2011 Lexus ES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 46 complaints (58.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 13.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 27 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
Air Bags: 27; Structure:Body: 5; Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Steering: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 4; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 20; 2018: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 5; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10441934 · 2011-12-31 (December 31, 2011)
AT ABOUT 2:00 PM ON DEC 26, 2011, WHILE PARKING IN A PUBLIC COVERED GARAGE, I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, POSITIONED MY CAR, AND WAS ABOUT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL IN FRONT OF ME. THE PASSENGER IN MY CAR, MY 21 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, ALSO A LICENSED DRIVER, FELT THE CAR LURCH AND ACCELERATE FORWARD. SINCE I HAD REACHED A GOOD PARKING POSITION, I AM CERTAIN THAT I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE INJURY TO MY FOOT, FROM ALL INDICATIONS, SHOWS TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10441934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10460433 · 2012-06-04 (June 4, 2012)
AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30PM, WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A FRIENDS DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN, AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AS IF LOCKED IN TO THE RIGHT HAND POSITION, HIT A TREE AND FINALLY CAME TO A STOP BY HITTING HIGH CONCRETE STEPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND LATER TO THE BODY SHOP AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. DURING THE INTERIM, THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY TOYOTA. POST INVESTIGATION, THE LETTER RECENTLY RECEIVED FROM TOYOTA STATES "DURING THE L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10460433 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10466313 · 2012-07-17 (July 17, 2012)
AT APPROXIMATELY 7:23 PM ON JULY 8, 2012, WHILE PARKING IN THE PARKING LOT OF OUR LOCAL CHURCH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CAR WAS ALMOST AT A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN THIS SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AT THAT TIME LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE EXITING THE CHURCH AND WALKING TOWARDS THE PARKING LOT TO GET INTO THEIR CARS, WHILE OTHERS WERE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THEIR VEHICLES WAITING FOR THE NEXT SERVICE TO START. I WAS TERRIFIED SINCE AS HARD AS I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL, MY CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING ; IT RAN OVER THE CONCRE…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11752883 · 2026-07-26 (July 26, 2026)
I AM GETTING A PARASITIC ELECTRICAL DRAW OF 12% OVERNIGHT. ON A NEW INTERSTATE BATTERY. I HAVE CHECKED LIGHTING AND ALLSTATE MILEWISE MONITOR AND NEITHER APPEAR TO BE THE SOURCE. IS THERE A COMMON ISSUE ON A 2011 ES350?
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11752883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439276 · 2011-12-10 (December 10, 2011)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, MIDMORNING, WE HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE CAR. WE SAW NOTHING ON THE ROAD AND NO ONE ELSE TRAVELING AROUND US EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY A CAR TRAVELING NEXT TO US THAT WE WERE LEAKING GAS. WE PROCEEDED OFF THE HIGHWAY AT THE FIRST EXIT AND PULLED INTO A GAS STATION AND SHUT DOWN THE CAR. WITHIN 8-10 MIN, THE ENTIRE TANK OF GAS (WE JUST FILLED THE TANK UP APPROXIMATELY 20 MIN PRIOR) HAD LEAKED ONTO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED JUST IN CASE THE CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11607669 · 2024-08-10 (August 10, 2024)
I started my vehicle and drove about 1/2 mile when the car started acting like it was running out of gas. I pulled over and got about 1gallon of gas in a gas can and put it in the vehicle. I turned the car back on and drove about 2 blocks when the vehicle started jumping like it was going to run out of gas again. The vehicle then shut down while I was driving it. I made it to the side of the road and put the vehicle in park and turned off the ignition with the push start button. I tried to start the vehicle again with the push start button and …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11607669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11488619 · 2022-10-10 (October 10, 2022)
The vehicle has severe rust and corrosion underneath affecting the suspension. The brakes and power steering needed repairs but the service would cause even more damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was confirmed by sterling mcall lexus of clear lake. 18160 Gulf Fwy, Houston, TX 77546. and also Firestone Center Pearland 2908 Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581. This vehicle is unsafe to operate due to the corrosion. An accident may soon occur.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11488619 at NHTSA ↗