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Lexus ES350Model year report

2013 Lexus ES350 Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
26,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 21 city / 31 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Lexus ES350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2013 Lexus ES350. The part named most often is visibility, with 5 complaints (22% of the total), followed by air bags (4) and brakes (3). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 26,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 268 technical service bulletins for this model year. Visibility complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Also reported: Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10779920, filed 2015-10, 16,500 miles

Air bags: “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”

NHTSA complaint #10994028, filed 2017-06, 49,000 miles

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10947475, filed 2017-01, 22,300 miles

Other or unknown: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10995129, filed 2017-06, 70,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

78% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 43,000 miles.

17%0–1030%10–2530%25–5017%50–750%75–1004%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 26,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20132014201552016201752018201920202021
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2013 Lexus ES350. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
ES350 · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 5554 · 11.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2013 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2012: 3 stars overall; 2014: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2013 Lexus ES350 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
ES 350 FWD3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automatic213124$2,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2013 Lexus ES350 → · Check a 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. 268 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 268 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES350

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202154,0080526—Not enough data
20205—1526—Not enough data
2019512,8002526—Not enough data
201859,5002524—Not enough data
2017229,1001524—Falling
20162118,0001524—Falling
20151623,0001524—Falling
20142830,00015240 · FewerFalling
20132326,0001524—Falling
20128945,58233222 · FewerFalling
201115350,0003—220 · FewerFalling
201013724,5565—2272 · MoreRising
200914519,8505—2299 · MoreStable
200825529,0004—2293 · MoreFalling
200753932,7834—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Lexus ES350 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Lexus ES350 have?

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2013 Lexus ES350 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2013 Lexus ES350 is reported most often?

Visibility is named most often, in 5 complaints (22% of the total), followed by air bags with 4.

Has the 2013 Lexus ES350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2013 Lexus ES350 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2013 Lexus ES350 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2013 Lexus ES350 get?

The EPA rates the 2013 Lexus ES350 (ES 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 31 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Lexus ES350 reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 26,000 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 43,000 miles; 78% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.