Problems · NHTSA complaints

2025 Lexus ES 250 problems

Owners filed 5 complaints about the 2025 Lexus ES 250 with NHTSA between Dec 2025 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is back over prevention (2).

Complaints
5
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Back over prevention2
  2. Forward collision avoidance2
  3. Fuel/propulsion system2
  4. Engine1
  5. Service brakes1
  6. Electrical system1
  7. Structure1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20251
20264

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Back over prevention

2 reports1 crash
“The Pre-Collision System (PCS) activated twice in the last couple of weeks with absolutely no reason. Both times it activated with transmission in reverse and vehicle in process of backing up. But there was no vehicle or person within the vicinity. The sudden braking startled the driver and passengers giving concern about the viability of the vehicle operating in a safe manner for the rest of the trip. The problem has not been seen or inspected by the dealer or service personnel.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2026Service brakes, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11736701

Forward collision avoidance

2 reports1 crash
“Describe: • Rear camera froze • Parking assist warning did not activate • Auto-brake did not engage • Accident occurred before recall update I backed into my Neighbors car which was parked opposite my driveway. Searched and found Lexus safety recall notice 25LA06”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 4, 2025Structure, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11703004

Fuel/propulsion system

2 reports1 crash1 fire
“I was driving with traffic in a 35 mph zone on a moderately busy street. I got the alert to brake and did so immediately. I collided with the Jeep in front of me. The airbags did not deploy. The front hood of the car tented and a fire immediately broke out under the hood. When a policeman arrived he attempted unsuccessfully to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The fire was eventually extinguished when the fire department arrived. The car was towed away. The insurance adjuster said the car was totaled.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2026Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedFire reportedODI 11721821

Engine

1 report
“The latest incidence happened in [XXX] of city [XXX] on XXX. The engine intermittently stalls automatically after I backed up in Reverse for a very short distance. The engine was still running but the car was locked, and red warning lights appear. I had to turn the engine off and restart it to move the car. The same incidence happened several times before. When it happened, there were no persons or cars behind at all.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2026EngineODI 11766393

Service brakes

1 report

Electrical system

1 report1 crash1 fire
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.