2012 Lexus ES350 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
45,582 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 77 of 89 complaints (86.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 2.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 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 | 77 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Knee Bolster | 1 |
| Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Lock | 1 |
Air Bags: 77; Electrical System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Knee Bolster: 1; Air Bags:On-Off Switch Assembly: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Lock: 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 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 75 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 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 73; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10554786 · 2013-12-04 (December 4, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 55 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AFTER BEING CUT OFF. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE WHEELS SEIZED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10789879 · 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)
WAS MOVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC HEADING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION (AROUND 15 MILES PER HOUR). WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE WHEN TWO CARS IN FRONT OF ME WENT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, MY CAR ZOOMED TO AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR (FELT LIKE THE ACCELERATOR WENT LIMP). I PUMPED THE POWER BRAKES AND THEY WOULD NOT HOLD (PER LEXUS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS GOING TO FAST FOR THE AIR BRAKES). I WENT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND SWERVED AROUND A CAR AND WAS HEADING TOO FAST IN THE LANE OF TRAFFIC THAT I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TURNED QUICKLY INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10789879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670928 · 2015-01-08 (January 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THE PERSON DRIVING SAW SMOKE STARTING TO EMIT FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT, AFTER THE SEAT HEATER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND A SMALL BURN HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVER SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,200. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN LEXUS INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE BURN HOLD WAS NOT LOCATED NEAR THE SEAT HEATER GRID OR WHERE THE ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS LOCATED AND THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT COV…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10760523 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)
I PARKED THE CAR IN MY INDOOR GARAGE (PART OF THE INTERIOR OF MY HOME). SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I BEGAN TO FEEL ILL AND COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR. I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND AN EMERGENCY CREW RESPONDED TO MY HOME. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR, BUT THEY WERE ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS. THEY IMMEDIATELY DETERMINED THAT MY HOME WAS FILLED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE AND FOUND THAT THE SOURCE WAS THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE HAD BEEN LEFT ON AND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS WAS THE RESULT OF ME WALKING AWAY FROM THE CAR, WHICH HAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10760523 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084148 · 2018-04-08 (April 8, 2018)
DRIVER SIDE KNEE AIRBAG CAUSED HEMATOMA, SECOND DEGREE BURN ON L. LEG, RESULTING IN 2 SURGERIES, USE OF WOUND VAC FOR 2 1/2 MONTHS, AND PERMANENT LYMPEDEMA AND SCARRING ON L. CALF. DRIVER HAS REPLACED KNEES THAT ARE AT HIGH RISK IF FURTHER CRASH AND KNEE BAG DEPLOYS AGAIN. DRIVER NEEDS ON-OFF SWITCH INSTALLED FOR DRIVER KNEE AIRBAG. DRIVER WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THIS ACCIDENT AND WANTS KNEE AIRBAGS REMOVED OR AN ON-OFF SWITCH INSTALLED. THE AIRBAG ON STEERING WHEEL DEPLOYED CORRECTLY AND CAUSED NO DAMAGE. THE KNEE AIRBAG IS A DANGER TO DRIVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11176490 · 2019-02-12 (February 12, 2019)
ON FEB 7, 2019 VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY DEALER REGARDING A RECALL THE VEHICLE WAS ON DEALERS LIFT AT TIME OF DETECTION OF LEAK ON FEB 8, 2019 POWER STEERING RACK LEAK WAS FOUND BY DEALER ON FEB 8, 9 AND 10, 2019 DEALER REPLACED LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK.
Owner-reported narrative. 51,163 miles reported. Look up ODI 11176490 at NHTSA ↗