RoadVitals

2019 Lexus ES Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest May 16, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
26%
of 34 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2019 Lexus ES submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 16, 2026

Vehicle suddenly stalled in traffic, check engine light illuminated and lost power.

NHTSA ID
11738226
Incident
May 15, 2026
Engine
Filed Mar 7, 2025

Driving car experienced a loud thump. Lost all engine power. Pulled to side of road. Had a hybrid system unavailable warning. Called a tow. Checked oil level to find it below the low mark. Car left a huge puddle of oil when loaded. Got to dealership. They found a hole in the engine block. Engine seized. Looms like it was the rod for the first cylinder. This issue sounds like what was the 2020 model years recall. My car had 128k on it all maintenance was completed on time, at the dealership. I regularly check oil level, and it was within normal range.

NHTSA ID
11646961
Incident
Feb 9, 2025
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2023

The vehicle stalls when I try to take off causing me to pull into traffic slower

NHTSA ID
11512648
Incident
Mar 17, 2023
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 22, 2022

The first incident occurred sometime in late June/early July...indicator lights mentioned below came on and I cleaned off sensors and indicator lamps disappeared on this occurrence. On July 13 2022, I was driving on a busy local road when the following malfunction indicators were displayed: brake system warning, 'check' engine malfunction indicator lamp, electric power steering system warning, parking support brake system, and pre-collision system. As these indicators were displayed, simultaneously the vehicle decelerated to an almost complete stop on the road (though I was pressing gas pedal to floor) and then to a complete stop as I was able to blessedly pull over to a gas station without getting hit (the car sounded like putt, putt as it shut down). The vehicle would not start even though I cleaned off the sensors this time...I sat for about 15-30 minutes and the vehicle restarted and resume normal operations until I was able to get home safely. This happened again on 15 July 2022 while I was driving on I-75N, a truly busy interstate, I was switching lanes to get to the far right lane when all of a sudden, the aforementioned indicator lamps displayed and the vehicle decelerated to a complete stop as I was able to pull over onto the shoulder of the highway...I believe since I had a family member following me, that definitely kept an accident from occurring along with the oversight of the good Lord. While we sat and waited for tow services, I tried wiping the sensors to no avail...yet, upon 30 minutes of waiting, the vehicle restarted and resumed normal operations. I drove vehicle to an auto shop in which they did a vehicle diagnostics check and couldn't find anything wrong...they even drove vehicle to see if problem would reoccur but to no avail.

NHTSA ID
11475224
Incident
Jul 13, 2022
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 9, 2022

I leased a 2019 Lexus ES300H in March of 2019. About 1 year later, the vehicle started having serious mechanical issues related to the power of the vehicle and put my life in danger on 3 different occasions. The vehicle has a serious problem with losing power. The very first time that this problem occurred, I was in the left only lane attempting to make a left turn. When it was safe to do so and there was enough distance between me and the nearest vehicle driving in the opposite direction, I pressed on the accelerator to make a left turn and my vehicle suddenly lost almost complete power. I had the accelerator pressed all the way to the floor and the vehicle was barely moving like 3-5 miles per hour. Me and the other vehicle that was coming kind of fast in the opposite direction almost got into a head on collision. I would have very easily and safely, without even rushing, cleared the intersection and completed the left turn had this not happened. After collecting myself from the terrifying experience I just went through and having my life flash before my eyes, pulled over and called Lexus Roadside. They came and towed the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer kept the vehicle for some time, but was not able to duplicate the problem and told me that there is nothing with the vehicle. Regardless of how much I insisted that they do further tests, they refused and told me that the mechanic he driven it home at night and back in the morning and could not duplicate the issue and that if I didn't come to pick up the vehicle, they would park it on the street where it would be subject to tow. After picking it up and literally after about 20 minutes of driving it, almost the same thing happened while I was on the freeway on my way home. The vehicle lost power again and I almost got into an accident. A similar incident occurred the third time. Took the vehicle to service 3 times. Brand engagement has not done a single thing. Lemon Law Department denied the case. Been paying.

NHTSA ID
11451094
Incident
Jun 1, 2020
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 23, 2021

While at a stop sign or light, I have experienced on at least five separate occasions where I press the accelerator and the vehicle does not move. I took it in to the Lexus dealer last year and have set up another appointment again next Monday September 27. There response is that they will put it on their diagnostic machine.

NHTSA ID
11434058
Incident
Sep 10, 2021
Body & structureEngineFuel system
Filed Mar 2, 2021
Crash reported

ACCIDENT DESCRIPTION: TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 JUST PAST THE 895 SPLIT. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE MIDDLE LANE WITH A SPEED OF 60-65 MPH. THE CAR STARTED TO DRIFT LEFT QUICKLY. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION WARNING THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL INDICATING LANE DEPARTURE. I WAS RAPIDLY MOVING TOWARD THE CONCRETE BASE OF THE MORAVIA ROAD OVERPASS. THE STEERING WAS TIGHT. I ATTEMPT TO BRAKE AND STEER RIGHT BUT NOTHING SEEMED TO WORK. THE AUTOBRAKE WAS ON BUT DID NOT APPLY AND I HIT THE CONCRETE BASE OF THE WALL ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF THE LEXUS. I DID SEVERAL 360'S AND LANDED AGAINST THE JERSEY WALL IN REVERSE DIRECTION OF THE TRAFFIC. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS ABLE TO PUT MY WINDOW UP/DOWN AND THE DOOR DID OPEN. I REMAINED IN PLACE WITH MY SEAT BELT STILL ON UNTIL OFFICE SMITH ARRIVED. HE RECORDED THE INCIDENT. IN SUMMARY, I BELIEVE THE LOW PRECURE FUEL PUMP STOPPED OPERATING CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL AT HIGH SPEED AND WAS THUS THE SOURCE OF THE CRASH.

NHTSA ID
11398718
Incident
Feb 2, 2021
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 1, 2020

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT 2019, THIS HAPPENS EVERYTIME I AM ON LOCAL ROADS (SPEED <50MPH), WHEN I SLOWDOWN PER THE TRAFFIC FLOW, OR TAKING TURN (LEFT OR RIGHT) AFTER YIELDING, THE CAR HESITATES TO ACCELERATE AS IF THE GAS PEDAL DIED ON ME AND THEN I PUSH THE PEDAL FURTHER DOWN ONLY TO GET THE CAR DOWNSHIFT DRASTICALLY AND REVVING UP TO ALMOST ALWAYS ABOUT THE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT (IF ANY) OF ME. IN THE FEW TIMES I AM ON HIGHWAY, WHEN I NEED TO SPEED UP TO CHANGE THE LANE THE CAR ACCELERATES UNPREDICTABLY MAKING THE DRIVING A SCARY EXPERIENCE.

NHTSA ID
11377378
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
500 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 5, 2020

VEHICLE STALLED IN DRIVEWAY

NHTSA ID
11316235
Incident
Feb 28, 2020

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .