2009 Lexus ES350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
145 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
19,850 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 99 of 145 complaints (68.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 13.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
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 | 99 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
Air Bags: 99; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Electrical System: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 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 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 103 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 69 |
| 2018 | 4 |
2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 6; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 28; 2017: 69; 2018: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10281605 · 2009-08-24 (August 24, 2009)
LEXUS ES 350 HAD UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATOR CAUSING SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 90 MILES PER HOUR UNTIL CAR WAS FORCED OUT OF GEAR. WITHOUT ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE THE CAR TOOK OVER AND SPED OUT OF CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED AND BRAKES WOULD NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. I CALLED 911 AND THEY TOLD ME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHICH CAUSED THE RPMS TO RACE OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR THEN WENT INTO REVERSE BY ITSELF UNTIL I SLAMMED IT INTO PARK. THE DEALER CAME AND PICKED UP THE CAR AS IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10286278 · 2009-10-05 (October 5, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2009 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED 80 TO 90 MPH. HE ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE ALSO PRESSED THE ON/OFF BUTTON, SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITH MINIMAL CONTROL TO AN EMERGENCY LANE WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE THEN IMMEDIATELY TO PARK; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SMOKING AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10286278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10324380 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)
I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE DRIVER'S CONTRIBUTION TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION (UA) DUE TO PROGRAMMING CODE ERROR. I AM DRIVING AT 40 MPH. I SEE SIGNAL LIGHT TURNING RED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR. THE CAR IS COASTING. WHEN SPEED REACHED 20 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTED ACCELERATING. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. I REPORTED THIS TO LEXUS HEADQUARTER ON 03-01-10 (LEXUS INCIDENT.) I WAS ASKED TO DROP OFF MY CAR AT DEALER ON 03-30-2010 SO THAT FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST CAN INVESTIGATE. I WAS ASKED TO PICK…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324380 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307885 · 2010-02-09 (February 9, 2010)
LEXUS RECALL ON ES 350 I TOOK MY LEXUS IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL ACTION I WAS TOLD THAT A ACCELERATOR OVERRIDE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED AND IF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF. I FEAR THAT THIS IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10307885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10470188 · 2012-08-10 (August 10, 2012)
ON MONDAY AUGUST 6TH, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 5: 25 AM, I ([XXX]) WAS ARRIVING AT WORK AT METHODIST HOSPITAL. I PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO MAKE A WIDE U TURN INTO A PARKING STALL DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. I WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DROVE OVER A STEEL POLE. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO HIT A VERY LARGE TREE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE BRAKES FINALLY WORK ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET IN FRONT OF THE TREE. I WAS A…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,960 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10372397 · 2010-12-25 (December 25, 2010)
LEXUS 2009, MODEL ES350 SECURITY SYSTEM GOES OFF BY ITSELF AT ODD HOURS ALL WINDOWS AND SUNROOF OPEN BY THEMSELVES AT THE SAME TIME ON DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. NOW TOYOTA IS REPLACING ALL COMPUTERS THAT RELATE TO THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OVER A WEEK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10372397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11073588 · 2018-02-19 (February 19, 2018)
FAULTY AIRBAG HARNESS WIRRING. DEAR SIR OR MADAM, THIS IS TO REPORT THAT 2007-2012 IS 250, IS 350 AND ES 350 HAS FAULTY AIRBAG WIRING HARNESS WHICH DISABLES THE AIRBAGS. CLUBLEXUS.COM HAS RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS. THE REPAIRS WILL ONLY BE DONE OR CORRECT IF THE VEHICLE IS UNDER 6 YEARS OLD OR 70,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. FEW THOUSAND CUSTOMERS HAVE CARS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES BUY BEYOND 72 MONTHS BUT LEXUS REFUSES TO RECTIFY THIS TSB WARNING UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT IS NOT OUR FAULTS THAT THE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN DRIV…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11073588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639676 · 2014-09-28 (September 28, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I GOT REAR ENDED WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT IN HER CAR SEAT, AND I BEING THE DRIVER 8 MONTHS PREGNANT. CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGE NO AIR BAGS DEPLOY, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS THAT THE AIR BAGS DO NOT DEPLOY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT I HIT MY FOREHEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH TIMES. I AM CONCERNED REGARDING THIS. VERY EXPENSIVE CAR TO HAVE THESE MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 81,230 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639676 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328080 · 2010-04-29 (April 29, 2010)
HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK ON THE CAR. WHEN IT IS FULL AND I STOP AND THEN DRIVE AWAY I HEAR A THUMPING NOISE FROM IT. ONLY HEAR IT WHEN THE TANK IS FULL AT 1/2 I DON'T HEAR IT. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS THE GAS TANK. HAD IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL THING. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD FILLED UP 3 CARS OF THE SAME MODEL CAR AND IT WAS NOTICED IN THEM..AFTER ALL WE ARE DEALING WITH GAS.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10328080 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10329681 · 2010-05-10 (May 10, 2010)
I TOO AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE THUMPING NOISE FROM THE TRUNK AREA. I NOTICE WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A DEAD STOP IT SOUNDS LIKE A THUMP NOISE RIGHT WHEN YOU TAKE OFF. IT MUST BE THE FUEL TANK AND I NOW SEE THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS CANNOT BE NORMAL??> *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10329681 at NHTSA ↗