YearToAvoid

2013 Lexus GS 350 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

92/100

#2 most-complained of 13 GS 350 years

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

The 2013 Lexus GS 350 has 26 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 92 out of 100 — #2 highest of 13 GS 350 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is structure & body (6 complaints, 23% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 4 injuries.

Complaints
26
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
22
19 city / 27 hwy

Top 2013 Lexus GS 350 problems

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

  1. Structure & Body6 (23%)
  2. Brakes5 (19%)
  3. Engine5 (19%)
  4. Electrical System4 (15%)
  5. Other4 (15%)
  6. Fuel System3 (12%)
  7. Steering3 (12%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (12%)
  9. Airbags2 (8%)
2013 Lexus GS 350 complaints: complaints filed per month6Jun 2012Jun 2013Jul 2014Sep 2015Jan 2018Feb 2019Oct 2019
35 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2012 to Oct 2019; peak May 2018 (6).

2013 Lexus GS 350 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V012000Jan 13, 2020Fuel System1,830,752 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

    Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.

  2. NHTSA 14V270000May 22, 2014Brakes10,462 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013 Lexus GS 350 vehicles manufactured June 8, 2012, through December 26, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the switch that senses the amount of pressure that the driver is applying to the brake pedal may fail.

    Risk: If the switch fails, the vehicle may begin braking without the driver's input, and without illuminating the brake lights, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake pedal support assembly which includes the brake pedal load sensing switch, free of charge. Toyota sent owners an interim notification letter in late June 2014 to advise owners of the recall. Owners received a second letter after the remedy parts were available in mid-July. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

  3. NHTSA 12V221000May 16, 2012Steering663 vehicles

    Steering

    Toyota is recalling certain model year 2013 lexus gs350 vehicles, manufactured from december 12, 2011, through february 7, 2012. The steering control electronic control unit (ecu) programming for the variable gear ratio steering (vgrs) system could cause the steering wheel to become off-centered when restarting immediately after the vehicle is parked with the steering wheel turned.

    Risk: If this occurs, the driver may not realize that the steering wheel is off-centered when pulling from a parked position, the vehicle could maneuver in an unexpected direction, resulting in a crash.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and lexus dealers will update the vgrs system free of charge. The safety recall began on june 7, 2012. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.

2013 Lexus GS 350 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
19 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
22 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,625
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
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 GS 350 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’06’07’08’09’10’11’13’14’15’16’17’18’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution507321
2011No verdict334320.5
2013Avoid9226322
2014Avoid7516122
2015Caution6715122

All Lexus GS 350 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Lexus GS 350 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Lexus GS 350 ranks #2 of 13 among GS 350 model years (Complaint Index 92/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 26 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Lexus GS 350?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (6 complaints), brakes (5 complaints), and engine (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 11,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Lexus GS 350 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 Lexus GS 350, most recently reported 2020, covering fuel system, brakes, and steering.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Lexus GS 350?
EPA rates the 2013 Lexus GS 350 at 22 MPG combined (19 city / 27 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,625. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.