2013 Lexus ES Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2013 Lexus ES has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 12th worst out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict. Brakes and electrical system issues each account for 30% of its 33 complaints, but no recalls have been filed for this year.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 45/100
- #12 of 21 ES years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 33
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 40
- 40 city / 39 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2013 Lexus ES problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes10 (30%)
- Electrical System10 (30%)
- Engine6 (18%)
- Other5 (15%)
- Fuel System4 (12%)
- Airbags3 (9%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (9%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (6%)
- Structure & Body2 (6%)
- Steering1 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners describe the brake pedal failing to bring the car to a complete stop, requiring extra hard pressure before the vehicle finally stopped, in one case after hitting a building.
- Panoramic sunroof glass has been reported to shatter or explode while driving or while a door was closed, with no impact or object striking the car.
- Owners describe an intermittent hesitation or stall when accelerating from a stop or rolling stop, sometimes lasting one to three seconds before the car suddenly surges forward.
- Some drivers reported dashboard warnings such as check engine or hybrid system alerts followed by a sudden loss of power and steering while driving.
- Electrical problems have included repeated dead batteries occurring roughly a year apart despite battery replacement.
- One owner reported the vehicle veering and striking a tree after possibly losing control during a low-speed turn, though the cause was unclear.
2013 Lexus ES recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2013 Lexus ES fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 40 MPG
- Highway
- 39 MPG
- Combined
- 40 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2013 compared with other ES years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Lexus ES reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 ES has a complaint index of 45 and ranks 12th out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other ES years.
- What problems does the 2013 Lexus ES have?
- NHTSA complaints for this year center on brakes and the electrical system, each making up 30% of the 33 complaints, followed by engine issues at 18% and fuel system issues at 12%.
- Does the 2013 Lexus ES have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2013 Lexus ES.
- What is the median mileage for brake complaints on the 2013 Lexus ES?
- Brake-related complaints on the 2013 ES had a median mileage at failure of 58,000 miles.
- How does the 2013 Lexus ES compare to other ES years?
- The 2013 ES, with a complaint index of 45, is far better than the worst years like 2007 (index 100) and 2019 (index 95), though not as low-risk as 2018 or 2022, which are rated Best.