MYRModel Year Report

Lexus ES — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1 model year to avoid, 2 to watch and 1 best bet. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid1 year

Caution2 years

Best bets1 year

Complaint history

1996: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1996 1997: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1999: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2003: 23 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 58 complaints, Caution 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 125 complaints, Avoid 2007 2008: 68 complaints, Caution 2009: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 41 complaints, Recommended 2011: 46 complaints, Recommended 2012: 31 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 34 complaints, Recommended 2014: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2015: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2016: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2016 2017: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2018: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 34 complaints, Recommended 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2023: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2007 · 125
1996: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1996 1997: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1999: 8 complaints, Not enough data 1999 2000: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2002 2003: 23 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2005: 58 complaints, Caution 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 125 complaints, Avoid 2007 2008: 68 complaints, Caution 2009: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 41 complaints, Recommended 2011: 46 complaints, Recommended 2011 2012: 31 complaints, Recommended 2013: 34 complaints, Recommended 2014: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2015: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2016: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2017: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2017 2018: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 34 complaints, Recommended 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2023: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2025: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2007 · 125
1996: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1996 1997: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1998: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1998 1999: 8 complaints, Not enough data 2000: 6 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 2 complaints, Not enough data 2002: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2002 2003: 23 complaints, Not enough data 2004: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2004 2005: 58 complaints, Caution 2006: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2007: 125 complaints, Avoid 2007 2008: 68 complaints, Caution 2009: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2010: 41 complaints, Recommended 2010 2011: 46 complaints, Recommended 2012: 31 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 34 complaints, Recommended 2014: 4 complaints, Not enough data 2014 2015: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2016: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2016 2017: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2018: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2018 2019: 34 complaints, Recommended 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2024: 9 complaints, Not enough data 2024 2025: 5 complaints, Not enough data 2007 · 125
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2025 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2023 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 ○ Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ● Recommended 34 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2017 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2016 ○ Not enough data 9 Only 9 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2015 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2014 ○ Not enough data 4 Only 4 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2013 ● Recommended 34 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2012 ▲ Recommended 31 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2011 ● Recommended 46 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2010 ● Recommended 41 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2009 ○ Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2008 ◆ Caution 68 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ■ Avoid 125 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2006 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2005 ◆ Caution 58 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ○ Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2003 ○ Not enough data 23 Only 23 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2002 ○ Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2001 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2000 ○ Not enough data 6 Only 6 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1999 ○ Not enough data 8 Only 8 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1998 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1997 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1996 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

5

recalls on file across every Lexus ES model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Lexus models