The 2018 Lexus ES350 has 2 safety recalls and 5 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (2 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints5filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
2018 Lexus ES350 in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
NHTSA recall 20V682000 · Nov 4, 2020 · 1,525,742 vehicles
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly with an improved one, free of charge. Owners of specific models were notified that remedy parts were available starting January 21, 2021. Owners of other models will be notified as remedy parts become available. Remedy parts should be available for all affected vehicles by late March 2021. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 20V-012. Toyota's number for this recall is 20TA02. Lexus' number for this recall is 20LA01.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
NHTSA recall 20V012000 · Jan 13, 2020 · 1,830,752 vehicles
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2018 Lexus ES350 4 DR FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
11.1%
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
ES 350
24mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control
2
0
0
0
—
Unknown or other
2
1
0
1
—
Engine
1
0
0
0
—
Structure Body
1
1
0
1
—
Service brakes
1
1
0
1
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 22, 2023 · 66,150 milesVehicle speed control The contact owns a 2018 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and making a left turn into a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration driving to the opposite side of the parking lot before the vehicle shut off. The contact stated that moments later the vehicle was restarted and operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 66,150.
Feb 18, 2020 · 13,047 miles · crash · 1 injuryStructure › Body I WAS AT A STOPLIGHT AND THERE WERE A COUPLE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. THE LIGHT WAS RED. I WAS A CAR LENGTH AND A HALF AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I SAW THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME PROCEED TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME TOOK HIS FOOT OFF OF HIS BRAKES, SO I THOUGHT HE WAS MOVING FORWARD AS WELL. SO THEN I DECIDED TO ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 5-10 MPH. BY THE TIME I REALIZED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME WASN'T MOVING FORWARD, MY CAR HIT HIS TRAIL-HITCH" (NOT HIS BACK BUMPER) AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DAMAGED, BUT I COULD DRIVE IT FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE BRAKE ASSIST OF MY 2018 LEXUS…
Sep 20, 2020 · 9,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS ES350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 52 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTOFF AND APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 SECONDS LATER, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER JOHNSON LEXUS LOCATED AT 5839 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. INFORMATION DOWN LOADED FROM THE VEHICLE?S COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DEPRESSING BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *LN *TR
Jul 31, 2019 · 9,500 milesUnknown or other THE FRONT WINDSHIELD SPLIT IN HALF WHEN THE A/C CAME ON DURING A VERY HOT DAY.
Nov 27, 2017 · 100 milesVehicle speed control CRUISE CONTROL WITH DISTANCE FOLLOWING. THIS SYSTEM WHEN ACTIVE AND BY DESIGN STOPS SLOWING THE VEHICLE AT AN ESTIMATED 25 MILES AN HOUR. THE OPERATOR IS EXPECTING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND IT DOES NOT. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE REAR END COLLISIONS BECOME PROMINENT REGARDLESS IF DOCUMENTED IN MANUALS. SINCE THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF THIS SYSTEM THE OWNER MAY NOT KNOW WITH WHICH ONE THEY HAVE. SO IF YOU'RE COMING UP ON STOPPED TRAFFIC AND RELYING ON THE CAR TO STOP ITSELF FROM SAY 65 70 MILES AN HOUR, THE CAR SLOWS TO 25 MPH OR SO AND SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY BRAKES RELEASE YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN WITH ONLY 50 FEET OR SO TO…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
