2018 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 2018 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
- Airbags125.0%
- Engine125.0%
- Exterior lighting125.0%
- Seat belts125.0%
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
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, UNABLE TO SEE VERY WELL DURING NIGHT TIME, THE CONTACT WENT OFF THE PAVEMENT AND ONTO THE GRASS. THE CONTACT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GUARDRAIL AND REALIZED HE WAS OFF THE ROAD THEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE SLID ON THE GRASS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE JAMMED INWARD TO THE DASHBOARD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENCOUNTER HIS CHEST. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG UNINFLATED RAPIDLY AFTER DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN DUE TO BEING JAMMED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE 'INFORM DEVICE' NOTIFIED AUTHORITIES THAT THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT WIGGLED UNTIL HE WAS RELEASED. A PASSER BY STOPPED TO ASSIST AND OPENED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE EMS AND THE POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE CONTACTS CHEST PAIN, TWO BLOOD PRESSURE EXAMS, AND ECHOCARDIOGRAM ON THE SCENE. THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE CONTACT SOUGHT FURTHER MEDICAL ATTENTION AT A HOSPITAL WHERE HE WAS KEPT FOR 1 DAY. DURING HIS HOSPITAL STAY THERE WERE X RAYS AND CT SCAN WERE PERFORMED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (CASE NUMBER: 19263125, POLICE OFFICER'S BADGE NUMBER 12). THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NORTH PARK LEXUS OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS DEALER (210-308-8900, LOCATED AT 611 LOCKHILL SELMA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216) TO INFORM THEM OF THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 LEXUS ES300H. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ITCHING OF THE FACE, COUGHING, AND THROAT COMPLICATIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER (LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE, 700 SERRAMONTE BLVD, COLMA, CALIFORNIA 94014) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CLEANED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS ON MY LEXUS ES 300H ILLUMINATE A MAXIMUM 4 DIVIDING LINES ON A ROAD AND THAT'S EQUAL TO 120 FEET. MY AUTO HIGH BEAMS COME ON FREQUENTLY AS THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT ARE VERY LIMITED . I HAVE A 2019 CAMRY AND THOSE LIGHTS WHICH ARE SIMILAR ILLUMINATE AT LEAST 200 FEET AND AT LEAST 8 DIVIDING LINES. MY DEALER CHECKED AND STATED THEY ARE CORRECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS TOLD BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT THROUGH EMAIL THAT "THE LATCH SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR REAR FACING CHILD SEATS." THIS IS COMPLETELY SHOCKING TO ME AS THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS IN THE MANUAL THAT THIS IS THE CASE. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH OUR DAUGHTER FOR MONTHS USING THE LATCH SYSTEM FOR HER REAR FACING CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY ENOUGH TO INSTALL WITH THE SEAT BELT INSTEAD.
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 .