Lexus ES350 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 1,448 consumer complaints across the 15 model years of the Lexus ES350 (2007–2021) that have at least 5 complaints. 2007 has the most, with 539. Across all years, the part named most often is air bags (867 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All ES350 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | 4,008 | 0 | 71 | — | Not enough data |
| 2020 | 5 | — | 1 | 102 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 5 | 12,800 | 2 | 110 | — | Not enough data |
| 2018 | 5 | 9,500 | 2 | 75 | — | Not enough data |
| 2017 | 22 | 9,100 | 1 | 105 | — | Falling |
| 2016 | 21 | 18,000 | 1 | 141 | — | Falling |
| 2015 | 16 | 23,000 | 1 | 172 | — | Falling |
| 2014 | 28 | 30,000 | 1 | 247 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2013 | 23 | 26,000 | 1 | 268 | — | Falling |
| 2012 | 89 | 45,582 | 3 | 208 | 2 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2011 | 153 | 50,000 | 3 | 196 | 0 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2010 | 137 | 24,556 | 5 | 206 | 72 · More | Rising |
| 2009 | 145 | 19,850 | 5 | 141 | 99 · More | Stable |
| 2008 | 255 | 29,000 | 4 | 174 | 93 · More | Falling |
| 2007 | 539 | 32,783 | 4 | 181 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Air bags867 60%
- Vehicle speed control213 15%
- Body and structure84 5.8%
- Other or unknown77 5.4%
- Electrical system57 4.0%
- Brakes51 3.6%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)49 3.4%
- Transmission and drivetrain38 2.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “On feb. 25, 2020 at approximately 7 am I was driving along a local route in hicksville, ny in my 2016 Lexus es 350 traveling approx. 40 MPH. All of a sudden I heard what sounded like a gunshot. The next thing I knew I heard glass rattling around on my roof. I pulled over and noticed that my sunroof (panoramic roof) had shattered into 1 thousand pieces.”
NHTSA complaint #11367051, filed 2020-10, 35,000 miles2017: “Rear tinted inside the glass window has bubbles and smeared adhesive across glass causing it hard to view what is behind me. I have no idea how it happens I bought the car on november 16, 2016. Most of the time the car is parked in my driveway. I noticed it the first time in the last week of february 24, 2020.”
NHTSA complaint #11316655, filed 2020-03, 8,500 miles2014: “The brake is very spongy. The pedal gets very low to the floor.its hard to stop these car. Brake fluid, brake pads and rotors check out fine at the dealership. There are complaints about defects with the master cylinder. My car has 44000 miles and the problem is chronic. You need a large stopping range when using this car. Lexus claims I need to get use to it”
NHTSA complaint #11151596, filed 2018-11, 44,000 milesOther Lexus models
962 complaintsLexus RX350
833 complaintsLexus RX300
719 complaintsLexus IS 250
718 complaintsLexus ES300
677 complaintsLexus ES
658 complaintsLexus IS
579 complaintsLexus RX330
524 complaints
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. Methodology