2015 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 2015 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
- Fuel system337.5%
- Powertrain (other)337.5%
- Brakes112.5%
- Other / unspecified112.5%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON 6/3/2019 AT 12 NOON, IT HAS SUDDEN RUNAWAY ACCELERATION. WE HAD STOPPED ON THE CURB OUTSIDE OUR HOME AND THEN STARTED DRIVING SLOWLY IN EV MODE TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT ACCELERATED HARD BY ITSELF, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEN HIT THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AFTER GOING OVER SOME SHRUBBERY. THERE WAS NO TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES; IT ALL HAPPENED SUDDENLY. THIS IS CLEARLY UNINTENDED RUNAWAY ACCELERATION, AND THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE GETS INJURED OR DIES. THIS IS SERIOUS
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5MPG WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. CAR WAS IN EV MODE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED; STEPPED REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKES AND THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 2-3 INCHES BEFORE THE SIGN. 04/11/2016.
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
ON 6/3/2019 AT 12 NOON, IT HAS SUDDEN RUNAWAY ACCELERATION. WE HAD STOPPED ON THE CURB OUTSIDE OUR HOME AND THEN STARTED DRIVING SLOWLY IN EV MODE TURNING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT ACCELERATED HARD BY ITSELF, HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND THEN HIT THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AFTER GOING OVER SOME SHRUBBERY. THERE WAS NO TIME TO HIT THE BRAKES; IT ALL HAPPENED SUDDENLY. THIS IS CLEARLY UNINTENDED RUNAWAY ACCELERATION, AND THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BEFORE ANYONE GETS INJURED OR DIES. THIS IS SERIOUS
THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION AND HAPPENED ON 4/22/2016 AT ABOUT 1PM. I WAS IN EV MODE, DRIVING TO PARK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHIFTED TO "GAS" AND ACCELERATED RAPIDLY. I WAS ABLE TO STOMP ON THE BREAKS AND STOPPED TO CAR ABOUT A FOOT BEFORE HITTING A CAR IN FRONT. AFTER MY DR APPOINTMENT AT 2PM, I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE LEXUS DEALER IN MAPLEWOOD, MN AND EXCHANGED IT FOR ANOTHER CAR. THIS 300H IS TOTALLY UNSAFE AND SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ROAD. THIRD INCIDENT IN THREE MONTHS.
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
I had new brakes put on my car and a few months later, while I was driving, the brakes completely stopped working. There was no warning and I ended up going through a red light because I couldn't stop. I was lucky to be in a residential area where I could pull over to the side and be towed to the brake shop. They checked it out, and said there was a code that showed a Lexus issue. We took it to the Lexus service at Woodland Hills Lexus. They drove it and nothing happened, but finally with a lot of nagging on my part, they did a diagnostic (charging me $486.74 for this) and found a problem. Based on what my service person told me, there was a letter sent out to Lexus dealerships saying this was a problem, but they weren't doing a recall. How can they be allowed to ignore a brake problem ? I would like to buy another Lexus (I have already had 3), but I am concerned they are not forthcoming about safety issues. I have emailed their headquarters regarding this, but have not heard back.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY BRAND NEW ES300H SHOWS DIFFERENT MILAUGE CAPACITY EACH TIME I FILL THE TANK. WHEN I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IT SHOWED THE DRIVING RANGE OF 675 MILES WITH FULL TANK. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN CONTINUOUSLY DROPPING BY 20 TO 30 MILES EACH TIME I FILL IT UP. NOW I WILL BE LUCKY IF I CAN GET EVEN 500 MILES RANGE. I SHOWED IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN DALLAS, TEXAS AREA. THEY BOTH CLAIM THAT THE CAR IS ADJUSTING TO MY DRIVING STYLE (THAT INDIRECTLY MEANS I AM A BAD DRIVER). IT HAS BEEN 3.5 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND IT IS STILL DROPPING. CAN DRIVING STYLE MAKE THAT BIG A DIFFERENCE (NEARLY 200 MILES LESS THAN THE ORIGINAL RANGE INDICATED)? I DON'T THINK SO AND I BELIEVE THAT DEALERS THEMSELVES DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY ENGINE/ HYBRID SYSTEM. BUT THEY REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
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 .