Problems · NHTSA complaints
2014 Lexus ES350 problems
Owners filed 28 complaints about the 2014 Lexus ES350 with NHTSA between Mar 2014 and Dec 2021. The most-cited component is electrical system (8).
Complaints
28
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system8
- Service brakes5
- Engine4
- Air bags3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Structure3
- Steering2
- Forward collision avoidance2
- Visibility2
- Suspension1
- Tires1
- Seat belts1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Equipment1
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
2
4
2
4
3
4
4
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 4 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
8 reports1 crash
“BOTH FRONT DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.THE CAR ONLY HAS 40225 MILES AND IS GARAGE KEPT.WHAT THE POSSIBILITY OF BOTH GOING BAD AND IS THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND SHOULD BE A WARRANTED PART?”
Service brakes
5 reports2 crashes
“Brakes, tires, transmission went out, suspension craked licking oil Car steering wheel vibration, car pulling, brakes didn’t respond, i pulled to side before hitting a car Yes 2 different shops currently at express transmission Currently under inspection because of transmission going out while driving on freeway No warning lights, air bags are off I don’t know why bought car 4 months ago Dealership said they maintenance the vehicle that was a lie i had it maintenance not to long ago car needed it car went out in matter of hrs not days it was hrs it never alerted me something was wrong vehicle was in previous accident in 2016 dealership never informed us about it we recently found out about accident express transmission spoke to me and stated transmission over heated and blew up from inside my vehicle could of blown up as well with me in it putting at risk other people when vehicle was driven while pressing brakes i had to press pedal all the way in or let go and press pedal again in order for vehicle to stop my tires we’re getting more damaged from in words car was rotated and had an alignment done and it keept damaging tires from in words we bought vehicle for…”
Engine
4 reports2 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE IS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.”
Air bags
3 reports
“GM is unable to provide an ETA on a replacement airbag that is under an open safety recall. It has been months since I started contacting my nearest GMC dealer and GM customer support. It is unacceptable they can immediately repair let alone being un able to even provide a time frame for the replacement airbags.”
Fuel/propulsion system
3 reports1 crash
“WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STANDING STOP OR ACCELERATING WHILE CHANGING LANES, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE THE ENGINE ENGAGED. WHAT WAS MORE FRIGHTENING WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING ON THE ROAD AND THERE WAS A NEED TO CHANGE LANES, YOU PRESSED ON THE GAS THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD TYPE TO ENTER TEXT HESITATE FROM 1 TO 3 SECONDS. YOU LITERALLY FOUND YOURSELF IN NO MANS LAND, AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND YOU FOUND YOURSELF CAUGHT STRADDLING TWO LANES AND THE VEHICLE VIRTUALLYSTOPPED ACCELERATING. THIS SITUATION STARTING OCCURRING MORE AND MORE WHEN I OR JANE LANES,MADE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURNS, OR ACCELERATED FROM A STANDING STOP. T THE VEHICLE HESITATION, WHILE ACCELERATING, IS FRIGHTING AND DANGEROUS. IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH NEWPORT LEXUS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE'S STALLING CORRECTED AND SERVICED. ON OCTOBER 21, 2015 WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NEWPORT LEXUS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE ATTENDANT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED AND THEN ROAD TESTED BY CHRIS PERET, NEWPORT LEXUS CHIEF MECHANIC. AFTER THE ROAD TEST, THE VEHICLE DID HESITATE AT TIMES WHEN HE ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE IS HOW THE FRONT WHEEL…”
Structure
3 reports1 crash
“I EXPERIENCED A LOW SPEED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF MY 2014 LEXUS ES350 FOR THE FIRST TIME ON DECEMBER 22, 2015. I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING PLACE WHERE I LIVE AS I HAVE DONE HUNDREDS OF TIMES. AS I WAS TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATION PEDAL TO STARTING HITTING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I HEARD THE ENGINE REVVING AND I WAS TAKEN TOTALLY BY SURPRISE. MY REACTION WAS TO TURN TO THE LEFT TO AVOID HITTING THE WALL IN FRONT OF ME WHILE HITTING THE BRAKE WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. I HIT THE WALL WITH THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE OF THE CAR AND KEPT GOING FOR A LITTLE WHILE UNTIL I SOMEHOW SHIFTED GEARS. THE CAR STOPPED AND I PUT IT ON REVERSE. I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE SAME SITUATION ON MARCH 21, 2016 WHILE PARKING THE CAR AT A DIFFERENT PLACE. FORTUNATELY, NOTHING OBSTRUCTED THE CAR SO I WAS ABLE TO STOP IT BEFORE HITTING ANYTHING - THE OVERRIDE TOYOTA DESIGNED AFTER ALL THE EARLIER SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ACCIDENTS WORKED THIS TIME. BUT THIS SECOND INCIDENT CONFIRMED TO ME THAT THE FIRST ONE WILL NO LONGER BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT HENCE I'M FILING THIS SAFETY COMPLAINT SO OTHER LEXUS OWNERS LEARN ABOUT IT.”
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.