YearToAvoid

Lexus Best and Worst Years by Model

16 Lexus models, 3,149 NHTSA owner complaints and 96 recall campaigns for model years 2010–2025. Pick a model to see which years to avoid and which are the safest bets.

Lexus models ranked by owner complaints

Sorted by popularity. Years to avoid / best years come from each model’s own Complaint Index.

ModelYearsComplaintsRecallsYears to avoidBest yearsTop issue
Lexus RX2010–202557682021, 2023, 2024, 20252012, 2014, 2015, 2016Engine
Lexus NX2015–202524382022, 2024, 20252016, 2017, 2018Fuel System
Lexus IS 2502010–201614472010, 20142013Airbags
Lexus RX3502010–2023448122010, 2011, 2012, 20132014, 2020Engine
Lexus GX2010–202511842014, 2023, 2024, 2025—Engine
Lexus ES2010–202528942011, 2012, 2019, 20252016, 2022Airbags
Lexus GS 3502010–20197672013, 2014, 2015—Engine
Lexus GX4602010–2022105102010, 2017, 2018—Airbags
Lexus ES3502010–2023511102010, 2011, 2012, 20172019, 2021Airbags
Lexus IS2010–202513912010, 2012, 2013—Airbags
Lexus LS2010–20255952011, 2012, 2016, 2018—Brakes
Lexus RX Hybrid2010–20256982010, 2011, 2013, 2017—Brakes
Lexus TX2024–2025775——Airbags
Lexus CT2011–2016146020132011, 2014Brakes
Lexus Hs 250 Hybrid2010–2011794——Suspension, Wheels & Tires
Lexus HS2010703——Brakes

Lexus model years with the most complaints

Raw complaint counts (not adjusted for age or sales). Click through for the breakdown.

  1. 2011 Lexus ES350 · 153 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  2. 2010 Lexus ES350 · 136 complaints · 4 recalls Avoid
  3. 2010 Lexus RX350 · 94 complaints · 1 recalls Avoid
  4. 2012 Lexus ES350 · 89 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  5. 2010 Lexus Hs 250 Hybrid · 76 complaints · 4 recalls No verdict
  6. 2010 Lexus RX · 72 complaints · 0 recalls Caution
  7. 2010 Lexus HS · 70 complaints · 3 recalls No verdict
  8. 2021 Lexus RX · 69 complaints · 1 recalls Avoid
  9. 2023 Lexus RX · 61 complaints · 3 recalls Avoid
  10. 2013 Lexus RX350 · 59 complaints · 1 recalls Avoid

How we rank Lexus years

For each model we compare its own model years using the Complaint Index: complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and “Do Not Drive” recalls reported to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. The top quarter of a model’s years is marked Avoid, the bottom quarter Best. Because NHTSA publishes no sales data, models are not ranked against each other. Full details in the methodology.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.