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Lexus ES350Model year report

2018 Lexus ES350 Problems

Complaints
5filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
9,500miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
24 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl FWD · 21 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Lexus ES350 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2018 Lexus ES350. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (2) and brakes (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 80% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 9,500 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 75 technical service bulletins for this model year.

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.

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “I was at a stoplight and there were a couple vehicles in front of me. The light was red. I was a car length and a half away from the vehicle directly in front of me. As soon as the light turned green, I saw the vehicles in front of the vehicle directly in front of me proceed to move forward, and the driver in front of me took his foot off of his brakes, so I thought he was moving forward as well. So then I decided to accelerate to about 5-10 MPH. …”

NHTSA complaint #11363483, filed 2020-10, 13,047 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Cruise control with distance following. This system when active and by design stops slowing the vehicle at an estimated 25 miles an hour. The operator is expecting the vehicle to come to a complete stop and it does not. This is a very serious safety issue and needs to be addressed immediately before rear end collisions become prominent regardless if documented in manuals. Since there are two types of this system the owner may not know with which one they have. …”

NHTSA complaint #11051352, filed 2017-11, 100 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

80% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,000 and 13,047 miles.

60%0–1020%10–250%25–5020%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 9,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20172019202022023
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 2018 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 / 4544 · 11.1% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2018 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2017: same overall rating; 2019: 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 2018 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 automatic213024$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 2018 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. 75 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 75 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 2018 Lexus ES350 have?

NHTSA recorded 5 consumer complaints for the 2018 Lexus ES350 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Lexus ES350 is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 2 complaints (40% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 2.

Has the 2018 Lexus ES350 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2018 Lexus ES350 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2018 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 2018 Lexus ES350 get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Lexus ES350 (ES 350, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 24 mpg combined, 21 city and 30 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 2018 Lexus ES350 reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 9,500 miles and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 13,047 miles; 80% 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.