Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Lexus ES350 problems

Owners filed 664 complaints about the 2007 Lexus ES350 with NHTSA between May 2006 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (287).

Complaints
664
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
69
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
57
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags287
  2. Vehicle speed control130
  3. Structure77
  4. Power train37
  5. Visibility/wiper24
  6. Exterior lighting23
  7. Electrical system21
  8. Engine18
  9. Visibility16
  10. Engine and engine cooling13
  11. Equipment adaptive/mobility10
  12. Service brakes, hydraulic9
  13. Equipment9
  14. Steering8

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
200611
200752
200826
200928
201079
201117
201214
201315
201453
201520
201687
2017184
201819
201920
202015
20217
20223
20231
20243
20257
20263

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

Air bags

287 reports11 crashes3 related recalls
“I was driving and my car has a certain jerking motion to it, as I tried to break and accelerate the car wasn’t able to stop or move properly. As a result I rear ended the car in front of me. In addition to that my airbag wouldn’t go off after the accident so it seems like there was a malfunction. Lexus always assured me that all system ran well and that there was nothing wrong with the car. I made all necessary repairs they told me to make a despite my questions about the car being fully functional, they still didn’t warn me and told me that my car was fine every time I took it in or got work done on my car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2025Steering, Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11698965

Vehicle speed control

130 reports46 crashes3 fires1 related recall
“WHEN YOU DRIVE IT SPEEDS UP VERY FAST THEN IT GOES BACK DOWN THEN IT STARTLES WHEN YOU TRY TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE GAS THEN ONCE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS IT GOES BACK TO NORMAL SPEED IT'S LIKE IT GETS STUCK BUT THEN ONCE YOU RELEASE IT GOES AND SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T GO ABOVE THE SPEED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2021Vehicle speed controlODI 11399663

Structure

77 reports2 crashes2 fires
“Issue number one the dashboard the steering wheel and the clutch handle for automatic or manual melts it gets extremely hot and slippery it burns no matter if you cover your car or anything it melts and the glare from it is very dangerous when the Sun hits the windshield while driving it makes it look like a mirror form I'm not the only one who complains about this issue because why does the dashboard melts and create a dangerous flare with glare excuse the heating and cooling seats I believe also I'm not sure if it's causing condensation because it's connected to the AC which is also an issue no matter how much you get it fixed like I'm not sure if the blend door actuator gets stuck but a lot of people complain about that too because I'm not the only one with that issue 3 the gas pedal gets stuck no matter how many treatments and maintenance and services you get done with your car that's still dangerous because I was driving one day on the highway and my pedal got stuck while driving I keep my car in tip top shape have evidence and all. The light fixtures also is an issue I'm not sure if they're supposed to go down no matter how many lights and replacements…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2024Exterior lighting, Structure, SeatsCrash reportedODI 11607287

Power train

37 reports1 crash
“This is a second report of unexpected, unanticipated extremly high acceleration while braking. I reported this experience in November 2019, NHTSA Complaint Number 11279155. At that time, the car was moving and I was braking on an uphill curve. On October 10, 2021, at approx 12:30 p.m. The unexpected, unanticipated extremely high acceleration occurred as I was starting my car in a Pittsburgh area restaurant parking lot. The car requires that my foot be on the brake while starting. The car was in Park when I depressed the start button. Immediately the car started with extremely high revolutions to the point the loud engine noise frightened several individuals standing 15-20 feet on an adjacent sidewalk. The tachometer was in or close to the redzone. I immediately shut the engine down. At no time did I have my foot on the accelerator and neither the floor mat nor any other item was touching the accelerator.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2021Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11436298

Visibility/wiper

24 reports
“Dashboard and window seals are melting. Dashboard melting is causing a huge glare in windshield during the day. Window seals are melting onto my windows causing excessive scuffing on the windows affecting ability to see in my blind spots”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2025Visibility/wiperODI 11675738

Exterior lighting

23 reports1 crash
“THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH MY 2007 LEXUS ES 350 IS WHILE IM IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY OR STREET BOTH OF MY HEADLIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OFF THEN ON AGAIN AND THATS WHEN THEY WILL COME BACK ON, IT HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND THE RIGHT STAYS ON AND VICE VERSA FOR THE RIGHT OR BOTH. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I NEEDED THE HEADLAMP REPLACED BUT ONCE I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE WITH THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY VEHICLE I REALIZED THERE ARE NUMEROUS OF INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME DANGEROUS ISSUE WITH HAVING THE HEADLAMPS REPLACE THE ISSUE STILL REMAINS THE HEADLAMPS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY INHIBITING THE VIEW OF THE HIGHWAY AT NIGHT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THIS. IVE REPLACED HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT STILL HAPPENS EVERY SINGLE TIME I DRIVE!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 15, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11355168
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.