Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 9% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 9% | 18,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 15% | 9,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 3% | 73,000 miles |
| 2011 | 3 | 7% | 13,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 11% | 25,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 3% | 41,000 miles |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% | 54,000 miles |
| 2005 | 15 | 26% | 13,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 31% | 25,000 miles |
| 2003 | 6 | 26% | 89,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 19% | 104,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 25% | 113,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact's wife owns a 2019 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while attempting to park in between two vehicles with his foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle independently accelerated without warning. The vehicle jumped the parking barrier and hit stanchion which caused the vehicle to stop. The airbags did not deploy and the vehicle's electrical warning sensors also failed to operate as needed. No injuries were reported at the scene. Both fire and police reported immediately to the scene and a police report was filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and the contact was given a loaner vehicle. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact agreed to have the black box inspected for an investigation. The contact was informed that an investigator would be sent to the dealer and that the investigation would last approximately two months. …
The first incident occurred sometime in late June/early July...indicator lights mentioned below came on and I cleaned off sensors and indicator lamps disappeared on this occurrence. On July 13 2022, I was driving on a busy local road when the following malfunction indicators were displayed: brake system warning, 'check' engine malfunction indicator lamp, electric power steering system warning, parking support brake system, and pre-collision system. As these indicators were displayed, simultaneously the vehicle decelerated to an almost complete stop on the road (though I was pressing gas pedal to floor) and then to a complete stop as I was able to blessedly pull over to a gas station without getting hit (the car sounded like putt, putt as it shut down). …
I was driving down the highway coming up on a traffic jam put on the brakes and several warning. Lights came on the dash and my power brakes failed. I was barely able to stop the car without hitting someone. From that point forward the brakes did not work properly, the regenerative braking system did not function. also, the cruise control stopped functioning. I took the car to the Lexus dealer, they tested the car and stated it need a new brake booster brake assembly and that there was a safety warranty issue that was extended out 10 years and up to 150,000 miles and although my car only had 79,000 miles on it was three months past the warranty date and the refused. They reset the car brakes apparently and I was able to drive the car for several days while I spoke with Lexus, and then the car brakes failed again.
I was parking my car on a commercial complex. I am pressing on the brake as the car slows down. When I further pressed on the brake, the car instead of taking a complete stop, accelerated. It hit the building in front of me. When trying to back up, it accelerated again in reverse. I pressed the brake really hard then it stopped.
At approximately 7:23 pm on July 8, 2012, while parking in the parking lot of our local church, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. The car was almost at a complete stop, when this sudden uncontrolled acceleration occurred. At that time lots of people were exiting the church and walking towards the parking lot to get into their cars, while others were inside and outside their vehicles waiting for the next service to start. I was terrified since as hard as I pushed the brake pedal, my car continued accelerating ; it ran over the concrete parking bump, hit an electrical installation, and came to a complete stop when it hit a parked SUV on the opposite side of the parking lot. The front section of my car was completely destroyed to the point where it was not drivable. I towed the vehicle to my house and later to the Lexus dealership for an inspection. …
At approximately 6:30 pm, while making a right hand turn into a friends driveway, the vehicle suddenly accelerated on it's own, and the brakes would not work. The vehicle continued to the right as if locked in to the right hand position, hit a tree and finally came to a stop by hitting high concrete steps. The vehicle was towed to the dealership, and later to the body shop as the vehicle was not drivable. During the interim, the vehicle was inspected by Toyota. Post investigation, the letter recently received from Toyota states "during the limited test drive accelerating and braking tests were conducted and the vehicle performed with no abnormalities found". The vehicle was not drivable per the mechanic at the dealership and the mechanic at the body shop, due to the significant damage and fluid leakage. …
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal, almost causing the vehicle to crash into the residence. The struck other materials inside the garage, causing front-end damages to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Lexus es350. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated from 65 MPH to 80 MPH without warning. The contact had to pump the accelerator pedal several times before it would release. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was advised that there were no problems found within the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA recall campaign id number: 09V388000 (vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal) but did not confirm if the vehicle had been repaired under the recall. The failure mileage was unavailable. Updated 12/16/11 updated 12/22/11
NHTSA investigations
Vehicle speed control
In a letter dated July 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 Toyota and Lexus…
Unwanted acceleration, floor mat
The driver side floor mat will not interfere with the throttle pedal if properly secured using the retaining hooks provided by Toyota.however, if the all weather mat is unsecured and moves forward from its intended position it can entrap the throttle pedal at the fully open position after it has been depressed.this can happen regardless of whether or not another mat (carpet) is underneath.when this occurs, some…
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus ES years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (15), 2003 (6), 2002 (5), 2004 (5) and 2013 (5) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 26% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Lexus ES acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for any Lexus ES model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Lexus ES acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 46,000 miles; 56% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (6 mentions), followed by the cruise control (1).
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.