2009 Lexus ES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
79,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 28 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 10.7% |
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 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 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 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 14 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 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10436099 · 2011-11-16 (November 16, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FROM 65 MPH TO 80 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WOULD RELEASE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS FOUND WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL: ACCELERATOR PEDAL) BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL.…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436099 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546529 · 2013-10-02 (October 2, 2013)
CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN SEPT OF 2009 MY WIFE DRIVES IN TOWN AND IT ONLY HAS 27000 MILES ON IT AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING STEEL BELTS ON BOTH INSIDE OF TIRES,PRETTY ON SAFE. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS HOW THE CAR IS SET UP. THE PROBLEM WILL KEEP HAPPENING. MY WIFE WOULD NOT TOLD ME BUT SHE HEARD SOMETHING SLAPPING.CHECKED IT OUT AND FOUND BOTH FRONT TIRES ARE BAD AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH. WHAT HAPPEN IF SHE WAS IN AND ACCIDENT? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10694468 · 2015-03-16 (March 16, 2015)
MP3, RADIO AND CD PLAYER DO NOT WORK. NO SOUND OR TXT ON SCREEN. THE LIGHTS FLASH NONSTOP. CD WILL NOT EJECT. ALL THE FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND ARE GOOD. I JUST TURNED THE CAR ON ONE DAY AND IT WAS NOT WORKING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885771 · 2016-07-19 (July 19, 2016)
THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME SHINY. THE SHINE RENDERS THE DRIVER BLIND TO TRAFFIC BY REFLECTING THE SUN. THE SHINE ALSO REFLECTS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND REFLECTS BACK. THIS MAKES THE VISIBILITY TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE AND FRONT OF THE DRIVER TO BE VERY LOW CAUSING A HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10885771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885881 · 2016-07-19 (July 19, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE VIA MAIL LAST WEEK REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. NHTSA RECALL NO. 16V-340. IN THE "IMPORTANT UPDATE" INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL NOTICE WERE SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. QUESTION 8 "MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN THIS SAFETY RECALL BUT THE REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. WILL LEXUS PROVIDE A LONER VEHICLE UNTIL THE REMEDY IS AVAILABLE". THE ANSWER PROVIDES THAT "[T]O MINIMIZE RISK, LEXUS RECOMMENDS THAT NO PASSENGERS SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IF THIS RECOMMENDATION IS NOT FEASIBLE FOR THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10885881 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10891556 · 2016-07-29 (July 29, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL. LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE A REMEDY YET. UNTIL THEY DO I CAN NOT GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. IS THE AIR BAG ON IF NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT? PLEASE GIVE ME THE ANSWER. THANK YOU *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10891556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10919961 · 2016-10-29 (October 29, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL
Owner-reported narrative. 66,455 miles reported. Look up ODI 10919961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10929579 · 2016-12-02 (December 2, 2016)
TAKATA RECALL LEXUS DOES NOT FEEL THE URGENCY OF DEVELOPING A RESPONSE TO THIS DEADLY SITUATION THEIR RESPONSE SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS TAKATA'S PROBLEM WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE MY CAR SAFE TO CARRY A PASSENGER?
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10929579 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.