VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Lexus ES2013–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Lexus ES
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Lexus ES Years to Avoid
1 recall · 27 complaints
Top issue: AIR BAGS
1 recall · 15 complaints
4 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
0 recalls · 5 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Lexus ES — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 30 | 76 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | — | 95 | 42 | 76 | Good |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | — | 90 | 58 | 79 | Good |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | — | 90 | 72 | 84 | Good |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 82 | 94 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 1 | 27 | — | 68 | 88 | 75 | Avoid |
| 2020 | 1 | 15 | 4 | 78 | 84 | 80 | Avoid |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | — | 95 | 74 | 88 | Good |
| 2018 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 94 | 62 | 83 | Good |
| 2017 | 0 | 2 | — | 98 | 50 | 81 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 0 | 7 | — | 93 | 40 | 74 | Good |
| 2015 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 94 | 40 | 75 | Good |
| 2014 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 98 | 40 | 78 | Good |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | — | 100 | 40 | 79 | Excellent |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Lexus ES Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the ES compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2022 (Buyer Score 94).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year ES to buy?+
The 2022 Lexus ES scores highest on our Buyer Score (94/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 82/100. It has 0 recalls and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which ES years have the most problems?+
The 2021, 2020, 2015 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2021 ES leads with 1 recalls and 27 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common ES problems?+
The most frequently reported Lexus ES issues involve: AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.