Problems · NHTSA complaints

2013 Lexus ES300H problems

Owners filed 40 complaints about the 2013 Lexus ES300H with NHTSA between May 2013 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (10).

Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes10
  2. Vehicle speed control9
  3. Electrical system7
  4. Air bags4
  5. Fuel/propulsion system4
  6. Visibility/wiper3
  7. Structure3
  8. Exterior lighting2
  9. Power train2
  10. Engine2
  11. Visibility2
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  13. Wheels1
  14. Steering1

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 11, 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
20136
20143
20153
20162
20176
20183
20192
20203
20212
20223
20232
20243
20251
20261

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

Service brakes

10 reports3 crashes
“Brakes malfunctioned almost resulted in a life threatening car accident. Car is at the Lexus dealership for repair. The have confirmed problem. Yes there were warning lights moments before needing the brakes and it not working whn pushed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2025Service brakesODI 11635965

Vehicle speed control

9 reports4 crashes
“I was driving down the highway coming up on a traffic jam put on the brakes and several warning. Lights came on the dash and my power brakes failed. I was barely able to stop the car without hitting someone. From that point forward the brakes did not work properly, the regenerative braking system did not function. also, the cruise control stopped functioning. I took the car to the Lexus dealer, they tested the car and stated it need a new brake booster brake assembly and that there was a safety warranty issue that was extended out 10 years and up to 150,000 miles and although my car only had 79,000 miles on it was three months past the warranty date and the refused. They reset the car brakes apparently and I was able to drive the car for several days while I spoke with Lexus, and then the car brakes failed again.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2023Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11555537

Electrical system

7 reports
“On my 2013 Lexus ES 350, three out of the four doors do not function properly and will not lock or lock with the key fob. my driver’s side front door, my driver’s side rear door, and my passenger’s side front door does not work. The doors also will not lock or unlock with the interior lock/unlock button. When the all the doors are locked, I must go to the passenger’s rear door to unlock the driver’s side front door with my cane. The manual door lock from the key fob does not work and will break if I continue turning it. The door locks will not automatically lock when the car goes in motion. These are safety issues trying to get a child or pet out of the car in case of an emergency such as a fire, an accident, or robbery. The power locks are extremely helpful for me. I am a combat disabled veteran who runs the risk of reinjuring myself using the only door that works attempting to open the door with my cane. I have had some of these power locks replaced before. Lexus says this is a mechanical issue associated with the actuators rather than a safety issue. I really believe this is a serious safety and security issue rather than a mechanical issue.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2023Electrical systemODI 11514204

Air bags

4 reports3 crashes
“THE LEXUS ES 350, WAS TURNING LEFT ONTO SIDE STREET WITHIN A SUB DIVISION, AND RAN UP THE CURB AND HIT A TREE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE DONE TO THE CAR, AND SO MUCH DAMAGED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. DRIVER UNSURE IF VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN OR JUST LOST CONTROL. THE GREATER ISSUE OR CONCERN WAS NOT WHAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT, BUT THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER THE IMPACT AND THE DRIVER BROKE THEIR NOSE AND HAS BEEN TREATED 3 TIMES IN ER SINCE CRASH. IN SPEAKING WITH REPAIR SHOP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE 2 AIR BAG SENSORS AT THE FRONT OF THE CAR, AND BOTH ARE NEAR THE HEADLIGHTS. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT GIVEN THE DAMAGE AND IMPACT OF THE COLLISION (TO RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BY HEADLIGHT, PICTURES ATTACHED), THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 3, 2020Exterior lighting, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 11296969

Fuel/propulsion system

4 reports
“ENGINE STALLS WHEN TURNING LEFT REDUCING POWER STEERING BOOST UNTIL DRIVER LIFTS FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL AND REPUSHES TO REGAIN POWER STEERING BOOST ON CITY STREETS AT LOW SPEED FROM STOPPED POSITION.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 19, 2021Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11388921

Visibility/wiper

3 reports
“Roughly 6-12 months ago the dashboard on my Lexus started to melt and become sticky, creating a glare on my windshield and impeding my ability to see the road causing dangerous situations. Both daytime and nighttime driving have been affected by this defect. I’ve contacted the local dealership, but they confirmed that no recalls are available and that the only solution is for me to replace the entire dash.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2024Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 11603755
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

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