Most common 2013 Lexus GS problems
Share of the 19 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus GS complaints by model year
Best GS years: 2016, 2008, 2010. Years to avoid: 2006. Compare all years →
What 2013 Lexus GS owners say
Steering
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2013 Lexus GS 350. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle while making a right or left turn, and the steering wheel was moved all the way. The contact stated that it felt like the tires were driving over a bumpy road. In addition, the vehicle independently veered to the left while driving. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering wheel electronic control unit had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V221000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 71,000.
When driving at highway speeds for more than 10 minutes the steering becomes increasingly stiff until it starts locking the wheel in position. It takes quite a bit of force to get it to unlock and then whatever new position it's in it will lock that new position. It will lock in a straight line or in a turn so I could let go of the wheel and it will keep turning. This leads to a potentially dangerous ping ponging back and forth until I get it to lock in a position that matches the road to stay in my lane. If I slow down to below 40mph it resets back to a normal steering feel until I speed up again. The alignment and wheel balance are both good. The suspension components are not warn out to cause a change in alignment. The car does not have lane keep assist or anything that might do that on purpose. …
Brakes
This was an unintended acceleration with non functional braking of a Lexus GS 350. This occured on December 18 around 8:00 AM. The driver noticed an orange triangular light in the dash while travelling slowly through a neighborhood less than a mile from the incident. While approaching a lighted intersection, the car suddenly accelerated when the brake pedal was depressed. The brake pedal was stiff and did not work. The driver tried to avoid another vehicle by veering right. The car hit a curb, travelled over a small hill and ended up in a parking lot after the ensuing damage disabled the car. The driver was able to escape from the drivers door before a fire erupted on the drivers side of the engine bay. The driver's safety and any other cars or persons in the vicinity were obviously put at grave risk.
Brake actuator or booster accumulator, always has been failing on Toyota/lexus hybrids, they need to do another bulletin or TSD because the malfunction is unsafe and many drivers are reporting it
Electrical system
The servo motor is bad per Lexus dealership. There is a recall for this exact problem for newer models. Years 2013 - 2016 should be included. My daughter has a 2006 Lexus, and it has the exact same problem. Lexus has a problem with their HVAC systems. The air conditioning stalls when turning on and goes from cold to warm when car is is idling.
clock inoperable Lumber Support Button/ Motor is inoperable. Lexus Dealership found that the cable is broken and needs to be replaced on the Driver and Passenger side. As the cable is broken it makes the driver side seat loose
2013 Lexus GS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 29 / 34 / 31 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 19 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 26 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Lexus GS a good car?
Based on 19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 GS rates average: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the GS 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 GS?
The steering — 5 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the brakes (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2013 Lexus GS have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 Lexus GS. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus GS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2008 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006. See the full Lexus GS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Lexus GS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 71,000 miles; 14% 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.