Most common 2013 Lexus ES350 problems
Share of the 23 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus ES350 complaints by model year
Best ES350 years: 2018, 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2007, 2008, 2011, 2009, 2010. Compare all years →
2013 Lexus ES350 recalls (1)
Forward collision avoidance › Crash imminent braking
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
What 2013 Lexus ES350 owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the contact heard a loud gunshot like sound and the sunroof shattered into pieces. The contact stated that small fragments of glass fell all over him due to the failure however, he was not injured. The contact pulled over, cleaned out his vehicle and was able to drive the vehicle home. The contact called the dealer where he was informed that there were no recalls on his vehicle. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 135,394.
We purchased this vehicle as a certified pre-owned in late June 2015. The windshield has a distortion that is exacerbated at night. Headlights and rear tail lamps appear in triple on vehicles. On dark/dim lit roads, the oncoming traffic's headlights appears in vertical multiples and is a safety hazard bordering on being a fatal incident. Two other similar complaints have been filed with NHTSA under the es300 category. This appears to be a lamination problem and a manufacturer's defect. Lexus denies seeing the problem. Yet, every passenger to ride in my vehicle notices the problem without me saying anything. The service staff at johnson Lexus, raleigh, nc, denies seeing the multiple images. The vehicle is under a bumper to bumper warranty and Lexus has failed to honor the warranty. The distortion is visible whether the vehicle is stationary or moving.
Air bags
Passenger-side leg airbag failed to fully deploy during an accident. It also exploded and expelled accelerate. The driver-side airbags deployed properly. This was during a front-end collision with the side of another vehicle. My car was proceedingstraight through an intersection on a parkway-like city drive. ..updated 09/26/17
The vehicle was in an accident as a result of another drive jetting out in front. Car impacted at the front driver side, causing damage to the front bumper mount, hood and driver side quarter panel. Impact to the other vehicle was the rear quarter on the passenger side. Upon impact the airbags failed to deploy, onboard safety connect feature did not connect to confirm driver was OK and the sos button failed to work at the scene of the accident. This was reported to Toyota.
Speed control & acceleration
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES350. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the cruise control leveler fractured from the base of the steering column the vehicle was driven to the dealer. The parts for the repair were not available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 42,300. Updated 06/13/17
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle erroneously accelerated. The contact was unable to stop the vehicle by applying the brakes or shifting into park. The failure ceased once the vehicle was shifted into neutral and the brakes became responsive. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure could not be duplicated. No repairs were performed. The manufacturer was notified and no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 2,890. Updated 01/08/14 tire skid marks were observed in the road. Updated 01/09/14
2013 Lexus ES350 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 31 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Lexus ES350 a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 ES350 rates better than average: 78% fewer complaints than 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 2013 Lexus ES350?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 5 complaints, 22% of all complaints for this model year, most often about sun/moon roof assembly. Next are the air bags (4) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2013 Lexus ES350 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2013 Lexus ES350, the most recent from November 3, 2015 (crash imminent braking). 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 2013 Lexus ES350 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 26,000 miles; 78% 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.