Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
637.5%
Median failure at 34,500 miles
Other & Unspecified
212.5%
Median failure at 39,168 miles
Brakes
212.5%
Median failure at 22,346 miles
Equipment & Accessories
16.3%
Tires
16.3%
Median failure at 69,870 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
16.3%
Body & Structure
16.3%
Median failure at 693 miles
Steering
16.3%
Median failure at 3,995 miles
Engine & Cooling
16.3%
Median failure at 693 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
325.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
216.7%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
650.0%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
18.3%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Mar 2014peak 3Sep 2020
Recalls on the 2014 Lexus ES 350
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 202172355,683 units in Canada
Electrical
Issue: This recall is for certain block heater kits installed on certain vehicles or sold as accessories at Toyota or Lexus dealerships. On certain vehicles, the engine block heater cable may not have enough heat protection and could be damaged by high temperatures. If this happens, the cable could short circuit while plugged in, and cause the wiring to overheat or melt. Note: This recall only affects the following block heater/cord part numbers: C014003034 PK5A408J09 PU14000904 C014003151 PK5A408J13 PU14000905 C014000885 PK5A489J11 PU14000907 C014000888 PK5A489J22 PU14000909 C014000907 PK5A410H00 PU14000911 C014100904 PU14000900 PU14000913 C014100907 PU14000901 PU14003571 C014100911 PU14000902 PK5A489J14 PK5A408J05 PU14000903 Safety Risk: Engine block heater wiring that overheats or melts could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Toyota recommends that you should stop using the engine block heater immediately. Toyota will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to disable the engine block heater. For some vehicles, the corrective actions for this recall are under development. For others, a new engine block heater cannot be installed, and the owner will receive a refund of the purchase price of the engine block heater.
Recall 202057718,206 units in Canada
Lights And Instruments
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rear reflex reflectors may not have been manufactured correctly. As a result, the rear reflectors may reflect less light than what is required by Canadian regulations. Safety Risk: This small error does not affect vehicle safety. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company has made changes to ensure that all new vehicles have fully compliant rear reflex reflectors.
Recall 20155216,274 units in Canada
Brakes
On certain vehicles equipped with Pre-Collision System (PCS), the system could unexpectedly activate while operating the vehicle. Under certain situations, the system may interpret a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an obstacle, and the system may apply the service brake automatically. If the PCS applies unexpected braking force during normal vehicle operation when no impending collision object is present, it could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will disable the Pre-Collision System (PCS) as an interim measure, and when parts become available, will replace the PCS components with improved parts.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 38,336 milesPort Saint Lucie IN, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM HAS FAILED AND IS INOPERABLE. THERE IS A RECALL OUT THERE, HOWEVER MY VIN# ISN'T ON THE LIST. LEXUS WILL NOT FIX IT.
NHTSA complaint #11353328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 39,000 milesMissouri City, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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?
NHTSA complaint #11352479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesBrookhaven, GA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DOOR LOCKS(ALL 4 DOORS) STOPPED LOCKING/UNLOCKING BY USE OF POWER DOOR LOCK BUTTON OR KEY FOB. EACH DOOR MUST NOW BE LOCKED / UNLOCKED MANUALLY. BASED ON FORUM PAGE, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD ISSUE THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. HTTPS://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T36095_DS744492
NHTSA complaint #11234046 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Meridianville, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE STOPPED WORKING WITH THE KEY FOB. CAN ONLY LOCK AND UNLOCK BY USE OF ACTUAL KEY OR BY MANUALLY PUSHING DOOR LOCK. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK IS STARTING TO SHOW THE SAME SIGNS AS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID BEFORE IT STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. SOMETIMES WILL WORK PROPERLY AND SOMETIMES IT WON'T.
NHTSA complaint #11217803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,870 milesColumbia, MD
TIRES
I PURCHASED A NEW SET OF YOKOHAMA 225/45R18 TORNANTE TIRES IN OCTOBER 2016 FROM MR. TIRE. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING INSTALLATION I EXPERIENCED AN EXCESSIVE WARBLING NOISE FROM THE TIRES AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED TIRE SHOP. THEY FOUND THAT THE TREAD WAS WOBBLING FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE WHEN PLACED ON THE TIRE BALANCING MACHINE AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT BACK TO MR. TIRE FOR REPLACEMENT. I DID THIS AND MR. TIRE SAID THAT THE UNEVEN TREAD WAS NORMAL AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE 43,000 MILES OVER A 2.5 YEAR PERIOD AND EXPERIENCED AN INCREASINGLY NOISY RIDE AND VIBRATION AT HIGH SPEEDS. I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE TIRES AND TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES AS THERE WERE SEVERE CRACKS FORMING ON BOTH THE INNER AND OUTER SIDEWALL THAT WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE INTERIOR OF THE TIRE. CLEARLY A TIRE NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE FROM THE PURCHASE DATE AND THE DEFECTS GOT WORSE OVER THIS 2.5 YEAR PERIOD TO THE POINT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SEVERE SIDEWALL CRACKING.
NHTSA complaint #11205878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesSanta FE, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKE IS VERY SPONGY. THE PEDAL GETS VERY LOW TO THE FLOOR.ITS HARD TO STOP THESE CAR. BRAKE FLUID, BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS CHECK OUT FINE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEFECTS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. MY CAR HAS 44000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS CHRONIC. YOU NEED A LARGE STOPPING RANGE WHEN USING THIS CAR. LEXUS CLAIMS I NEED TO GET USE TO IT
NHTSA complaint #11151596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,995 milesMyrtle Beach, SC
STEERING
MY 2014 LEXUS ES 350 HAS LESS THEN 4000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING HAS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE AND I AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT IS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUALLY FREEZES UP MAKING IT INOPERABLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO AND AS IT WAS CERTIFIED BY LEXUS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN MY PARKING LOT BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11093567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,995 milesMyrtle Beach, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2014 LEXUS ES 350 HAS LESS THEN 4000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING HAS MALFUNCTIONED TWICE AND I AM NOW UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT IS PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CONTINUALLY FREEZES UP MAKING IT INOPERABLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR 2 MONTHS AGO AND AS IT WAS CERTIFIED BY LEXUS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.THIS IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. FORTUNATELY I WAS IN MY PARKING LOT BOTH TIMES THIS OCCURRED AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11093567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesNorfolk, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #11044940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 milesCincinnati, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOOR ACTUATOR WHICH CONTROLS THE ABILITY TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE DOORS FAIL FREQUENTLY. THIS FAILURE MAY CAUSE THE INABILITY TO EXIT THE CAR OR HAVE SOMEONE OPEN THE CAR DOOR IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF THE DOOR ACTUATORS IN 60,000 MILES OR LESS. THIS WAS ALSO A PROBLEM IN MY LAST LEXUS WHICH WAS A 2007 ES350.
NHTSA complaint #10959913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redwood City, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR BATTERY IS DEAD 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10794625 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Boca Raton, FL
VISIBILITY
WE DRIVE A LEXUS. OUR CHILDREN DRIVE A TOYOTA. THE PROBLEM IS, THEREFORE, IDENTICAL. WHEN ONE STARTS THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY IN A PARKING LOT, ONE EXPECTS THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FEATURE TO BE AVAILABLE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH THE LEXUS AND TOYOTA SYSTEM. AT THE INSTANT THAT ONE IS READY TO BACK OUT OF ONE'S PLACE, THE UPPER 15 -20% OF THE REAR VIEWING AREA IS COVERED WITH A SERIES OF MESSAGES TRANSMITTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLUETOOTH STATUS. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE IMPORTANT TO A 14-YEAR OLD, BUT NOT TO A DRIVER. ONE HAS TWO ALTERNATIVES; EITHER BACK UP BLIND (NEGATING THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE BACK UP SYSTEM) OR WAIT FOR THE MESSAGES TO FINISH, WASTING GASOLINE. I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO OVERRIDE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10608573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WE DRIVE A LEXUS. OUR CHILDREN DRIVE A TOYOTA. THE PROBLEM IS, THEREFORE, IDENTICAL. WHEN ONE STARTS THE VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY IN A PARKING LOT, ONE EXPECTS THE REAR VIEW CAMERA FEATURE TO BE AVAILABLE. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH THE LEXUS AND TOYOTA SYSTEM. AT THE INSTANT THAT ONE IS READY TO BACK OUT OF ONE'S PLACE, THE UPPER 15 -20% OF THE REAR VIEWING AREA IS COVERED WITH A SERIES OF MESSAGES TRANSMITTING INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLUETOOTH STATUS. THIS INFORMATION MAY BE IMPORTANT TO A 14-YEAR OLD, BUT NOT TO A DRIVER. ONE HAS TWO ALTERNATIVES; EITHER BACK UP BLIND (NEGATING THE WHOLE REASON FOR THE BACK UP SYSTEM) OR WAIT FOR THE MESSAGES TO FINISH, WASTING GASOLINE. I REQUESTED THE DEALER TO OVERRIDE THIS PROBLEM, BUT I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10608573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 693 milesGrand Prairie, TX
STRUCTURE:BODY
ON 03/18/14 (MORNING), AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED AND CONCLUDED THROUGH TESTING THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS BROKEN/DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS PRESENT FOR THE TEST AND THE MECHANIC WALKED ME THROUGH EACH STEP AND POINTED OUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY. ON 03/19/14 (MORNING), LEXUS DEALERSHIP DENIES ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND CANNOT "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. ON 03/19/14 (AFTERNOON) I MET WITH THE LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND WE PERFORM THE EXACT SAME TEST AS MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ALTHOUGH LEXUS CLAIMS NO REPAIRS WERE DONE SINCE THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, THE TEST NOW SHOWS THE MOTOR MOUNTS AS BEING IN WORKING ORDER (MAGICALLY) ALTHOUGH LEXUS DENIES NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED BY LEXUS, ITS APPARENT TO ME AND MY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT BEING DOCUMENTED.
NHTSA complaint #10573540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 693 milesGrand Prairie, TX
ENGINE
ON 03/18/14 (MORNING), AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED AND CONCLUDED THROUGH TESTING THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS BROKEN/DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS PRESENT FOR THE TEST AND THE MECHANIC WALKED ME THROUGH EACH STEP AND POINTED OUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY. ON 03/19/14 (MORNING), LEXUS DEALERSHIP DENIES ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND CANNOT "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. ON 03/19/14 (AFTERNOON) I MET WITH THE LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND WE PERFORM THE EXACT SAME TEST AS MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ALTHOUGH LEXUS CLAIMS NO REPAIRS WERE DONE SINCE THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, THE TEST NOW SHOWS THE MOTOR MOUNTS AS BEING IN WORKING ORDER (MAGICALLY) ALTHOUGH LEXUS DENIES NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED BY LEXUS, ITS APPARENT TO ME AND MY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT BEING DOCUMENTED.
NHTSA complaint #10573540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 693 milesGrand Prairie, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
ON 03/18/14 (MORNING), AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INSPECTED AND CONCLUDED THROUGH TESTING THAT ONE OF THE ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS WAS BROKEN/DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I WAS PRESENT FOR THE TEST AND THE MECHANIC WALKED ME THROUGH EACH STEP AND POINTED OUT EXACTLY WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND WHY. ON 03/19/14 (MORNING), LEXUS DEALERSHIP DENIES ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE MOTOR MOUNTS AND CANNOT "REPLICATE" THE PROBLEM. ON 03/19/14 (AFTERNOON) I MET WITH THE LEXUS SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND WE PERFORM THE EXACT SAME TEST AS MY INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. ALTHOUGH LEXUS CLAIMS NO REPAIRS WERE DONE SINCE THEY DIDN'T FIND A PROBLEM, THE TEST NOW SHOWS THE MOTOR MOUNTS AS BEING IN WORKING ORDER (MAGICALLY) ALTHOUGH LEXUS DENIES NOTHING WAS EVER WRONG AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED BY LEXUS, ITS APPARENT TO ME AND MY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITHOUT IT BEING DOCUMENTED.
NHTSA complaint #10573540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.