Head-to-head reliability
Lexus RX vs Lexus ES
How the Lexus RX and Lexus ES compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Lexus RX vs Lexus ES: The RX has 635 complaints over 10 years (63.5/year) and 17 recalls, while the ES has 184 complaints (18.4/year) and 8 recalls. Both show air bag issues, but the RX also reports unintended acceleration and 12V battery drain, and the ES reports brake failure and fuel/propulsion lunging. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Lexus RX or Lexus ES more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Lexus RX
The Lexus RX is a mid-size luxury SUV with 635 NHTSA complaints over 10 years, averaging 63.5 per year. The most common complaint area is air bags, with 260 reports, many describing unintended acceleration or seat belt reminder failures. Electrical system issues, especially 12V battery drain, and engine problems like turbo wastegate faults also appear. With 73 crash-related reports and 67 injuries, buyers should be aware of these patterns.
Lexus ES
The Lexus ES is a mid-size luxury sedan with 184 complaints over 10 years, averaging 18.4 per year. Air bag complaints lead with 44 reports, often about recalls or non-deployment. Fuel/propulsion issues, such as lunging or power loss, and engine problems like timing chain cover leaks are also noted. There are 32 crash-related reports and 18 injuries, but fewer overall complaints than the RX.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Lexus RX | Lexus ES |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 635 | 184 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 17 | 8 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 73 | 32 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 63.5 | 18.4 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 67 | 18 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Lexus RX
- 01AIR BAGS260
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER107
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM83
- 04ENGINE51
- 05STRUCTURE37
Owners report unintended acceleration leading to crashes, as well as rear seat belt reminders that fail to alert. These issues can increase crash risk and may not be immediately obvious during a test drive.
Complaints describe 12V battery parasitic drain that can leave the vehicle dead after short periods, sometimes within weeks of purchase. This can strand owners and require jump-starts or dealer visits.
Some owners report turbocharger wastegate actuator sticking, triggering check engine lights and drive-start control warnings. This can lead to reduced power and costly repairs if not addressed.
Reports include sudden power loss after using seat coolers and unintended acceleration in drive-thru lines. These unpredictable events can be dangerous in traffic.
“The contact owns a 2025 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated that while driving into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove forward at a high rate of speed before crashing into the brick wall of an office building. Dur…”
“The car does not alert when a seat belt is not worn in the back seats. This feature is mentioned in the owner's manual, but the car fails to alert when a rear passenger does not buckle their seat belt. I have raised the complaint twice and proved to lexus ser…”
Lexus ES
- 01AIR BAGS44
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM34
- 03ENGINE23
- 04SERVICE BRAKES23
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
Owners report prolonged recalls for passenger-side airbags and cases where airbags failed to deploy in rear-end collisions, despite injuries. This raises concerns about occupant protection in a crash.
Complaints describe the car lunging forward when shifting into drive and intermittent power loss during acceleration. These drivability issues can be unsettling and may indicate fuel or transmission problems.
Some owners report transmission failure and front timing chain cover leaks, sometimes at relatively low mileage. These can be expensive repairs and may affect long-term reliability.
Reports include brake pedal failure requiring pumping and downshifting to stop. This is a serious safety concern that should be checked immediately if experienced.
“I am writing to formally express my deep concern and frustration regarding the prolonged recall of the passenger-side airbag in my 2020 Lexus ES350 (VIN #[XXX]). The recall numbers are (23LA03, 23LB03 and 23V865) these were issued in December of 2023, which h…”
“On 7/25/25, I was rear-ended while driving my 2018 Lexus ES 300h with my child in the front seat. Despite the force of impact and resulting injuries, none of the airbags deployed. Moments after the crash, a “SRS Airbag System Malfunction” message appeared on…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Lexus RX — 17 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Camry, 2019 Lexus NX300, and 2019 RX350L vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 12, 2025. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TA01 and 25LA01.
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lexus NX350, NX250, 2023-2026 RX350, and 2024-2026 TX350 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federa…
The risk: A rearview image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software or replace the rearview camera, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2026 Lexus TX350, RX350 Hybrid, RX350, RX500 Hybrid, TX500 Hybrid, Toyota Grand Highlander, and Grand Highlander Hybrid vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in…
The risk: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's num…
Lexus ES — 8 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru Solterra vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Please see the recall report for a complete list of models. A software error may cause the rearview camera to freeze or d…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Toyota's customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 25TB13 and 25LB06. Subaru's nu…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Mirai, Lexus LS500, LS500H, 2023-2024 Lexus ES250, ES300H, ES350, 2024 Lexus LC500, and LC500H vehicles equipped with a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) system. Due to incorrect programming of the parking-assist electronic cont…
The risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the parking assist ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TA01 and 24LA0…
Buyer analysis
Lexus RX or Lexus ES: which should you buy?
The Lexus ES has far fewer complaints per year (18.4 vs. 63.5) and fewer recalls (8 vs. 17), suggesting a lower rate of reported issues. In practice, this means an ES buyer may encounter fewer trips to the dealer for unexpected problems, though both models have serious air bag and brake-related complaints that warrant attention.
Key differences
- The RX has 635 complaints over 10 years vs. 184 for the ES, meaning the RX has about 3.5 times more reported issues per year.
- Air bag complaints dominate both, but RX reports include unintended acceleration, while ES reports focus on recall delays and non-deployment.
- Electrical 12V battery drain is a recurring RX complaint, while ES complaints more often involve fuel/propulsion lunging and brake failure.
- The RX has 17 recalls vs. 8 for the ES, covering fuel pump, backover prevention, steering, and instrument cluster issues.
- Check for any history of unintended acceleration or sudden power loss, especially after using seat coolers or in parking situations.
- Test the 12V battery health and ask if it has been replaced; parasitic drain can leave you stranded.
- Verify that all air bag recalls have been performed, especially passenger-side recalls from 2023.
- Listen for transmission slipping or lunging when shifting into drive, and check for timing chain cover leaks.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full NHTSA recall history by VIN and confirm all open recalls are fixed.
- Take a lengthy test drive including parking maneuvers, acceleration, and braking to feel for lunging or power loss.
- Have a mechanic check the 12V battery and charging system on the RX, and the transmission and timing chain area on the ES.
- Ask for service records to see if air bag or brake issues have been addressed.
- Search NHTSA complaints for the specific model year to see if patterns match your test drive experience.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Lexus RX | Lexus ES |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 24 | 15 |
| 2024 | 59 | 9 |
| 2023 | 66 | 22 |
| 2022 | 42 | 23 |
| 2021 | 281 | 28 |
| 2020 | 154 | 18 |
| 2019 | 0 | 62 |
| 2018 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017 | 0 | 2 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Lexus RX or Lexus ES in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Lexus RX vs Lexus ES
- Lexus RX total complaints
- 635
- Lexus ES total complaints
- 184
- Lexus RX total recalls
- 17
- Lexus ES total recalls
- 8
- Lexus RX avg complaints/year
- 63.5
- Lexus ES avg complaints/year
- 18.4
- More reliable overall
- Lexus ES
- Lexus RX top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Lexus ES top complaint area
- AIR BAGS