Lexus ES: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Lexus ES problems by model year, from 824 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2019 (59%, 17 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 10 Lexus ES years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2021 (0%), 2012 (0%) and 2010 (8%). 2021 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (17 of 58 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Lexus ES year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 ES | no elevated signal | 8% | 4 | 179 | 8/10 | 5 |
| 2011 ES | no elevated signal | 20% | 5 | 197 | 3/10 | 3 |
| 2012 ES | no elevated signal | 0% | 0 | 116 | 9/10 | 3 |
| 2013 ES | no elevated signal | 17% | 9 | 63 | 6/10 | 1 |
| 2014 ES | no elevated signal | 21% | 9 | 46 | 2/10 | 1 |
| 2015 ES | no elevated signal | 20% | 5 | 27 | 4/10 | 1 |
| 2016 ES | no elevated signal | 18% | 6 | 37 | 5/10 | 1 |
| 2017 ES | no elevated signal | 14% | 3 | 25 | 7/10 | 1 |
| 2018 ES | too few to score | – | 5 | 15 | – | 2 |
| 2019 ES | high | 59% | 17 | 34 | 1/10 | 1 |
| 2020 ES | too few to score | – | 2 | 24 | – | 1 |
| 2021 ES | no elevated signal | 0% | 0 | 35 | 10/10 | 1 |
| 2022 ES | too few to score | – | 1 | 14 | – | 0 |
| 2023 ES | too few to score | – | 2 | 12 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Lexus ES years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Lexus ES recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns across the Lexus ES years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
11 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2009 | 09V388000 | vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal | 2010 |
| Nov 2015 | 15V728000 | forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking | 2013–2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V198000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip | 2016 |
| May 2016 | 16V340000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V006000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V415000 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2017 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V024000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Jan 2019 | 19V005000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V288000 | air bags: knee bolster | 2019 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V741000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V865000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Lexus ES
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Lexus ES
What are the worst years for the Lexus ES?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Lexus ES years are the 2019 (59% of relevant complaints, high). 1 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Lexus ES?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Lexus ES years are the 2021 (0%), the 2012 (0%) and the 2010 (8%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Lexus ES have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 58 of 440 relevant NHTSA complaints (13%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2019.
Is the Lexus ES reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 10 Lexus ES years we score have an elevated complaint share and 9 do not. Pooled across those years, 13% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Lexus ES?
No. NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns across the Lexus ES years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.