2012 Lexus ES: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 10887343 · 2016-07-20 (July 20, 2016)
CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2012 LEXUS ES340. SHE CLAIMS THAT THE PLASTIC SHROUD HOLDING THE AIR BAG CUT OPEN HER LEG, CAUSING VERY SERIOUS INJURIES AND PAIN. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO-VEHICLE, SIDE IMPACT CRASH. UPDATED 07/26/16.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10887343 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957792 · 2017-03-01 (March 1, 2017)
I HAVE CALLED THE NUMBER PROVIDED ON THE LETTER THAT NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. I WAS TOLD THE NEW AIR BAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET AND IN THE MEANTIME, I CAN RENT A CAR (NOT A LEXUS) THROUGH ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I BOUGHT A LEXUS AND SINCE MY CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE AIR BAG IS REPLACED, I SHOULD HAVE A COMPARABLE CAR TO DRIVE.
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10957792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970278 · 2017-04-03 (April 3, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL. ON FEBRUARY 25, 2017 I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL AN INTERIM NOTICE (IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL) FROM LEXUS REGARDING MY 2012 LEXUS ES 350, VIN [XXX]. FIRST, I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHEN IT WOULD BE FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED ME THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN SEPTEMBER 2017,WHICH I ASSUME MEANS I WOULD THEN BE IN LINE FOR THE REPAIR SOME TIME AFTER SEPTEMBER. I THEN CONTACTED THE LEXUS DIVISION, CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT [phone removed] ONLY TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING. THE SOLUTION UNTIL THE FIX …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970494 · 2017-04-04 (April 4, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL - THERE HAS BEEN NO VIABLE SOLUTION ISSUED TO PROTECT CONSUMERS WHILE THE REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL IS DEVELOPED. THE RECOMMENDATION TO NOT DRIVE WITH A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS NOT FEASIBLE OR PRACTICAL. NO INJURY HAS BEEN SUSTAINED AT THIS TIME.
Owner-reported narrative. 74,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970494 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 10984412 · 2017-05-09 (May 9, 2017)
TAKATA INFLATORS WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS TO DATE WITH THIS ISSUE. WE USE THIS CAR FOR FAMILY TRANSPORTATION AND BASED ON THE SUMMARY AND RISK STATEMENTS FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 17V006 ARE RELUCTANT TO ALLOW ANYONE TO SIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE RELATIVELY RECENT ISSUE OF JAN 09, 2017 MAY NOT ALLOW A REMEDY TO BE EXECUTED YET. HOWEVER, CAN YOU HELP EXPEDITE THIS RESOLUTION OR AT LEAST PROVIDE SOME IDEA OF HOW LONG IT MAY TAKE TO FIX IT. IT IS A TERRIBLE INCONVENIENCE TO ONE OF OUR MOST BASIC MODES OF TRA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10984412 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.