The Lemon Index

All cars · Lexus ES

2022 Lexus ES.

The 2022 Lexus ES is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 11 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 21, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about automatic emergency braking, it has 1 recall, and it gets 25 to 44 mpg combined. The best Lexus ES year is 2020.

21Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. 4.8× 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

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Owner complaints11first 3 years
Fuel economy25–44 mpgcombined, EPA
Crash test★★★★★NHTSA overall

How serious. Out of 16 owner complaints, owners reported:

1crashes
0injuries
0fires
0tows

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

automatic emergency braking27%
wheels18%
brakes18%
seat belts18%
backup camera18%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Lexus ES year →

Recalls 1

  • airbags 2023

    A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Lexus told dealers about

Lexus sent dealers 98 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

  • To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be…
  • The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Government investigations

  • ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023

NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.

Safety

Stability controlStandard
Collision warningStandard
Lane departure warningStandard
NHTSA front crash test of the 2022 Lexus ES
Front crash test · NHTSA
Crash test details
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Lexus ES 250 4 DR AWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Lexus ES 300h 4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines

About $1450–2550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.

Quick answers

Is the 2022 Lexus ES reliable?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 4.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 21; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Lexus ES year by this measure is 2020.

What are the most common 2022 Lexus ES problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are automatic emergency braking (27%), wheels (18%) and brakes (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2022 Lexus ES have?

1 safety recall (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2022 Lexus ES get?

25 to 44 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Is the 2022 Lexus ES safe?

NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.

Does the 2022 Lexus ES have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.

How much does the 2022 Lexus ES cost in fuel a year?

About $1450 to $2550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2022 Lexus ES have?

2.5L 4-cyl, 3.5L 6-cyl.

What Lexus ES year is better than the 2022?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2012 and 2018.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works

Updated

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