YearToAvoid

2013 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

60/100

#7 most-complained of 16 ES years

The 2013 Lexus ES has 33 NHTSA complaints and a Complaint Index of 60, ranking 7th worst among 16 model years with a Caution verdict. Brakes and Electrical System each account for 30% of complaints, with no recalls filed.

Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
40
40 city / 39 hwy

Top 2013 Lexus ES problems

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

  1. Brakes10 (30%)
  2. Electrical System10 (30%)
  3. Engine6 (18%)
  4. Other5 (15%)
  5. Fuel System4 (12%)
  6. Airbags3 (9%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers3 (9%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (6%)
  9. Structure & Body2 (6%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brakes failing to bring the car to a complete stop during low-speed parking maneuvers, in one case leading to a collision with a building.
  • Some drivers describe sudden acceleration hesitation or a 1-2 second stall when pulling away from a stop or rolling stop, sometimes reported dozens of times over months of ownership.
  • The panoramic sunroof has reportedly shattered or exploded without impact while driving or while a door was closed, with glass falling onto the roof and trunk.
  • Owners describe the 12-volt battery dying repeatedly, sometimes about a year apart, pointing to a possible electrical charging issue.
  • One driver reported the check engine and hybrid system alarms activating followed by a complete loss of power and steering while driving.
  • An airbag-related complaint described the vehicle running up a curb and striking a tree, with the driver uncertain whether the car moved on its own.
2013 Lexus ES complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2013Jul 2015May 2017Jan 2020Aug 2021Nov 2023Jan 2025Feb 2026
48 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2013 to Jul 2026; peak Jan 2017 (3).

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

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
2011Avoid87460—
2012Avoid93310—
2013Caution6033040
2014No verdict74040
2015Good335040

All Lexus ES years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Lexus ES reliable?
NHTSA lists 33 complaints for the 2013 Lexus ES with a Complaint Index of 60, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 7th worst out of 16 model years, better than 2011, 2012, and 2019 but worse than most other years.
What are the most common problems on the 2013 Lexus ES?
Brakes and the Electrical System each make up 30% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 18% and Fuel System complaints at 12%. Median mileage at failure for brake complaints was 58,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Lexus ES have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2013 Lexus ES.
How does the 2013 Lexus ES compare to other model years?
Its Complaint Index of 60 is lower than 2011 (87), 2012 (93), and 2019 (100), but higher than 2015 through 2018 and 2022 through 2024, which carry Good or Best verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Lexus ES?
The 2013 Lexus ES gets 40 mpg combined (40 city / 39 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.

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.