2013 Lexus GS 350: complaints, problems and recalls

ISSUE IS SPECIFIC TO F-SPORT MODEL WITH STRIATED ALUMINUM ACCENTS INTERIOR. ANYTIME THE SUN DIRECTLY HITS THE STRIATED ALUMINUM ACCENTS ON THE DRIVER SIDE A REFLECTION OF THE TRIM PIECE IS REFLECTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR DRAMATICALLY REDUCING VISIBILITY WHEN USING SIDE MIRRORS FOR LANE CHANGES AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462886 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS GS350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VOICE COMMAND FEATURE DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENTER THREE HAND COMMANDS INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO USE HER VOICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SYSTEM OPERATED THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO REFERRED TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO DID A SIMULATION AND AGREED THAT CERTAIN HAND COMMANDS WERE NECESSARY. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE FEATURE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CON…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465414 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350 (N/A). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN HE FELT AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD SLOW DOWN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10488660 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW LEXUS ES 350 LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AGO. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES. THE CAR WAS SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR THREE DAYS AND NOW IS COMPLETELY DEAD. HAD TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND THE CAR COULD NOT START. THE ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY IS NOT DUE TO ANY LIGHTS BEING ON. THE CAR LIGHTS WERE COMPLETELY OFF BUT BATTERY DRAINED ANYWAY. I JUST FOUND OUT FROM OTHER LEXUS OWNERS THAT THIS IS A FLAW WITH LEXUS CARS. THE BATTERY RUNS OUT DUE TO SOME MALFUNCTION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10490245 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING ON US 93S ON GOLDEN VALLEY, ARIZONA IN MY LEXUS 350 WHEN I NOTICED THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. SOON AFTER THE VEHICLE STARTED GETTING WOBBLY SO I SLOWED DOWN AND PUT MY BLINKING LIGHT. A MINUTE LATER, THE CAR SHOOK AS IF WE WERE RIDING A RECTANGULAR TIRE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG WHEN THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. WE WERE AT A HIGH SPEED WITH CARS AND TRUCKS WHEEZING BY AT 75-80 MPH, NO APPRECIABLE SHOULDER, SO I DROVE THE CAR ABOUT HALF A MILE TO A ROADSIDE DELI. THE TIRE WAS A DUNLOP SP SPORT 5000, RUN FLAT,…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520301 at NHTSA ↗

I PURCHASED A NEW LEXUS GS 350 2013 AND IT JUST MADE IT OVER 10K MILES AND I HAVE ALREADY BEEN STRANDED IN MY HOUSE WITH NO CAR 2XS. THE BATTERY HAS DIED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. NO LIGHTS WERE LEFT ON AND ON BOTH OCCASIONS LEXUS SAID THE SAME. HERE I STAND INSIDE MY HOUSE WITH NO VEHICLE. FROM ONE DAY TO ANOTHER - I HAD NO CAR. ITS NEEDLESS TO SAY THAT I PAY A "GENEROUS" AMOUNT OF $$$$$ A MONTH; THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE NOT EXPECT THIS FROM LEXUS. MAYBE KIA. WHO KNOWS ANYMORE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548217 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS GS350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROJECT ADEQUATE ILLUMINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEADLIGHTS COULD NOT BE READJUSTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. UPDATED 12/4/13*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549537 at NHTSA ↗

ON 8/22/13 , I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET ABOUT 30 MILES PER HOUR . THE CAR WAS BRAKED AND LOCKED UP ALL BY IT SELF . MY FOOT WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME AND NOT ON THE BRAKE . THE BRAKE LIGHT LITE UP ON THE DASH BOARD AND THE I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE . WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PADDLE , THE CAR WOULD GO UNTIL IT HIT ABOUT 10 MILES PER HOUR THEN LOCKED UP AGAIN . I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LEXUS SERVICE CENTER AROUND 10 PM . THE SERVICE CENTER WAS CLOSED BUT THE BRAKE UNLOCKED BY ITSELF . I DROVE HOME AND DR…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,414 miles reported. Look up ODI 10550502 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-05-16 (May 16, 2012)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 LEXUS GS350 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 12, 2011, THROUGH FEBRUARY 7, 2012. THE STEERING CONTROL ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) PROGRAMMING FOR THE VARIABLE GEAR RATIO STEERING (VGRS) SYSTEM COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO BECOME OFF-CENTERED WHEN RESTARTING IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS PARKED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED.

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE DRIVER MAY NOT REALIZE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS OFF-CENTERED WHEN PULLING FROM A PARKED POSITION, THE VEHICLE COULD MANEUVER IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION, RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND LEXUS DEALERS WILL UPDATE THE VGRS SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013 Lexus GS 350 vehicles manufactured June 8, 2012, through December 26, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the switch that senses the amount of pressure that the driver is applying to the brake pedal may fail.

Consequence: If the switch fails, the vehicle may begin braking without the driver's input, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal support assembly which includes the brake pedal load sensing switch, free of charge. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in late June 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Owners received a second letter after the remedy parts were available in mid-July. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

Reported: 2020-01-13 (January 13, 2020)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.