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Lexus ES.

The best Lexus ES years are 2020, 2012, 2018. Years to avoid: 2007, 2005, 2004. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 27, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2025.

27Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. Whole model, 2010-2022: 3.7× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2020 · Worst year 2007

Lexus ES
Photo shows a 2019 Lexus ES. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2000591.7× fewer complaints2001–few complaints20021371.4× the complaints20031251.2× the complaints20041391.4× the complaints20051631.6× the complaints2006–few complaints20072672.7× the complaints2008861.2× fewer complaints200999about average2010382.6× fewer complaints2011234.3× fewer complaints2012137.7× fewer complaints2013263.8× fewer complaints2014244.2× fewer complaints2015214.8× fewer complaints2016303.3× fewer complaints2017323.1× fewer complaints2018185.6× fewer complaints2019502× fewer complaints2020128.3× fewer complaints2021462.2× fewer complaints2022214.8× fewer complaints2023–few complaints2024–few complaints2025–few complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2020.

2020128.3× fewer complaints than average2012137.7× fewer complaints than average2018185.6× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2007.

20072672.7× the average car's complaints20051631.6× the average car's complaints20041391.4× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Lexus ES a good car?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable models we track, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 27; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2020 and the worst is 2007.

What are the best Lexus ES years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2020, 2012, 2018.

What Lexus ES years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2007, 2005, 2004.

How many recalls does the Lexus ES have?

51 safety recalls across the 26 model years we track. Most: 2007 (5), 2008 (5), 2009 (5). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Lexus ES problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name speed control, transmission & drivetrain and airbags most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2000591.7× fewer complaints than average27visibility (41%)0—20
2001–too few complaints to score19service brakes, hydraulic (37%)0—20
20021371.4× the average car's complaints100transmission & drivetrain (43%)2—21
20031251.2× the average car's complaints69speed control (36%)0—21
20041391.4× the average car's complaints90transmission & drivetrain (56%)2—21
20051631.6× the average car's complaints79transmission & drivetrain (53%)2—21
2006–too few complaints to score11lights (27%)0—21
20072672.7× the average car's complaints196speed control (59%)5—22
2008861.2× fewer complaints than average56speed control (59%)5—22
200999about average40speed control (55%)5—22
2010382.6× fewer complaints than average21speed control (33%)5—22
2011234.3× fewer complaints than average12electrical (33%)3—22
2012137.7× fewer complaints than average8electrical (38%)3★★★☆☆22
2013263.8× fewer complaints than average23speed control (22%)1★★★★★24–40
2014244.2× fewer complaints than average19electrical (32%)1★★★★★24–40
2015214.8× fewer complaints than average14brakes (29%)1★★★★★24–40
2016303.3× fewer complaints than average18brakes (22%)1★★★★★24–40
2017323.1× fewer complaints than average18body structure (17%)1★★★★★24–40
2018185.6× fewer complaints than average9engine (22%)2★★★★★24–40
2019502× fewer complaints than average26fuel or EV drive system (38%)3★★★★★25–44
2020128.3× fewer complaints than average5airbags (40%)2★★★★★25–44
2021462.2× fewer complaints than average20airbags (55%)1★★★★★25–44
2022214.8× fewer complaints than average11automatic emergency braking (27%)1★★★★★25–44
2023–too few complaints to score12electrical (17%)2★★★★★25–44
2024–too few complaints to score9lane assist (22%)2★★★★★25–44
2025–too few complaints to score5backup camera (40%)1★★★★★25–44

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Lexus ES transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data