between 42,000 and 82,000 miles; 36% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.