2019 Lexus ES Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2019 Lexus ES has a complaint index of 95, the second-worst of 21 model years, driven mainly by fuel system and engine complaints. It is rated Avoid relative to other ES years, with 34 total complaints and one airbag recall on file.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 95/100
- #2 of 21 ES years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 34
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 7
- Top issue
- Fuel System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 44
- 43 city / 45 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 7 / 0
Top 2019 Lexus ES problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe the fuel pump stalling or shutting off unexpectedly, sometimes at highway speed, causing the car to stall in traffic.
- Some report the brake pedal traveling to the floor with reduced stopping power, in one case leading to a low-speed crash into a building.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in multiple crash reports, including a T-bone collision and a frontal impact with injuries.
- One owner described unintended acceleration while parking that ended with the vehicle jumping a barrier and striking a stanchion.
- Another described the pre-collision and emergency braking system failing to stop the car before a rear-end crash.
- A steering-related drift toward a highway barrier was reported without any lane-departure warning.
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 21 model years of the ES, 2019 ranks second-worst with a complaint index of 95. NHTSA lists 34 complaints, mostly tied to the fuel system and engine, making 2019 a year to approach with caution relative to other ES years.
- What problems does the 2019 Lexus ES have?
- NHTSA complaint data shows fuel system issues (35% of complaints, including fuel pump stalling), engine problems (29%), and airbag-related reports (18%), some involving crashes and injuries.
- Does the 2019 Lexus ES have a recall?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 19V288000) covers a driver knee airbag assembly that may not have been properly mounted. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
- What is the best year for the Lexus ES?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2018 and 2022 carry a 'Best' verdict with complaint indexes of 20 and 15. The 2019 ES, by contrast, is rated Avoid with an index of 95.
- At what mileage do 2019 Lexus ES problems appear?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: fuel system issues appeared around 11,000 miles, engine issues around 9,450 miles, and transmission issues around 5,250 miles.