Lexus ES Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Lexus ES model year (2002–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Lexus ES Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 418 complaints
59 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 542
2 recalls · 167 complaints
18 reported injuries
Top issue: AIR BAGS
Problem score: 209
2 recalls · 141 complaints
23 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 193
Best Lexus ES Years to Buy
0 recalls · 1 complaint
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 1
1 recall · 5 complaints
Main area: BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
Problem score: 8
2 recalls · 5 complaints
Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
Problem score: 11
Found the right year? Verify that specific ES with a free VIN report.
Lexus ES — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 1 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 8 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 11 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 11 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 1 | 16 | — | — | 19 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 1 | 28 | — | — | 31 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 1 | 21 | 6 | — | 36 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 2 | 35 | 4 | — | 49 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 0 | 11 | 3 | — | 17 | Excellent |
| 2017 | 0 | 18 | 4 | — | 26 | Excellent |
| 2016 | 1 | 18 | — | — | 21 | Excellent |
| 2015 | 0 | 27 | 2 | — | 31 | Excellent |
| 2014 | 0 | 42 | 2 | — | 46 | Excellent |
| 2013 | 0 | 57 | 16 | — | 89 | Good |
| 2012 | 2 | 72 | 9 | — | 96 | Good |
| 2011 | 2 | 109 | 8 | — | 131 | Good |
| 2010 | 3 | 91 | 4 | — | 108 | Good |
| 2009 | 2 | 90 | 11 | 4 | 138 | Good |
| 2008 | 2 | 167 | 18 | — | 209 | Caution |
| 2007 | 2 | 418 | 59 | — | 542 | Avoid |
| 2006 | 0 | 42 | 6 | — | 54 | Excellent |
| 2005 | 2 | 126 | 16 | — | 164 | Good |
| 2004 | 2 | 141 | 23 | — | 193 | Caution |
| 2003 | 0 | 101 | 17 | — | 135 | Good |
| 2002 | 1 | 112 | 24 | — | 163 | Good |
All 25 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Lexus ES Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent ES models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 1 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2016Mid-decade ES units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2016 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder ES models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year ES should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2007 Lexus ES if possible. It has 2 recalls, 418 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 542 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year ES to buy?+
The 2026 Lexus ES is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 1. It has only 0 recalls and 1 complaint on record with NHTSA.
Which ES has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2025, 2023 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Lexus ES Research
Check a Specific Lexus ES VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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