Lexus · NHTSA safety record
Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 33 safety complaints about the 2013 Lexus ES with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 2 people were injured and no death is recorded. No recall campaign has been matched to this year, make and model.
The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 9 complaints, 27% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 45,000 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2013 to July 2026 · How this is counted
33
Complaints
3
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
2
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 33.
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2013 at 4.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2013 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
NHTSA has not crash tested the 2013 Lexus ES. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.
What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.
1 injured · crash · towed · 58,000 miles
I WAS PARKING MY CAR ON A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX. I AM PRESSING ON THE BRAKE AS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. WHEN I FURTHER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR INSTEAD OF TAKING A COMPLETE STOP, ACCELERATED. IT HIT THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN TRYING TO BACK UP, IT ACCELERATED AGAIN IN REVERSE. I PRESSED THE BRAKE REALLY HARD THEN IT STOPPED.
NHTSA complaint 10970855. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
1 injured · crash · towed · 45,000 miles
THE LEXUS ES 350, WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO SIDE STREET WITHIN A SUB DIVISION, AND RAN UP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, AND SO MUCH DAMAGED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER UNSURE IF VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN OR JUST LOST CONTROL. THE GREATER ISSUE OR CONCERN WAS NOT WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, BUT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER THE IMPACT AND THE DRIVER BROKE THEIR NOSE AND HAS BEEN TREATED 3 TIMES IN ER SINCE CRASH. IN SPEAKING WITH REPAIR SHOP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE 2 AIR BAG SENSORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, AND BOTH ARE NEAR THE HEADLIGHTS. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT GIVEN THE
NHTSA complaint 11296969, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
199,000 miles
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Lexus ES350. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale on Facebook Marketplace. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 127,000; however, a Carfax vehicle history reported the mileage at 199,000.
NHTSA complaint 11749260. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Lexus of Sarasota Fl confirmed a Faulty brake actuators causing brake , skid control and ABS light to come on which created an immediate and extremely dangerous driving situation as I was on an interstate highway driving at 70 mph. It’s been confirmed that multiply Lexus models and years have had numerous brake actuator . Multiple failures have been documented yet ONLY a few were given recall status!!This is outrageous and an immediate review of this oversight needs to be addressed
NHTSA complaint 11714970. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES 300H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The service ABS, Brakes, and hazard warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was determined. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint 11711407. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Lexus recall 2010-2015 models because pain is peaking. My car is a 2913 es 350 and the paint is pealing but Lexus do not want to fix it. It is the same problem as the recall Lexus because paint is peaking. What can I do or what can you do
NHTSA complaint 11685167. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
As a dominos delivery driver, I am constantly braking in neighborhoods, on main roads, highways, parking lots, you name it. It’s important for me as a safe driver to be able to rely on my vehicle to perform properly. Recently, I’ve had multiple failures to stop as the code “c1391” has come up and has intermittently shut off proper control of my braking system. Upon reading of the faulty brake system causing this code and my vehicle listed (2013 Lexus es300h) as part of the list of vehicles affected, I knew I needed to write in as well to have my car fixed of this problem that is endangering myself and others on the road.
NHTSA complaint 11681600. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
Brakes malfunctioned almost resulted in a life threatening car accident. Car is at the Lexus dealership for repair. The have confirmed problem. Yes there were warning lights moments before needing the brakes and it not working whn pushed.
NHTSA complaint 11635965. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 2024 | 9 | 2 | — |
| 2023 | 10 | 2 | — |
| 2021 | 28 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | 18 | 1 | — |
| 2019 | 34 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 31 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 46 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 41 | 0 | — |
Complaints on file, same model year.
Every Lexus on this site — 91 vehicles.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst