2012 Lexus ES350 Problems & Complaints

Averageabout as many complaints as a typical year of the ES350 at the same age

Owners have filed 89 complaints about the 2012 Lexus ES350 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the ES350 at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (77 complaints, typically around 40,000 miles). 3 recalls cover this model year.

89complaints
3recalls
3crashes
2fires
3injuries
0deaths

Most common 2012 Lexus ES350 problems

  • Air bags~40,000 miles
    7787%
  • Locks & latches~59,000 miles
    33%
  • Speed control & acceleration~80,000 miles
    22%
  • Electrical system~55,000 miles
    22%
  • Body & structure~100,000 miles
    22%
  • Brakes~23,000 miles
    11%
  • Seat belts
    11%
  • A/C & heater~15,000 miles
    11%
  • Other / not specified~14,000 miles
    11%
  • Wheels & tires~25,000 miles
    11%
  • Steering~51,000 miles
    11%

Share of the 89 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

Lexus ES350 complaints by model year

’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’214652551451371538923161621225555
Owner complaints per model year, Lexus ES350. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best ES350 years: 2018, 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2009, 2010. Compare all years →

2012 Lexus ES350 recalls (3)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-741 · Oct 17, 2019 · 928,220 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 19V-005 · Jan 9, 2019 · 1,299,448 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South…

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 17V-006 · Jan 9, 2017 · 577,875 vehicles

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2012 Toyota 4Runner, Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, Yaris, Scion xB, Lexus ES350, GX460, IS-F, IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, and Lexus LFA vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,…

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota, Scion and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of…

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Lexus ES350:

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.

What 2012 Lexus ES350 owners say

Air bags all 77 →

Driver side knee airbag caused hematoma, second degree burn on l. Leg, resulting in 2 surgeries, use of wound vac for 2 1/2 months, and permanent lympedema and scarring on l. Calf. Driver has replaced knees that are at high risk if further crash and knee bag deploys again. Driver needs on-off switch installed for driver knee airbag. Driver was not at fault in this accident and wants knee airbags removed or an on-off switch installed. The airbag on steering wheel deployed correctly and caused no damage. The knee airbag is a danger to driver.

15,000 miles · Apr 2014 · crash · 1 injury

Takata recall original recall date sept 2017, per Lexus dealer not available possible December 2017. NHTSA indicates "timely manner", this has been in effect since early[jan-feb 2017]...what does NHTSA define as a timely manner [my opinion a year is not a timely manner especially when dealer states in a letter...until the remedy becomes available, we recommend that you do not operate the vehicle with an occupant in the front passenger seat. We sincerely apologize.....etc" no accident has occurred to date.

40,000 miles · Sep 2017

Locks & latches

The contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the key was detected, and trunk open warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the doors would lock and unlock independently. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the trunk latch replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and agreed to cover the cost of the partial repair. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. The VIN was not available.

Doors › Lock · 55,000 miles · Oct 2021

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the door locks failed to latch securely when the doors were closed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who stated that the door locks needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not subjected to any recalls pertaining to the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.

Doors › Latch · 59,000 miles · Aug 2018

2012 Lexus ES350 engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
3.5L 6-cyl6-speed automaticFWD19 / 27 / 22

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Lexus ES350 a good car?

Based on 89 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 ES350 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the ES350 at the same age. 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 ES350?

The air bags — 77 complaints, 87% of all complaints for this model year, most often about knee bolster. Next are the locks & latches (3) and speed control & acceleration (2).

How many recalls does the 2012 Lexus ES350 have?

There are 3 recalls for the 2012 Lexus ES350, the most recent from October 17, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the Lexus ES350?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2014 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2009 and 2010. See the full Lexus ES350 years comparison.

At what mileage do 2012 Lexus ES350 problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 51,000 miles; 50% 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.