Most common 2012 Lexus ES problems
Share of the 31 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus ES complaints by model year
Best ES years: 2015, 2016, 2018. Years to avoid: 2021, 2019, 2011, 2020, 2010. Compare all years →
What 2012 Lexus ES owners say
Air bags
The contact owned a 2012 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle, causing the vehicle to rear-end the vehicle in front, resulting in a three-vehicle crash. The impact caused the hood to unlatch, and the hood flew up. The air bags did not deploy. The contact's grandson was a passenger in a rear-facing car seat, and the contact was unable to determine whether the child had sustained any injuries. The contact suffered a sore neck and body, and medical attention was received. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop and declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and requested that the vehicle be retrieved to access the Event Data Recorder (EDR). The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
Takata recall or Takata issues - I was involved in an accident in my 2012 Lexus ES 350. I was hit from behind by another vehicle (2005 Jeep liberty) at about 45mph and my front airbags did not deploy. I read the owners manual which indicated that if hit from behind the front airbags do not deploy with the exception of front collisions. This is extremely dangerous and unsafe for all consumers because the force of the accident while the vehicle was in motion on a city street caused me and my husband as the passengers bodily harm. My head hit the steering wheel and his head hit the dashboard - concussions and lost consciousness. Had we been hit any harder it could have resulted in death. Also, had the Lexus been designed to deploy the front airbags deployed when hit from behind at a certain speed, it would have prevented us from hitting our heads on such hard surfaces. …
Electrical system
I had a 2012 Lexus ES 350 and had problems with it. The first problem occurred when I was parking. I was angle parking and had my foot on the brake when the car jumped into a brick wall. Four air bags exploded in my face and rendered me unconscious. I was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. I could hardly walk and my legs were extremely swollen and I had many other bruises. The second incident was that the passenger seat of the car went on fire and burnt the seat. I feel I should not have to pay the final excess wear and tear bill of $829.50. In fact I believe I should be reimbursed for the last payment of $455 since the car was not in my possession. I had returned it to wilde Lexus of sarasota on March 16, 2015 as I was extremely concerned about the safety of the vehicle.
All 4 doors stopped locking by key fob, inside switches or exterior door handle switches or when putting the transmission in gear. No click is heard when trying to lock doors but clicking is heard when hitting the unlock switches. Doors will unlock electronically/ electrically when they are manually locked from inside the vehicle. A previous report indicated a similar problem that a dealer diagnosed as all of the door locks needed replaced, which makes no sense that the could all fail mechanically at the same time. The problem appears electrical in nature and is dangerous since doors can't be locked when the car is in motion or in a safety situation where locking the doors could prevent intruder entry.
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the reflection from the melted dashboard reflected onto the windshield. In addition, the contact's vision was impaired while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while sitting in the sun, the dashboard melted causing a glare in the windshield. The contact called the dealer and was advised to take the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact there were no open recalls associated with the VIN for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
2012 Lexus ES engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 27 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Lexus ES a good car?
Based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 ES rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the ES at the same age. It is one of the ES years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Lexus ES?
The air bags — 19 complaints, 61% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (5) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus ES have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Lexus ES. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus ES?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2019, 2011, 2020 and 2010. See the full Lexus ES years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus ES problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 36% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.