NHTSA has 70 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Lexus ES[1]. Brakes are the largest group, with 18 complaints[2].
Most reported problems
Owners report these complaint groups, listed from biggest to smallest. - Brakes. 18 complaints[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe the car not stopping when they pressed the pedal, often while parking, and sometimes ending up against a building or a garage door. - Speed Control. 12 complaints[6]. Owners describe the car pausing or lagging when they pull away from a stop. A few stories describe the car moving on its own while parking, and some say the dealer found nothing wrong. - Unknown Or Other. 10 complaints[7]. These reports do not fit a single named part. - Air Bags. 9 complaints[8]. Owners describe air bags that stayed closed during front end collisions, and one describes a leg air bag that only partly opened. - Electrical System. 9 complaints[9]. Owners describe batteries that went dead more than once and door locks that stopped working. - Visibility. 6 complaints[10]. - Structure. 6 complaints[11]. - Fuel/Propulsion System. 5 complaints[12].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2013 ES is necessarily included.
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Crash Imminent Braking (15V728), November 2015. About 30,812 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.[13]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
Safety ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD[5] | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 11.1% |
Engine and size
Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.
| Engine | Horsepower |
|---|---|
| 2013 Lexus ES with 2.5L 4-cylinder[15] | 154 hp |
| 2013 Lexus ES with 3.5L 6-cylinder[16] | 268 hp |
These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.
How 2013 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 38 | 1 |
| 1996 | 38 | 1 |
| 1997 | 47 | 2 |
| 1998 | 53 | 1 |
| 1999 | 35 | 0 |
| 2000 | 62 | 0 |
| 2001 | 31 | 0 |
| 2002 | 180 | 2 |
| 2003 | 139 | 0 |
| 2004 | 190 | 2 |
| 2005 | 200 | 2 |
| 2006 | 79 | 0 |
| 2007 | 664 | 4 |
| 2008 | 323 | 4 |
| 2009 | 173 | 5 |
| 2010 | 179 | 5 |
| 2011 | 199 | 3 |
| 2012 | 120 | 3 |
| 2013 | 70 | 1 |
| 2014 | 46 | 1 |
| 2015 | 27 | 1 |
| 2016 | 37 | 1 |
| 2017 | 26 | 1 |
| 2018 | 15 | 2 |
| 2019 | 40 | 4 |
| 2020 | 24 | 3 |
| 2021 | 35 | 1 |
| 2022 | 16 | 1 |
| 2023 | 11 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
NHTSA's counts for the ES show 70 complaints and 1 recalls for 2013[3]. Among the 32 model years listed, 20 have fewer complaints than 2013 and 11 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (1) and the most are for 2007 (664)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 2013 ES?
These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, so they show what owners chose to report and not how often a problem happens[1]. Brakes and speed control lead the list[2][6]. Some air bag and structure reports involve crashes, so read those groups with care[8][11]. If you are shopping for this car, ask for service records on the brakes and the battery. A clean test drive, with a few stops from low speed, is also worth your time.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Lexus ES?
- Brakes lead the complaint list with 18 complaints[2], followed by speed control with 12[6]. See the problems section for what owners describe.
- How many complaints does the 2013 Lexus ES have?
- NHTSA has 70 owner complaints on file[1].
- Does the 2013 Lexus ES have recalls?
- Yes, the by-year data shows 1 recall for this model year[3]. The Recalls section on this page lists it.
- What is the gas mileage of the 2013 Lexus ES?
- See the Fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Lexus ES
Compare all model years of the Lexus ES
Other Lexus models from 2013
Similar cars from 2013: midsize cars
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 70 owner complaints on file for the 2013 Lexus ES (14 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- 18 complaints name the brakes component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 25,650). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Lexus ES model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for ES 300h, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (AV-S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 40 city / 39 highway / 40 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $1,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 11.1%. NHTSA vehicle records
- 12 complaints name the speed control component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 26,645). NHTSA vehicle records
- 10 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,100). NHTSA vehicle records
- 9 complaints name the air bags component group (6 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, median mileage at failure 38,450). NHTSA vehicle records
- 9 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the visibility component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 23,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 6 complaints name the structure component group (5 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 29,000). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 15V728, filed November 3, 2015: Forward Collision Avoidance › Crash Imminent Braking. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for ES 350, 3.5L 6-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 21 city / 31 highway / 24 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,800. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2013 Lexus ES with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 154 hp. www.epa.gov
- EPA Test Car List, 2013 Lexus ES with 3.5L 6-cylinder: rated 268 hp. www.epa.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ES300h HYBRID 4DR SEDAN: length 193 in, width 72 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,660 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
- Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ES350 4DR SEDAN: length 193 in, width 72 in, height 57 in, wheelbase 111 in, curb weight 3,549 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov