2012 Lexus ES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
66,316 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 31 complaints (61.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.2% |
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 | 19 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard | 2 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Air Bags: 19; Electrical System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard: 2; Structure: 1; Structure:Body: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 13; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10576878 · 2014-04-02 (April 2, 2014)
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. BUT THEY DIDN'T SEE IT THAT WAY, INSTEAD THEY ARE SAYING THAT I MIGHT HAVE DROPPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10576878 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11035214 · 2017-10-20 (October 20, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. LEXUS RECALLED VEHICLE IN JAN 2017 WARNING THAT NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN FRONT SEAT FOR DURATION. NO PROVISION FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS MENTIONED. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE FRONT SEAT. THEY SAY THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER. OUR VEHICLE IS ALSO GETTING MY WIFE STRANDED. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH 3 BATTERIES IN 3 YEARS. LEXUS REFUSES TO FIX IT. PLEASE REFERENCE ATTACHED RECALL LETTER. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTACH THE COMPLETE SET OF DOCS WITH DETAILED DESCRIPTION DUE TO FILE SIZE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11035214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10724327 · 2015-06-09 (June 9, 2015)
I HAD A 2012 LEXUS ES 350 AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING. I WAS ANGLE PARKING AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR JUMPED INTO A BRICK WALL. FOUR AIR BAGS EXPLODED IN MY FACE AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I COULD HARDLY WALK AND MY LEGS WERE EXTREMELY SWOLLEN AND I HAD MANY OTHER BRUISES. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OF THE CAR WENT ON FIRE AND BURNT THE SEAT. I FEEL I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY THE FINAL EXCESS WEAR AND TEAR BILL OF $…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366111 · 2020-10-23 (October 23, 2020)
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OCCURRED WHILE PULLING STRAIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT. VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 1 MPH WITH FOOT GENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKE WHILE COMING TO A STOP. CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT WHAT APPEARS TO BE FULL THROTTLE. CAR JUMPED OVER CONCRETE PARKING CURB AND RESTED ON TOP OF THE CONCRETE CURB, COMING TO A HALT. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 12, 2020.
Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10979405 · 2017-04-19 (April 19, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL OR TAKATA ISSUES - I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN MY 2012 LEXUS ES 350. I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER VEHICLE (2005 JEEP LIBERTY) AT ABOUT 45MPH AND MY FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH INDICATED THAT IF HIT FROM BEHIND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FRONT COLLISIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE FOR ALL CONSUMERS BECAUSE THE FORCE OF THE ACCIDENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET CAUSED ME AND MY HUSBAND AS THE PASSENGERS BODILY HARM. MY HEAD HIT THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10979405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271116 · 2019-10-25 (October 25, 2019)
THE HORN QUIT WORKING. FOUND IT WORKS ONLY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED CLOSE TO END OF CLOCKWISE AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE DIRECTION. DEEMED SAFETY HAZARD SINCE NO HORN SOUND TO ALERT PEDESTIANS, BICYCLISTS AND OTHER DRIVERS OF DANGER. WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST $690 TO REPLACE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING.
Owner-reported narrative. 124,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11271119 · 2019-10-25 (October 25, 2019)
ALL 4 DOORS STOPPED LOCKING BY KEY FOB, INSIDE SWITCHES OR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SWITCHES OR WHEN PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN GEAR. NO CLICK IS HEARD WHEN TRYING TO LOCK DOORS BUT CLICKING IS HEARD WHEN HITTING THE UNLOCK SWITCHES. DOORS WILL UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY/ ELECTRICALLY WHEN THEY ARE MANUALLY LOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A PREVIOUS REPORT INDICATED A SIMILAR PROBLEM THAT A DEALER DIAGNOSED AS ALL OF THE DOOR LOCKS NEEDED REPLACED, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE THAT THE COULD ALL FAIL MECHANICALLY AT THE SAME TIME. THE PROBLEM APPEARS ELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11271119 at NHTSA ↗