2013 Lexus ES Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Lexus ES Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance330.0%
- Body & structure220.0%
- Brakes220.0%
- Airbags110.0%
- Engine110.0%
- Powertrain (other)110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FACING UPHILL IN MY DRIVEWAY. I STARTED THE CAR AND SET THE GEAR SHIFT/SELECTOR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) TO DRIVE POSITION WHILE CHECKING THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS NOT ENGAGED. I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BREAK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND CONFIRMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA HAD NOT ENGAGED. I RELEASED THE BREAK AND ACCELERATED TO GO UP THE HILL. THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. I HIT THE BREAKS AND CONFIRMED AGAIN THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS CLEARLY IN DRIVE POSITION EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOW REVERSED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR THAT HAD BEEN BEHIND ME. I THEN SET THE GEAR SHIFT TO PARK POSITION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR.
THE CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. WHILE THE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL AND BOUNCED OVER A CURB, DOWN A HILL, STRIKING A PICK UP AND A TREE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR WAS IN A VERY BAD FRONT END COLLISION 1-15-16, AND NOT 1 AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WE CAN SEND PHOTOS, AND THE CAR IS ON HOLD, NOT TO BE TOUCHED AT THE INSURANCE STORAGE YARD. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO.
CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY FORD F-150 PRETTY HARD WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND GOT PUSHED FORWARD INTO THE FRONT SUV VEHICLE WHICH ALSO GOT PUSHED FORWARD FROM STATIONARY POSITION AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. CAR GOT TOTALED THAT THE LENGTH OF THE CAR SHRUNK WRAPPING THE FRONT AND BACK RAILS AND STILL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HENCE THE COMPLAINT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2013 Lexus ES300 Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a sudden and significant reduction in braking efficiency. The contact stated that the brake pedal became extremely stiff and rigid, requiring excessive force to be depressed to stop the vehicle. Simultaneously, the Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,000.
ABS BRAKE FAILURE CODE C1391 BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION DURING EMERGENCY STOP WHILE IN MOTION DRY CITY STREET, LUCKY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. COST OF REPAIR $ 5000.00 BY LEXUS DEALER. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BOTH LEXUS AND TOYOTA VEHICLES. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK AFTER THIS HAPPENED AS THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOW DISABLED. ``````````````````
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR WAS IN A VERY BAD FRONT END COLLISION 1-15-16, AND NOT 1 AIR BAG DEPLOYED. WE CAN SEND PHOTOS, AND THE CAR IS ON HOLD, NOT TO BE TOUCHED AT THE INSURANCE STORAGE YARD. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR WAS REAR ENDED BY FORD F-150 PRETTY HARD WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND GOT PUSHED FORWARD INTO THE FRONT SUV VEHICLE WHICH ALSO GOT PUSHED FORWARD FROM STATIONARY POSITION AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. CAR GOT TOTALED THAT THE LENGTH OF THE CAR SHRUNK WRAPPING THE FRONT AND BACK RAILS AND STILL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HENCE THE COMPLAINT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FACING UPHILL IN MY DRIVEWAY. I STARTED THE CAR AND SET THE GEAR SHIFT/SELECTOR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) TO DRIVE POSITION WHILE CHECKING THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS NOT ENGAGED. I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BREAK WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK AND CONFIRMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN DRIVE AND THAT THE BACKUP CAMERA HAD NOT ENGAGED. I RELEASED THE BREAK AND ACCELERATED TO GO UP THE HILL. THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE. I HIT THE BREAKS AND CONFIRMED AGAIN THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS CLEARLY IN DRIVE POSITION EVEN THOUGH I HAD NOW REVERSED AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE DOOR THAT HAD BEEN BEHIND ME. I THEN SET THE GEAR SHIFT TO PARK POSITION AND TURNED OFF THE CAR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .