YearToAvoid

2011 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 ES years

The 2011 Lexus ES ranks 3rd-worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 87 and 46 NHTSA complaints, mostly airbag-related (59% of complaints). No recalls were issued, but 6 crashes and 4 injuries were reported.

Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2011 Lexus ES problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags27 (59%)
  2. Structure & Body8 (17%)
  3. Electrical System5 (11%)
  4. Brakes3 (7%)
  5. Engine3 (7%)
  6. Other3 (7%)
  7. Fuel System2 (4%)
  8. Steering2 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in frontal and side-impact collisions, with a median failure mileage of 50,200 miles.
  • Some owners reported sudden unintended acceleration while parking at low speed, resulting in collisions with walls or structures.
  • One owner reported the vehicle veering right on its own during a turn, with brakes not responding, leading to a crash.
  • A fuel system complaint described a loud pop and gas leak while driving at highway speed, around 1,998 miles.
  • Wheel bearing wear caused vibration through the front floor panels at highway speed, diagnosed at 38,000 miles.
  • An electrical system issue involved the engine continuing to run unattended, leading to carbon monoxide exposure inside a garage.
2011 Lexus ES complaints: complaints filed per month4Oct 2011Jul 2012Dec 2016Apr 2017Nov 2017May 2020Apr 2024Dec 2024
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2011 to Jul 2026; peak Apr 2017 (4).

2011 Lexus ES recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 compared with other ES years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution53410—
2011Avoid87460—
2012Avoid93310—
2013Caution6033040

All Lexus ES years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Lexus ES a good year to buy?
NHTSA data ranks the 2011 ES 3rd-worst among 16 model years, with a complaint index of 87 and an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other ES years. Airbag-related complaints make up 59% of reports for this year.
Does the 2011 Lexus ES have any recalls?
No, NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2011 Lexus ES.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Lexus ES?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 27 of 46 complaints (59%), with a median failure mileage of 50,200 miles.
How does the 2011 ES compare to other Lexus ES model years?
The 2011 ES has a complaint index of 87, worse than 2010 (53) and most later years, but slightly better than 2012 (93) and 2019 (100), which also carry 'Avoid' verdicts.

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.