YearToAvoid

2014 Lexus ES350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2014 Lexus ES350 has a complaint index of 44, ranking 10th out of 17 model years, and earns a Good verdict. It has 28 complaints, 1 recall, and no fires, making it one of the better ES350 years for owner-reported problems.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
44/100
#10 of 17 ES350 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
28
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Top 2014 Lexus ES350 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System8 (29%)
  2. Brakes5 (18%)
  3. Engine5 (18%)
  4. Other5 (18%)
  5. Structure & Body4 (14%)
  6. Airbags3 (11%)
  7. Fuel System3 (11%)
  8. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (7%)
  9. Steering2 (7%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (7%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle suddenly accelerating on its own at low speed while parking, sometimes hitting fixed objects.
  • Steering can seize up during slow-speed maneuvers such as U-turns, paired with brakes that fail to slow the car.
  • Some drivers describe repeated sudden acceleration and braking problems occurring across multiple episodes with the same vehicle.
  • A front passenger seat has been reported to shake and vibrate even when unoccupied, with dealers unable to find the cause.
  • The rear-view camera image is sometimes partly blocked at the top of the frame when backing up.
  • Owners who received the forward collision avoidance recall notice reported long waits because replacement parts were unavailable.
2014 Lexus ES350 complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2014Dec 2014Jan 2016Mar 2017May 2018May 2019Mar 2020Mar 2021
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2014 to Dec 2021; peak Jun 2014 (2).

2014 Lexus ES350 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2014 Lexus ES350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
21 MPG
Highway
30 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.

2014 compared with other ES350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2012Caution6989322
2013Caution5023124
2014Good4428124
2015Good3116124
2016Good3821124

All Lexus ES350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Lexus ES350 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2014 ES350 has a complaint index of 44 and ranks 10th out of 17 model years, with a Good verdict relative to other ES350 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Lexus ES350?
Electrical System issues make up 29% of complaints, followed by Brakes and Engine at 18% each, and Structure & Body at 14%, according to NHTSA data.
Does the 2014 Lexus ES350 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 15V728000) covers a forward collision avoidance/PCS component replacement; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2014 ES350 compare to other ES350 years?
With a complaint index of 44, the 2014 model sits in the middle of the pack; years like 2007 (index 100) and 2009 (index 94) rank far worse, while 2018 and 2019 (index 19 and 13) rank best.
What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Lexus ES350?
EPA rates the 2014 ES350 at 24 mpg combined (21 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.

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.