2012 Lexus ES

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Lexus ES has 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (53% of all complaints), specifically: i had a 2012 lexus es 350 and had problems with it. the first problem occurred when i was parking. i was angle parking and had my foot on the brake when the car jumped into a brick wall. four air bags exploded in my face and rendered me unconscious. i was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. i. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 5 crash reports 10 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

18 complaints

53%

• I HAD A 2012 LEXUS ES 350 AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING. I WAS ANGLE PARKING AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR JUMPED INTO A BRICK WALL. FOUR AIR BAGS EXPLODED IN MY FACE AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I
• CONSUMER WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2012 LEXUS ES340. SHE CLAIMS THAT THE PLASTIC SHROUD HOLDING THE AIR BAG CUT OPEN HER LEG, CAUSING VERY SERIOUS INJURIES AND PAIN. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO-VEHICLE, SIDE IMPACT CRASH. UPDATED 07/26/16.*JB
• I HAVE CALLED THE NUMBER PROVIDED ON THE LETTER THAT NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS. I WAS TOLD THE NEW AIR BAGS ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET AND IN THE MEANTIME, I CAN RENT A CAR (NOT A LEXUS) THROUGH ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I BOUGHT A LEXUS AND SINCE MY CAR IS NO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“I HAD A 2012 LEXUS ES 350 AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING. I WAS ANGLE PARKING AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR JUMPED INTO A BRICK WALL. FOUR AIR BAGS EXPLODED IN MY FACE AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

15%

• ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEXT TO TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH, DASHBOARD VINYL IS MELTING, IT HAS BUBBLE AND ONE BUBBLE WAS BROKEN TO MAKE A HOLE. I NOTICED IT ON APRIL 1, 2014. WHEN I CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ON MARCH,31 IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NEW COUNTR
• I HAD A 2012 LEXUS ES 350 AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING. I WAS ANGLE PARKING AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR JUMPED INTO A BRICK WALL. FOUR AIR BAGS EXPLODED IN MY FACE AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I
• TAKATA RECALL AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES. LEXUS RECALLED VEHICLE IN JAN 2017 WARNING THAT NO ONE SHOULD SIT IN FRONT SEAT FOR DURATION. NO PROVISION FOR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WAS MENTIONED. IT HAS BEEN 10 MONTHS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO USE FRONT SEAT. THEY SAY THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN DECEMBER. OUR

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

“ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEXT TO TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH, DASHBOARD VINYL IS MELTING, IT HAS BUBBLE AND ONE BUBBLE WAS BROKEN TO MAKE A HOLE. I NOTICED IT ON APRIL 1, 2014. WHEN I CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ON MARCH,31 IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NEW COUNTR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

4 complaints

12%

• Sales rep. Stated that the dash boards is very sticky
• Driving down the interstate and out of the blue my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gunshot and I was driving 80mph. I almost ran into another driver due to glass falling on me.
• I HAVE A 2012 LEXUS ES350 PURCHASED USED FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE MELTING DASHBOARD ISSUE WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING. I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR DUE TO THE SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE IS GLARE ON THE WINDSHIELD IN SUNLIGHT THAT OBSCURES MY VIEW. THE LEXUS

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

“Sales rep. Stated that the dash boards is very sticky”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

3 complaints

• ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEXT TO TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH, DASHBOARD VINYL IS MELTING, IT HAS BUBBLE AND ONE BUBBLE WAS BROKEN TO MAKE A HOLE. I NOTICED IT ON APRIL 1, 2014. WHEN I CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ON MARCH,31 IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NEW COUNTR
• The contact owns a 2012 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that while sitting in the sun, the dashboard melted causing a glare in the windshield. The contact called the dealer and was advised to take the vehicle to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. T
• Driving down the interstate and out of the blue my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gunshot and I was driving 80mph. I almost ran into another driver due to glass falling on me.

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

3 complaints

• Sticky dash board, tryed to clean it and it becomes shinny and reflects sunlight
• The dashboard is melting causing a glare that’s hard to see through on the windshield. I found a self service from Lexus that they recalled it themselves but it isn’t official thought the government. [XXX] ). I called Lexus and they said I had to call corporate, so I did. They still wouldn’t help m
• Driving down the interstate and out of the blue my sunroof exploded. It sounded like a gunshot and I was driving 80mph. I almost ran into another driver due to glass falling on me.

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

“Sticky dash board, tryed to clean it and it becomes shinny and reflects sunlight”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 34 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: I HAD A 2012 LEXUS ES 350 AND HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT. THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WHEN I WAS PARKING. I WAS ANGLE PARKING AND HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE CAR JUMPED INTO A BRICK WALL. FOUR AIR BAGS EXPLODED IN MY FACE AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIOUS. I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE. I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEXT TO TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH, DASHBOARD VINYL IS MELTING, IT HAS BUBBLE AND ONE BUBBLE WAS BROKEN TO MAKE A HOLE. I NOTICED IT ON APRIL 1, 2014. WHEN I CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ON MARCH,31 IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NEW COUNTR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: Sales rep. Stated that the dash boards is very sticky
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD NEXT TO TEMPERATURE CONTROL SWITCH, DASHBOARD VINYL IS MELTING, IT HAS BUBBLE AND ONE BUBBLE WAS BROKEN TO MAKE A HOLE. I NOTICED IT ON APRIL 1, 2014. WHEN I CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ON MARCH,31 IN GLOVE COMPARTMENT, I DIDN'T SEE IT. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO NEW COUNTR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)