Lexus · NHTSA safety record

2013 Lexus GS 350

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Lexus GS 350 have filed 26 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2012 and October 2019. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 5 of them (19%). The typical failure was reported at 11,000 miles, the median across the 19 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

20V012000 · January 13, 2020

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

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 1,830,752 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

14V270000 · May 22, 2014

The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 10,462 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING

12V221000 · May 16, 2012

The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The 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.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing · up to 663 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 26.

SERVICE BRAKES 5 19%

STRUCTURE 4 15%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 12%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 12%

STEERING 3 12%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 12%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 12%

AIR BAGS 2 8%

ENGINE 2 8%

SUSPENSION 2 8%

EQUIPMENT 1 4%

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 6.

2012 to 2019

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed September 25, 2015

2 injured · crash · 13,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS GS 350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL BEFORE SPINNING OUT. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED 100 MPH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE FACE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A LEFT KNEE INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 11/06/15*LJ

NHTSA complaint 10776550. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed January 10, 2018

1 injured · crash · towed · 49,800 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 LEXUS GS 350. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. ALL THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS MORE THAN THE COST OF THE VEHICLE; THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.

NHTSA complaint 11061635. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS Filed February 7, 2019

1 injured · crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS GS 350. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL IN A WHEELCHAIR. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF THE INDIVIDUAL SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR BODY REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint 11175034. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING Filed January 29, 2015

crash · 11,000 miles

AS THE CAR WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVING SPOT AND MAKING ITS WAY, SEVERE BLACK ICE WAS PREVENTING CONTROL. THE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE ACTIVATED SOME ANTI-SKIDDING MECHANISM. THE CAR WAS STOPPED THEN. FROM A RESTING, ZERO SPEED POSITION, THE CAR SLID ON BLACK ICE ABOUT A FOOT OR LESS AND WAS STOPPED BY A SIDE IMPACT BETWEEN THE RIGHT WHEEL AND THE CURB. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN BACK A FEW FEET TO ITS PARKING SPOT AND PARKED BECAUSE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS. UPON CLEARING AND DRIVING AGAIN, SOMETHING WRONG SEEMED TO HAVE HAPPENED TO THE STEERING. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TIE RODS (BENDING) AND THE STEERING COLUMN, DAMAGE IN

NHTSA complaint 10679725, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed October 19, 2019

64,000 miles

AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE EARLY MORNING, I OPENED THE MOONROOF. 5 MINUTES LATER I DECIDED TO CLOSE IT BECAUSE IT GOT COLD FAST IN THE CAR. UPON CLOSING, THE MOONROOF GLASS SELF EXPLODED AS I WAS DRIVING 40-45MPH. THE GLASS WAS EVERYWHERE. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER AND ASSES WHY AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED. NOTHING HIT IT, NOTHING FELL ON IT, ALL I DID WAS OPEN AND CLOSE IT AND IT EXPLODED. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE, I REALIZED I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. I DECIDED TO SUBMIT MY COMPLAINT AS THIS IS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint 11276831. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed June 26, 2019

48,500 miles

MY AC COMPRESSOR HAS GONE OUT IN THIS CAR, IT IS ON BACKORDER THEY SAY BUT ITS BEEN TWO WEEKS IN ADDITION I HAVE CALLED SEVERAL LEXUS DEALERSHIPS INCLUDING THE MAIN LEXUS COMPANY AND THEY DONT HAVE ANY IN STOCK AND OVER 20+ ON BACK ORDER WHICH CLEARLY INDICATES THERE IS A FAULT IN THEM. I HAVE GONE 2 WEEKS WITH NO AC AND IM IN OKLAHOMA WHERE ITS 90+ DEGREE WEATHER

NHTSA complaint 11222761. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed June 19, 2019

111,320 miles

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET. I WAS DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 30MPH. I WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE STREET WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP; IT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN. AFTERWARDS, I HEARD A CACKLING SOUND COMING FROM THE TOP OF MY CAR. AS A MADE A COMPLETE STOP AT A RED LIGHT, I MOVED MY VISOR TO MY SUNROOF BACK AND ALL I SAW WAS SHATTERED GLASS. I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE VISOR TO MY SUNROOF. IT WAS THE MOST FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE. MY SUNROOF EXPLODED AND NOW IT'S SHATTERED TO PIECES. I MADE IT HOME, BUT I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint 11221104. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY Filed June 19, 2019

111,320 miles

TODAY WHILE DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30MPH, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. UPON STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, I OPENED MY SUNROOF VISOR A LITTLE, AND I OBSERVED MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. IT WAS A LOUD POP, IN COMPARISON TO THE SOUND OF A SHOTGUN.

NHTSA complaint 11221106. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed April 30, 2019

INFOTAINMENT NOTIFICATIONS ENTIRELY OBSCURE REAR CAMERA VIEW OF CARS. THIS IS TRUE OF ALL TOYOTA A D LEXUS MODELS USING THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint 11204713. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Lexus GS 350

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2015	15	1	—
2014	16	1	—

Other 2013 Lexus models

RX 350 59 CT 43 ES 33 ES350 23 RX Hybrid 12 LS460 9 ES Hybrid 8

Every Lexus on this site — 88 vehicles, 116 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file , published August 20, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API , most recent campaign filed August 12, 2026.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file , published 2026-08-19.

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