2019 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 16 ES years
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
The 2019 Lexus ES ranks worst (1st) among 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 34 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, and 1 recall. Fuel System issues lead at 35% of complaints, followed by Engine at 29%.
- Complaints
- 34
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes / fires
- 7 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 44
- 43 city / 45 hwy
Top 2019 Lexus ES problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Fuel System12 (35%)
- Engine10 (29%)
- Airbags6 (18%)
- Electrical System5 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (15%)
- Brakes4 (12%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (9%)
- Structure & Body3 (9%)
- Other2 (6%)
- Lane Departure1 (3%)
What owners report
- Brake pedal reportedly travels to the floor with little stopping power, in one case leading to a crash into a building.
- Vehicle allegedly accelerates on its own while parking, with airbags failing to deploy despite an impact.
- Fuel pump reportedly stops working suddenly, causing the vehicle to stall in traffic or on the highway without a fix available.
- Pre-collision and emergency braking system reportedly failed to stop the car before hitting another vehicle.
- Airbags reportedly did not deploy in side-impact and T-bone collisions, resulting in occupant injuries.
- Vehicle reportedly drifted out of its lane on the highway without any steering-wheel warning vibration.
2019 Lexus ES recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V288000Apr 10, 2019Airbags564 vehicles
Air bags:knee bolster
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus ES vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a driver knee air bag assembly mounted to the lower instrument panel (IP) that may have been improperly installed, possibly affecting the deployment of the knee air bag in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the knee air bag does not deploy properly.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver knee air bag assembly, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 8, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are KLD and KLE.
2019 Lexus ES fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 43 MPG
- Highway
- 45 MPG
- Combined
- 44 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,450
- 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.
2019 compared with other ES years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Lexus ES reliable?
- Among 16 model years of the Lexus ES tracked, 2019 has the highest Complaint Index (100) and ranks worst overall, with a verdict of Avoid.
- What are the biggest problems with the 2019 Lexus ES?
- Fuel System complaints make up 35% of all reports and Engine issues make up 29%, based on NHTSA data. Airbags account for 18% of complaints and involve 4 crashes.
- Does the 2019 Lexus ES have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall (campaign 19V288000) for a driver knee airbag assembly that may have been improperly mounted to the lower instrument panel.
- At what mileage do 2019 Lexus ES problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by area: Fuel System issues at 11,000 miles, Engine issues at 9,450 miles, Transmission & Powertrain at 5,250 miles, and Brakes as low as 2,818 miles.
- How does the 2019 Lexus ES compare to other years?
- The 2019 model has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest of any ES year in the data, compared to 0 for 2017 and 7 for 2014, which are among the lowest.