2013 Lexus ES HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2013 Lexus ES HYBRID has 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is speed control problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: parked in parking ramp front in.backed out slowly, tapped pillar at rear moved forward to adjust steering, reversed again, then engine accelerated slammed me back into pillar, steering wheel turned right engine continued to accelerate high speed up the ramp. i tired to put throttle in n, did not slo.

8 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SPEED CONTROL

3 complaints

25%

• PARKED IN PARKING RAMP FRONT IN.BACKED OUT SLOWLY, TAPPED PILLAR AT REAR MOVED FORWARD TO ADJUST STEERING, REVERSED AGAIN, THEN ENGINE ACCELERATED SLAMMED ME BACK INTO PILLAR, STEERING WHEEL TURNED RIGHT ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE HIGH SPEED UP THE RAMP. I TIRED TO PUT THROTTLE IN N, DID NOT SLO
• 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.
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“PARKED IN PARKING RAMP FRONT IN.BACKED OUT SLOWLY, TAPPED PILLAR AT REAR MOVED FORWARD TO ADJUST STEERING, REVERSED AGAIN, THEN ENGINE ACCELERATED SLAMMED ME BACK INTO PILLAR, STEERING WHEEL TURNED RIGHT ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE HIGH SPEED UP THE RAMP. I TIRED TO PUT THROTTLE IN N, DID NOT SLO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

2 complaints

17%

• 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 S
• 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.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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 S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

2 complaints

17%

• 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 S
• NHTSA RECALL 15V728 WAS ISSUED ON 11/3/2015. LEXUS HAS AN TEMPORARY FIX THAT SIMPLY DISABLES THE PRE-COLLISSION SYSTEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND I HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS GETTING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN IT WILL BE FIXED. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM APPLIES TO WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

2 complaints

17%

• 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 H
• 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 depre

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 H”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

1 complaints

• 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 S

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 12 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SPEED CONTROL: PARKED IN PARKING RAMP FRONT IN.BACKED OUT SLOWLY, TAPPED PILLAR AT REAR MOVED FORWARD TO ADJUST STEERING, REVERSED AGAIN, THEN ENGINE ACCELERATED SLAMMED ME BACK INTO PILLAR, STEERING WHEEL TURNED RIGHT ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE HIGH SPEED UP THE RAMP. I TIRED TO PUT THROTTLE IN N, DID NOT SLO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: 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 S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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 S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 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 H
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)