2013 Lexus ES350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2013 Lexus ES350 has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 9th worst out of 17 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 23 complaints, 1 recall, 5 crashes, and 4 injuries tied to this year, with Visibility & Wipers as the top problem area.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #9 of 17 ES350 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 23
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Visibility & Wipers
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 31 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2013 Lexus ES350 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Visibility & Wipers5 (22%)
- Airbags4 (17%)
- Structure & Body4 (17%)
- Brakes3 (13%)
- Engine3 (13%)
- Other3 (13%)
- Steering2 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (9%)
- Electrical System1 (4%)
- Fuel System1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy or only partially deployed during front-end collisions, in some cases expelling material into the cabin.
- Sudden loss of steering and brakes together, with all dashboard warning lights illuminating at once during low-speed maneuvers.
- Vehicles rolled or lurched forward unexpectedly at low speed, including one case where the car jumped a curb and continued through a storefront.
- Steering wheel vibrated uncontrollably at highway speeds above 70 mph, later diagnosed as a rim issue.
- A tire failed suddenly at highway speed, developing a large hole in the sidewall.
- Owners reported back pain linked to seat design, with dealers unable to properly diagnose the issue.
2013 Lexus ES350 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 15V728000Nov 3, 2015Collision Avoidance & Cameras30,812 vehicles
Forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
Risk: A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
2013 Lexus ES350 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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 ES350 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2013 Lexus ES350 reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2013 ES350 a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 9th worst among 17 model years of the ES350. It is not among the worst years but also not a Good or Best pick.
- What is the top problem area for the 2013 Lexus ES350?
- Visibility & Wipers is the top problem area, accounting for 5 of 23 complaints, or 22% of the total, with a median mileage at failure of 55,000.
- Does the 2013 Lexus ES350 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists one recall for the 2013 ES350, campaign 15V728000, covering Collision Avoidance & Cameras components; Toyota replaced certain PCS parts free of charge.
- How does the 2013 ES350 compare to other ES350 years?
- The 2013 model's complaint index of 50 is much lower than the worst year, 2007, at 100, but higher than later years like 2018 and 2019, which scored 19 and 13 and earned Best verdicts.