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U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Lexus ES350: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

26,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 23 complaints (17.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior417.4%
Steering behavior313.0%
Electrical and battery issues28.7%
Transmission and shifting14.3%
Fuel system concerns14.3%

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.

Air Bags
4
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
4
Service Brakes
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Vehicle Speed Control
3
Seats
2
Steering
2
Structure:Body
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags4
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly4
Service Brakes3
Unknown Or Other3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Seats2
Steering2
Structure:Body2

Air Bags: 4; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Seats: 2; Steering: 2; Structure:Body: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
11
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00011
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 0 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.

2013
2
2014
4
2015
5
2016
3
2017
5
2018
1
2019
1
2020
1
2021
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20132
20144
20155
20163
20175
20181
20191
20201
20211

2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10556042 · 2013-12-14 (December 14, 2013)

THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF ANOTHER DRIVE JETTING OUT IN FRONT. CAR IMPACTED AT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT BUMPER MOUNT, HOOD AND DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL. IMPACT TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS THE REAR QUARTER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, ONBOARD SAFETY CONNECT FEATURE DID NOT CONNECT TO CONFIRM DRIVER WAS OK AND THE SOS BUTTON FAILED TO WORK AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO TOYOTA. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556042 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10556805 · 2013-12-20 (December 20, 2013)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY APPLYING THE BRAKES OR SHIFTING INTO PARK. THE FAILURE CEASED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE BRAKES BECAME RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,890. UPDATED 01/08/14*LJ TIRE SKID …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556805 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10567204 · 2014-02-27 (February 27, 2014)

IT WAS A SUNNY SATURDAY MORNING. AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 AM, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT ABOUT 35 MPH., LESS THAN ONE (1) MILE FROM HOME. SUDDENLY, THE CAR JOLTED AND RAPIDLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. IT KEPT INCREASING SPEED. SHE THAN HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AND CONTINUED TO INCREASE SPEED. THE CAR SPEED EXCEEDED 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO PARKED CARS OR PEDESTRIANS. SHE THEN MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT UP INTO PARK. THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP. SHE WAS APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION OF THE SERVICE ROAD TO …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 10567204 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10573417 · 2014-03-19 (March 19, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE AND HER HUSBAND LEASED THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION INCIDENT, THEY BROKE THE LEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10573417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10579151 · 2014-04-11 (April 11, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES SIZE 215/55 R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING ON EVEN ROAD SURFACES AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, A LOUD NOISE EMITTED FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND THERE WAS A THREE INCH HOLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579151 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10638126 · 2014-09-22 (September 22, 2014)

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM SEWELL LEXUS IN FT. WORTH TEXAS IN SEPTEMBER 2013. SHORTLY THERE AFTER IN LATE OCTOBER, I WENT TO START MY VEHICLE WHICH IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, DEAD BATTERY. I JUMP STARTED IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT AWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SIX TOTAL TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 2-3 DAYS IN MY GARAGE. I HAVE NEVER LET THE CAR SIT MORE THAN 5 DAYS, BUT WHEN I DO LET IT SIT FOR 3-5 DAYS, THE BATTERY IS DEAD. CURRENT MILEAGE IS AROUND 4200. I TOOK I…

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10638126 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10734664 · 2015-07-16 (July 16, 2015)

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A 3-POINT TURN, I FIRST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY ONTO THE ROAD, PAUSED TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND PULLED FORWARD AND .STARTED TO TURN TO MY LEFT. AS I DID I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES AND THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS ALL LIT AT ONCE. MY CAR DRIFTED ACROSS THE CENTER LINE AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP IT FROM ROLLING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT ENDED UP PERPENDICULAR TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ONLY STOPPED WHEN IT HIT AN EMBANKMENT. MY CAR SUSTAINED FRONT BUMPER AND GRIL…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734664 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10759984 · 2015-08-28 (August 28, 2015)

I BOUGHT PRE-OWNED 2013 LEXUS ES300H CAR IN MOTH OF APRIL AND STARTED HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN, I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH FACT THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH SEAT, PLEASE HELP ME AS I AM HAVING SEVER BACK PAIN EVERY SINGLE TIME I USE THE CAR. LEXUS REPRESENTATIVE HAS BEEN GOING ROUND ABOUT AND NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE, THEY DID NOT EVEN PROPERLY INSPECTED THE SEAT AND DISMISSED THE CASE. NO GOOD SOLUTION PROVIDED. (LEXUS ASK ME TO SELL THE CAR!!!) I URGE NHTSA TO INTERVENE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, IT NOT EASY TO SELL AND BUY CAR, I WI…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759984 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

15V728000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent Braking

Reported: 2015-11-03 (November 3, 2015)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.

Consequence: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.

NHTSA campaign record ↗