YearToAvoid

2012 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

93/100

#2 most-complained of 16 ES years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Lexus ES has a Complaint Index of 93 and ranks 2nd worst of 16 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. Airbags account for 61% of complaints (19 of 31), tied to 5 crashes and 1 fire, with a median failure mileage of 51,500.

Complaints
31
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
5 / 1
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2012 Lexus ES problems

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

  1. Airbags19 (61%)
  2. Electrical System5 (16%)
  3. Other4 (13%)
  4. Structure & Body4 (13%)
  5. Visibility & Wipers3 (10%)
  6. Engine1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags deployed unexpectedly during low-speed parking maneuvers, causing multiple bags to fire at once and leading to serious injury.
  • A passenger reported the plastic airbag shroud cut her leg open during a side-impact crash.
  • Some owners reported front airbags failed to deploy in rear-end collisions, even after Takata-related recall work was done.
  • One owner reported airbags still did not deploy in a crash that occurred the day after the Takata recall replacement was completed.
  • Owners reported the dashboard vinyl melting and bubbling near the passenger side control switch, in one case forming a hole.
  • Owners reported door locks failing to respond to the key fob or interior switches, with no click heard when attempting to lock the doors.
  • One owner described sudden unintended acceleration while slowly pulling into a parking spot, causing the car to jump a concrete curb.
2012 Lexus ES complaints: complaints filed per month5Apr 2014Mar 2017Jun 2017Dec 2017Oct 2020Nov 2022Oct 2025
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2014 to Jul 2026; peak Oct 2017 (5).

2012 Lexus ES recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 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
2014No verdict74040

All Lexus ES years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Lexus ES reliable?
NHTSA data shows the 2012 ES has a Complaint Index of 93, the second-worst of 16 model years for this model, with 31 complaints, 5 crashes, and 1 fire. It carries an Avoid verdict relative to other ES years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Lexus ES?
Airbags are the top problem area, making up 61% of complaints (19 of 31). Owners reported airbags failing to deploy or deploying unexpectedly, at a median failure mileage of 51,500.
Does the 2012 Lexus ES have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 Lexus ES in this data, despite the high number of airbag-related complaints.
How does the 2012 ES compare to other Lexus ES years?
The 2012 ES's Complaint Index of 93 is worse than the 2010 (53), 2011 (87), and 2013 (60) model years, and far worse than later years like 2016 (20) and 2022 (13), which carry Best or Good 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.