Problems · NHTSA complaints

2015 Lexus ES350 problems

Owners filed 16 complaints about the 2015 Lexus ES350 with NHTSA between Aug 2015 and May 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (4).

Complaints
16
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
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. Electrical system4
  2. Service brakes4
  3. Forward collision avoidance2
  4. Vehicle speed control2
  5. Tires1
  6. Visibility/wiper1
  7. Seats1
  8. Power train1
  9. Other / unknown7

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 Oct 28, 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
20152
20166
20172
20181
20190
20202
20211
20221
20231

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

Electrical system

4 reports
“GREETINGS, THIS MESSAGE IS BEING SENT ON THE BEHALF OF CHERYL [XXX] & RAYMOND [XXX] [XXX] 2015 LEXUS GS350 [XXX] ISSUE: FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT: SEAT HEATER/WARMER IGNITED WITHOUT BEING TURNED ON AND BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER LEAVING A BLACK BURNT MARK. WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE SEAT CAN OVERHEAT AND CAUSE A FIRE. THIS IS LISTED IN VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT. REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2020Electrical system, Seats, Unknown or otherODI 11301740

Service brakes

4 reports1 crash
“THREE MAJOR ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, AND LOTS OF MINOR ONES. 1. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHILE SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. HITTING THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. 2. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMED TO TURN OFF AND ALL INTERNAL/EXTERNAL LIGHTS WENT OFF AT NIGHT AND I WAS UNABLE TO SEE THE ROAD. 3. THE CAR SLIPS AND THE SYSTEMS TO COUNTERACT SLIPPING DID NOT ENGAGE. THERE ARE ISSUES WITH THE NAVIGATION, THE ENFORM SYSTEM AND MANY OTHER ISSUES. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH LEXUS HAVE MET WITH NO SUCCESS. REGARDS, [XXX] *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 7, 2016Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or other, Service brakesODI 10924670

Forward collision avoidance

2 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V728000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE), BUT THE REMEDY TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 10/19/16*LJ *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2016Forward collision avoidanceODI 10903296

Vehicle speed control

2 reports1 crash
“I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE SLOWLY, BRAKING TO STOP, WHEN THE CAN ACCELERATED. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV AND I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. THE CAR TRAVELED ABOUT 4 FEET BEFORE IT CAME TO A STOP. I REPORTED TO LEXUS WHO TURNED OVER TO 'LEGAL' AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR A WEEK FOR AN INVESTIGATOR TO CONTACT ME TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AFTER WHICH THEY SAY IT WILL BE ANOTHER 30 DAYS FOR A FINDING. THE PAPERWORK I FILLED OUT TERMED THIS AS 'UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS CAR, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW AND HAVE HAD FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2016Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 10840059

Tires

1 report
“2015 LEXUS ES 350. Michelin Primacy 215/55VR17 tires installed 9/2022. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR TIRES DUE TO A BLOWOUT CAUSED BY A POTHOLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2022TiresODI 11490101

Visibility/wiper

1 report
“LEXUS ES2015 -THE DASHBOARD HAS TURNED SHINY AND STICKY CAUSING A REFLECTION INTO THE WINSHIELD THAT IMPAIRS VISIBILITY ON THE INCIDENCE OF SOLAR LIGHT. THE DEGRADATION OF THE MATERIAL IS SUCH THAT THE SHINE ANNOT BE REVERSED USING COMMON AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS. EFFECT IN VISIBILITY IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND REFLECT POOR JUDGEMENT OF FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN TEH SELECTION OF MATERIALS OF A LONG USEFUL LIFE GOOD.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2021Visibility/wiperODI 11414527
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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