VehicleVerdict

2013 Lexus Es350 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Limited data — recalls on file

NHTSA has just 29 complaints on file for the 2013 Lexus Es350 — too few to judge reliability from owner reports alone — but one recall campaign applies to this year, so any used example should have its VIN checked for completed recall work.

In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

29

NHTSA complaints

1

Recalls

0

Investigations

8

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2013 compare to other Es350 years?

Es350 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted529 complaints2007: 529 complaints2008: 276 complaints2009: 154 complaints2010: 150 complaints2011: 161 complaints2012: 94 complaints2013: 29 complaints2014: 26 complaints2015: 23 complaints2016: 27 complaints2017: 26 complaints2018: 7 complaints2019: 6 complaints2020: 10 complaints2021: 6 complaints2022: 5 complaints2023: 2 complaints
Es350 NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Es350 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Lexus Es350 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Visibility & Wipers517%
Airbags414%
Brakes310%
Speed Control310%
Other310%
Steering27%
Seats27%
Body & Structure27%
Tires & Wheels27%
Fuel System13%
Electrical System13%
Transmission13%

Does the 2013 Lexus Es350 have recalls?

1 NHTSA recall campaign on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

15V728000Driver AssistanceNovember 3, 2015 · 30,812 units

Defect

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, AN EXPLOSION LIKE SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Visibility & Wipers · November 27, 2019

“PASSENGER-SIDE LEG AIRBAG FAILED TO FULLY DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. IT ALSO EXPLODED AND EXPELLED ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED PROPERLY. THIS WAS DURING A FRONT-END COLLISION WITH THE SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS PROCEEDINGSTRAIGHT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ON A PARKWAY-LIKE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · May 2, 2017 · crash

“I WAS DRIVING ON I75 IN LOUISVILLE, KY, GOING APPROX 70-75 MPH WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHOT! PANICKED, I LOOKED AROUND IMMEDIATELY BUT THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS CLOSE BY AND NO OVERPASSES. THEN I REALIZED THAT GLASS WAS ALL OVER MY RIGHT ARM, SHOULDER, AND THE CENTER CONSOLE. I LOOKED…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · May 24, 2017

“I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN FRONT OF A STORE. CAR WAS IN PARKING SPOT, READY TO STOP. ALL OF A SUDDEN, CAR ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, WENT THRU SIDEWALK INTO THE STORE AHEAD. LUCKILY, STORE WAS VACANT. CAR KEPT GOING THRU THE STORE, CAME OUT FROM THE BACK WALL ONTO THE RAIL GUARDS WHICH FINALLY…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · January 23, 2017 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVELER FRACTURED FROM THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER. THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · March 3, 2017

2013 Lexus Es350 — common questions

Is the 2013 Lexus Es350 reliable?

The record is thin — 29 NHTSA complaints — so owner-report data can't strongly confirm reliability either way, though 1 recall should be verified as completed.

What are the most common 2013 Es350 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are visibility & wipers (5 complaints), airbags (4 complaints), other (3 complaints).

Does the 2013 Lexus Es350 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign affecting the 2013 Lexus Es350. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Lexus Es350 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Es350 years to avoid are 2007, 2008, 2011, 2009, 2010, 2012. The cleanest record among Es350 years belongs to 2023.

How safe is the 2013 Lexus Es350?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2013 Lexus Es350 earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.