2013 Lexus ES300 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 ES300, 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
- Brakes225.0%
- Visibility225.0%
- Airbags112.5%
- Driver assistance112.5%
- Exterior lighting112.5%
- Seat belts112.5%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LEXUS ES 300H 2013 MODEL CAR WHILE PARKING ON THE FLAT DRIVE-WAY (NO SLOPE), HAVING THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND MOVING THE GEAR LEVER FROM D TO PARK, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHIN A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR, COMPLETELY BREAKING THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR GOT DAMAGED AND A CAR PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE ALSO GOT DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR STOPPED AFTER THE GEAR LEVER WAS MOVED TO PARK. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 6:30PM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CUPERTINO CITY, ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. *TR
CAR HAS BRAKE PEDAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REACH FULL STOP OF THE END OF FULL MECHANICAL TRAVEL (VS. HYDRAULICALLY LIMITED BY BRAKE PRESSURE) AND THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO APPLY MORE BRAKING FORCE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR MODEL IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE CAUSATION OF THE COLLISION AND WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SURPRISE TO THE OWNER AS THIS EVENT WAS OCCURRING. NO SUCH WARNING PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAKING ISSUE IN LEXUS ES300H. CHARACTERISTIC IS ENDEMIC TO THE MODEL AS TESTED IN OTHER IDENTICAL MODELS BY THE OWNER. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (ONE OF SEVERAL THAT DEPLOYED IN THIS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT) DID NOT PREVENT OWNER FROM PHYSICALLY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT BELT. CHEST FORCEFULLY STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THIS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH INFLICTED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLD UP DURING THE IMPACT AND SO NO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED IN THE MOMENTS OF IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT PROPERLY COVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE OWNER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IT DID NOT DO. THE OWNER ALWAYS HAD THE SEAT POSITIONED WELL AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE AIR BAG DESIGN, AND THE SEAT BELTS AND BRAKES NOT WORKING IN A MANNER THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO, THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FEATURE TYPICAL ANTI LOCK CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE UPON ACTIVATION. NO SUCH PULSATION OCCURRED DURING THIS PRE-ACCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DECELERATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES300 HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT LIGHTS AND OTHER OBJECTS THAT WERE VIEWED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WERE EXTREMELY DISTORTED AND CAUSED SEVERE EYE STRAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE DISTORTION WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MOON ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARD WITH A EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THINKING I HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED THE DAMAGE TO THE MOON ROOF WHICH HAD SHATTERED IN AN OUTWARD DIRECTION. A LARGE AMOUNT OF GLASS WAS LAYING ON THE INSIDE COVER WHICH HAD BEEN CLOSED. I WAS TRAVELING 70 MILES PER HOUR ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY IN A NON-CONSTRUCTION AREA AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE WITHIN A QUARTER OF A MILE FROM ME. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO HAVE HAD THE COVER CLOSED OR WE WOULD HAVE HAD SMALL PIECES OF GLASS FALL ON US AT 70 MILES PER HOUR POSSIBLY CAUSING A MORE SERIOUS INCIDENT. *TR
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
CAR HAS BRAKE PEDAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REACH FULL STOP OF THE END OF FULL MECHANICAL TRAVEL (VS. HYDRAULICALLY LIMITED BY BRAKE PRESSURE) AND THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO APPLY MORE BRAKING FORCE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR MODEL IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE CAUSATION OF THE COLLISION AND WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SURPRISE TO THE OWNER AS THIS EVENT WAS OCCURRING. NO SUCH WARNING PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAKING ISSUE IN LEXUS ES300H. CHARACTERISTIC IS ENDEMIC TO THE MODEL AS TESTED IN OTHER IDENTICAL MODELS BY THE OWNER. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (ONE OF SEVERAL THAT DEPLOYED IN THIS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT) DID NOT PREVENT OWNER FROM PHYSICALLY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT BELT. CHEST FORCEFULLY STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THIS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH INFLICTED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLD UP DURING THE IMPACT AND SO NO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED IN THE MOMENTS OF IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT PROPERLY COVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE OWNER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IT DID NOT DO. THE OWNER ALWAYS HAD THE SEAT POSITIONED WELL AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE AIR BAG DESIGN, AND THE SEAT BELTS AND BRAKES NOT WORKING IN A MANNER THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO, THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FEATURE TYPICAL ANTI LOCK CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE UPON ACTIVATION. NO SUCH PULSATION OCCURRED DURING THIS PRE-ACCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DECELERATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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 LEXUS ES 300H 2013 MODEL CAR WHILE PARKING ON THE FLAT DRIVE-WAY (NO SLOPE), HAVING THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND MOVING THE GEAR LEVER FROM D TO PARK, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHIN A FRACTION OF A SECOND AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR, COMPLETELY BREAKING THE GARAGE DOOR. THE FRONT OF THE CAR GOT DAMAGED AND A CAR PARKED INSIDE THE GARAGE ALSO GOT DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR STOPPED AFTER THE GEAR LEVER WAS MOVED TO PARK. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FRIGHTENING AND IS A VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY HAZARD. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 6:30PM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, CUPERTINO CITY, ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS ES 300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS APPEARED DIM AND MADE DRIVING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WINDSHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 600. *TR
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
CAR HAS BRAKE PEDAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REACH FULL STOP OF THE END OF FULL MECHANICAL TRAVEL (VS. HYDRAULICALLY LIMITED BY BRAKE PRESSURE) AND THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO APPLY MORE BRAKING FORCE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR MODEL IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE CAUSATION OF THE COLLISION AND WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SURPRISE TO THE OWNER AS THIS EVENT WAS OCCURRING. NO SUCH WARNING PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAKING ISSUE IN LEXUS ES300H. CHARACTERISTIC IS ENDEMIC TO THE MODEL AS TESTED IN OTHER IDENTICAL MODELS BY THE OWNER. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (ONE OF SEVERAL THAT DEPLOYED IN THIS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT) DID NOT PREVENT OWNER FROM PHYSICALLY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT BELT. CHEST FORCEFULLY STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THIS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH INFLICTED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLD UP DURING THE IMPACT AND SO NO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED IN THE MOMENTS OF IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT PROPERLY COVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE OWNER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IT DID NOT DO. THE OWNER ALWAYS HAD THE SEAT POSITIONED WELL AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE AIR BAG DESIGN, AND THE SEAT BELTS AND BRAKES NOT WORKING IN A MANNER THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO, THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FEATURE TYPICAL ANTI LOCK CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE UPON ACTIVATION. NO SUCH PULSATION OCCURRED DURING THIS PRE-ACCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DECELERATION. *TR
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 .