YearToAvoid

2023 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#10 most-complained of 16 ES years

The 2023 Lexus ES has 10 NHTSA complaints, 2 recalls, and a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th worst of 16 model years. Its verdict is "Good" relative to other ES years, with Brakes as the top problem area at 20% of complaints.

Complaints
10
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
36
34 city / 39 hwy

Top 2023 Lexus ES problems

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

  1. Brakes2 (20%)
  2. Electrical System2 (20%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (20%)
  4. Engine1 (10%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (10%)
  6. Fuel System1 (10%)
  7. Lane Departure1 (10%)
  8. Other1 (10%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (10%)

What owners report

  • Owners report sudden unintended acceleration or rollback while shifting between park, reverse, drive, and neutral, sometimes resulting in a crash into a fixed object.
  • Some describe the vehicle rolling backward on its own while parked with the engine off, leading to a collision with another vehicle.
  • A rear tire reportedly blew out at highway speed, tearing off the fender liner before the TPMS alerted the driver to low pressure.
  • Drivers note the brakes squeak when backing up at low speed, which a dealership described as common on newer models.
  • Lane keep assist has reportedly jerked the steering hard toward an exit or faded lane marking instead of staying centered.
  • One owner reported the vehicle stalling at about 40 mph with a loss of power brakes and power steering, accompanied by warning messages about limited power.
2023 Lexus ES complaints: complaints filed per month3Nov 2022Dec 2023Mar 2024Jun 2024Nov 2025Feb 2026Mar 2026Jul 2026
12 complaints filed with NHTSA from Nov 2022 to Jul 2026; peak Nov 2025 (3).

2023 Lexus ES recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 25V744000Oct 30, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,024,407 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or display a blank screen when the vehicle is in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's number for this recall is WRE25.

  2. NHTSA 24V124000Feb 21, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras18,616 vehicles

    Back over prevention:display function

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Mirai, Lexus LS500, LS500H, 2023-2024 Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, 2024 Lexus LC500, and LC500H vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Due to incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic control unit (ECU) software, the rearview camera image may not immediately display within a couple of seconds after the shifter is placed into reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the parking assist ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA01 and 24LA01.

2023 Lexus ES fuel economy and fuel cost

City
34 MPG
Highway
39 MPG
Combined
36 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,875
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.

2023 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
2021Caution6728136
2022Best139036
2023Good4010236
2024Good479236
2025Avoid805136

All Lexus ES years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Lexus ES a good year?
Yes, relative to other ES model years. NHTSA data gives it a complaint index of 40, ranking 10th worst out of 16 model years, with a "Good" verdict.
What problems does the 2023 Lexus ES have?
NHTSA complaints point to Brakes, Electrical System, and Suspension, Wheels & Tires as the top problem areas, each accounting for 20% of the 10 total complaints logged.
Does the 2023 Lexus ES have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2023 Lexus ES, both involving the Collision Avoidance & Cameras system tied to the Panoramic View Monitor software. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2023 Lexus ES compare to other ES years?
With a complaint index of 40, the 2023 ES ranks better than years like 2019 (index 100, Avoid) and 2011/2012 (Avoid), but not as clean as 2022 or 2016, which carry "Best" verdicts with lower indexes of 13 and 20.
What is the fuel economy of the 2023 Lexus ES?
EPA rates the 2023 Lexus ES at 36 mpg combined (34 city / 39 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,875.

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.