Lexus ES350 Best and Worst Years (2007–2023)
The 2007-2011 Lexus ES350 years are rated Avoid, driven mainly by airbag complaints tied to Takata inflator recalls, with 2007 topping the list at complaint index 100 and 539 total complaints. The 2018 and 2019 model years rate Best, each with only 5 complaints and index scores of 19 and 13.
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.
Avoid 2007Avoid 2008Avoid 2009Avoid 2010Avoid 2011Best 2018Best 2019
- Model years
- 17
- 2007–2023
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,451
- Recall campaigns
- 11
- Crashes reported
- 145
- Fires reported
- 11
- Top problem area
- Airbags
ES350 Complaint Index by year
Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.
Lexus ES350 problems and recalls by year
| Year | Verdict | Index | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recalls | Top issue | MPG | NCAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Avoid | 100 | 539 | 60 | 6 | 4 | Airbags | 22 | — |
| 2008 | Avoid | 88 | 255 | 27 | 1 | 4 | Airbags | 22 | — |
| 2009 | Avoid | 94 | 145 | 14 | 2 | 5 | Airbags | 22 | — |
| 2010 | Avoid | 81 | 137 | 10 | 0 | 5 | Airbags | 22 | — |
| 2011 | Avoid | 75 | 153 | 7 | 0 | 3 | Airbags | 22 | — |
| 2012 | Caution | 69 | 89 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Airbags | 22 | 3★ |
| 2013 | Caution | 50 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 | Visibility & Wipers | 24 | 5★ |
| 2014 | Good | 44 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 24 | 5★ |
| 2015 | Good | 31 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | 24 | 5★ |
| 2016 | Good | 38 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 1 | Brakes | 24 | 5★ |
| 2017 | Caution | 63 | 22 | 8 | 0 | 1 | Structure & Body | 24 | 5★ |
| 2018 | Best | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine | 24 | 5★ |
| 2019 | Best | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | Fuel System | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2020 | Caution | 56 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | Airbags | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2021 | Good | 25 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2022 | No verdict | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Brakes | 25.5 | 5★ |
| 2023 | No verdict | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Visibility & Wipers | 25.5 | 5★ |
ES350 years to avoid: what went wrong
2007 Lexus ES350 Index 100 · 539 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2007 ES350 has the highest complaint index (100) of any year, with 539 complaints. Airbags account for 47% of those, with a median failure mileage of 69,951, and engine complaints make up another 26% at a median of 20,000 miles. Owners describe airbags failing to deploy in crashes and sudden unintended acceleration events. NHTSA lists four recall campaigns, including three separate Takata airbag inflator recalls covering this year. Crashes (60), injuries (49), and four deaths were reported for this model year.
2007 airbags problems →2007 engine problems →2007 structure & body problems →
2009 Lexus ES350 Index 94 · 145 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2009 ES350 has a complaint index of 94 from 145 complaints, the second-worst of any year. Airbags make up 70% of complaints at a median failure mileage of 43,000, with engine complaints at 17% and a median of 13,848 miles. Owners describe airbags not deploying in head-on and rear-end collisions and brake or acceleration problems tied to earlier recall repairs. Five recall campaigns cover this year, including three airbag recalls. This year also recorded five deaths, the most of any ES350 model year.
2008 Lexus ES350 Index 88 · 255 complaints · 4 recalls
The 2008 ES350 carries a complaint index of 88 across 255 complaints. Airbags dominate at 67% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 62,000, while engine issues make up 17% at a median of 19,000 miles. Owners report sudden acceleration events and airbags that failed to deploy in side and rollover crashes. Four recall campaigns apply to this year, three of them airbag-related Takata recalls. NHTSA recorded 27 crashes and 22 injuries for the 2008 model year.
2010 Lexus ES350 Index 81 · 137 complaints · 5 recalls
The 2010 ES350 has a complaint index of 81 across 137 complaints. Airbags account for 79% of complaints at a median failure mileage of 52,500, with smaller shares from engine, structure, and brake issues. Owners report stuck accelerators leading to crashes and airbags that failed to deploy in rear-end collisions. Five recall campaigns apply, three of them covering airbag inflators. NHTSA recorded 10 crashes and 9 injuries for this model year.
2011 Lexus ES350 Index 75 · 153 complaints · 3 recalls
The 2011 ES350 has a complaint index of 75 from 153 complaints. Airbags dominate at 95% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 47,000, far outweighing electrical and engine issues. Owners describe airbags failing to deploy in side-impact and rear-end crashes and one report of sudden unintended acceleration from park. Three recall campaigns apply to this year, covering airbag inflators. Crashes and injuries were lower than earlier Avoid years, with 7 crashes and 6 injuries reported.
Most common Lexus ES350 problems (all years)
Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.
- Airbags867 (60%)
- Engine244 (17%)
- Other104 (7%)
- Structure & Body98 (7%)
- Electrical System81 (6%)
- Brakes57 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers50 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain38 (3%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires25 (2%)
- Steering17 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- What year Lexus ES350 should I avoid?
- NHTSA data points to 2007 through 2011 as the years to avoid, with 2007 having the worst complaint index at 100 out of 539 total complaints. Airbag-related issues, tied largely to Takata recalls, dominate complaints in all five of these years.
- What is the best year for the Lexus ES350?
- The 2018 and 2019 model years rate Best, each with only 5 complaints and complaint indexes of 19 and 13 respectively, the lowest of any ES350 years with meaningful data.
- Does the Lexus ES350 have an airbag recall?
- Yes. Multiple ES350 model years, especially 2007-2011, are covered by Takata airbag inflator recall campaigns such as 19V741000, 18V024000, 17V006000, and 16V340000.
- How many complaints does the Lexus ES350 have overall?
- NHTSA lists 1,451 total complaints across all Lexus ES350 model years from 2007 to 2023, with 11 total recall campaigns and airbags accounting for 60% of all complaints.
- Is the 2009 Lexus ES350 reliable?
- The 2009 ES350 rates Avoid, with a complaint index of 94 and 145 complaints, 70% of them related to airbags, and it recorded five deaths, the most of any ES350 model year.