YearToAvoid

2015 Lexus ES350 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Lexus ES350 ranks 12th of 17 model years with a complaint index of 31 and earns a Good verdict. NHTSA lists 16 complaints, 1 recall, and 1 crash tied to brake-related reports, with brakes and electrical issues as the top problem areas.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
31/100
#12 of 17 ES350 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
16
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24
21 city / 31 hwy
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Top 2015 Lexus ES350 problems

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

  1. Other7 (44%)
  2. Brakes4 (25%)
  3. Electrical System4 (25%)
  4. Engine2 (13%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (13%)
  6. Structure & Body1 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers1 (6%)

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 brakes engaging forcefully or unpredictably, including sudden hard braking while radar cruise control was active.
  • Some drivers say pressing the brake pedal caused the car to lurch forward instead of slowing smoothly.
  • The forward collision avoidance recall repair was reported as unavailable for months, leaving the pre-collision system unresolved.
  • Push-button start reportedly failed intermittently after about eleven months of normal use, and dealers could not replicate the issue.
  • Owners describe electrical failures including lights shutting off while driving at night and a seat heater igniting without being activated.
  • One owner reported the dashboard surface turning shiny and sticky over time, creating a windshield glare that reduced visibility.
2015 Lexus ES350 complaints: complaints filed per month2Aug 2015Mar 2016Sep 2016Nov 2016Dec 2017Jan 2020Oct 2022
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2015 to May 2023; peak Mar 2016 (2).

2015 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.

2015 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.

2015 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
2013Caution5023124
2014Good4428124
2015Good3116124
2016Good3821124
2017Caution6322124

All Lexus ES350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Lexus ES350 reliable?
Compared with other ES350 model years, 2015 ranks 12th of 17 with a complaint index of 31, earning a Good verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What problems does the 2015 Lexus ES350 have?
NHTSA data shows 16 complaints, with brakes and the electrical system each making up 25% of reports. There was also 1 recall covering the forward collision avoidance system.
Does the 2015 Lexus ES350 have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 15V728000) covers pre-collision system components shared with 2013-2015 Avalon and ES350/ES300h vehicles; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
Was anyone hurt in a 2015 ES350 crash reported to NHTSA?
NHTSA lists 1 crash tied to a brake-related complaint for the 2015 ES350, with no reported fires, injuries, or deaths.
How does the 2015 ES350 compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 31, the 2015 model has fewer reported problems than earlier years like 2007 (index 100) and 2009 (index 94), though newer years like 2018 and 2019 score even lower.

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.