2013 Lexus ES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
33 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 33 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 30.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 6.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly | 2 |
Service Brakes: 9; Electrical System: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Air Bags: 3; Structure:Body: 2; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2013: 4; 2015: 2; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10970855 · 2017-04-06 (April 6, 2017)
I WAS PARKING MY CAR ON A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX. I AM PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I FURTHER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR INSTEAD OF TAKING A COMPLETE STOP, ACCELERATED. IT HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP, IT ACCELERATED AGAIN IN REVERSE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE REALLY HARD THEN IT STOPPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11307461 · 2020-02-06 (February 6, 2020)
MY 2013 LEXUS ES 300H HAS GOT A WEAK BRAKES, SOMETIMES WOULD MAKE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN YOU HOLD THEM AND FEW TIMES WOULDN'T BRAKE WHEN BRAKING ON A BIT ROUGH ROAD. I WAS AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND WENT TO LEXUS DEALER TO PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID THAT MY CAR NEEDS A BRAKE ACTUATOR TO BE REPLACED WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE PROCEDURE. HOWEVER, PEOPLE IN A DEALERSHIP ADMITTED THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE CARS AND MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED IT AS WELL. ALSO, LEXUS ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR AN ABS FAILURE BUT SOMEHOW YOU ARE QUA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11307461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525126 · 2013-07-16 (July 16, 2013)
LEXUS ES350 STALL OR HESITATION PROBLEM ON 2013 MODEL. MY CAR FREQUENTLY BUT INTERMITTENTLY HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR ROLLING STOP POSITION. I'VE HAD IT ABOUT 8 MONTHS AND IT HAS PROBABLY STALLED AT LEAST 100 TIMES. TULSA'S LEXUS DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THAT LEXUS DESIGNED THE CAR THAT WAY FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY (YES, THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE TOLD ME, AND WITH A STRAIGHT FACE). MY 2010 ES DID THE SAME THING, AND MY 2007 ES DID THE SAME THING. YOU'D THINK I WOULD HAVE LEARNED MY LESSON BY NOW AND BOUGHT A…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11388921 · 2021-01-19 (January 19, 2021)
ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING LEFT REDUCING POWER STEERING BOOST UNTIL DRIVER LIFTS FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AND REPUSHES TO REGAIN POWER STEERING BOOST ON CITY STREETS AT LOW SPEED FROM STOPPED POSITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11388921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10735558 · 2015-07-21 (July 21, 2015)
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN TWO YEARS THE BATTERY HAS DIED ON THIS CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS AUGUST 2014, JUST ONE MONTH PAST THE CAR ONE YEAR MARK. THE SECOND, THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT, IS ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DAY OF THE LAST BATTERY FAILURE. WHILE THE FIRST MAY BE WRITTEN OFF AS A BAD BATTERY, I DO NOT BELIEVE IN COINCIDENCES AND FEEL THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ON-LINE SO I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING MORE TO THIS PROBLEM THAN JUST BAD BATTERIES...UPDATED 09/03/15 *BF UPDATED 1…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10990881 · 2017-05-22 (May 22, 2017)
CPO 2013 ES350 BOUGHT JANUARY 2, 2016 AT LEXUS DEALERSHIP, WHICH HAS BEEN KEPT IN AN IN-DOOR GARAGE, AND IS LIGHTLY DRIVEN. MID-APRIL 2017 BATTERY WAS DEAD, JUMP STARTED BUT THEN BATTERY DIED THE NEXT DAY. I BROUGHT VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON MAY 20, 2017. THEY CLAIMED BATTERY NOT WARRANTIED. I DISCOVERED THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHO BOUGHT CAR OCTOBER 2012 HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY IN 2015 WHICH MADE ME CURIOUS AS TO WHY IT WAS REPLACED SO SOON, AND WHY IT DIDN'T LAST VERY LONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN MENTIONED THAT I NEEDED A COMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10990881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947604 · 2017-01-25 (January 25, 2017)
WAS DRIVING IN WEST SACRAMENTO , WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM ALARMS WENT OFF.WITHIN 1 MINUTE , THE CAR WENT DEAD, NO POWER, NO STEERING. IF I WAS ON AN EXPRESS WAY , IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GUARANTEED FATALITY FOR ME, MY FAMILY AND OTHER CARS INVOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP , LEXUS OF SACRAMENTO TOLD ME THE COMPUTER FAILED IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE QUALITY OF PARTS USED BY LEXUS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 55,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947604 at NHTSA ↗