Vehicle suddenly stalled in traffic, check engine light illuminated and lost power.
The worst 2019 Lexus ES problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Fuel system12
- Engine9
- Airbags6
- Transmission5
- Brakes4
- Driver assistance4
- Electrical4
- Acceleration3
- Body3
- Lights1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2019 Lexus ES
Recalls 1
Air bags: knee bolster
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2019 Lexus ES vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a driver knee air bag assembly mounted to the lower instrument panel (IP) that may have been improperly installed, possibly affecting the deployment of the knee air bag in the event of a crash.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, there is an increased risk of injury if the knee air bag does not deploy properly.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driver knee air bag assembly, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 8, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are KLD and KLE.
Recall number 19V288000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2019 Lexus ES 57
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Although the flow shut-off valve is covered by Lexus’ New Vehicle Limited Warranty for 48 months or 50,000...
- Frequently Asked Questions CUSTOMER SUPPORT PROGRAM 24LE01 Certain 2019 -2021 Model Year ES300H Certain...
- Obsolete notice
- Some 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation System, require a...
- Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a...
- Some customers may experience operational difficulties with some telematics features which they cannot...
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air...
- The subject vehicles are equipped with a low-pressure fuel pump which may stop operating
- Special service campaign 25LC01
- TECHNICAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 25LC01 LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CERTAIN 2019 ES 300h...
2019 Lexus ES fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 43 | 45 | 44 |
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 22 | 31 | 25 |
What 2019 Lexus ES owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I've had my car for 3 years now and it randomly decided to throw a SRS airbag malfunction warning that will not go away. I know most of the last gen es350 had airbag recalls but the 2019 model year really didn't and I think its something similar. The car runs fine but the fact that my airbags wont deploy because of this warning makes it very unsafe.
The contact owns a 2019 Lexus ES 300H. The contact stated that while starting and operating the vehicle, the display screen frequently failed to operate as intended. The contact stated that occasionally the display screen activated as needed but intermittently the screen was black. The failure occurred consistently whenever the vehicle was turned off for longer than two hours. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V744000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,968.
I am reporting a potential transmission issue with my 2019 Lexus ES 350. At around 70,000 miles, the vehicle began developing a whining noise at low speeds when the accelerator pedal is depressed. The noise has persisted and appears to be gradually worsening. The symptoms match numerous complaints I have seen from other owners regarding premature failure of the UA80 transmission, particularly the whining sound during low-speed acceleration. This issue began approximately one year ago and raises concerns about a possible widespread defect affecting this transmission model. I want Lexus to repair my vehicle free of charge as it appears to be a manufacturing defect.
The component that failed is the Under Engine Cross Member. This is available for inspection. My safety was put at risk due to the Cross Member being bent so much that is didn't screw back in correctly, thus could have caused the engine to have fallen out of the car or worse. The problem was reproduced at Hendrick Lexus Kansas City. This concern was confirmed by the Technician along with a video. The vehicle was supposed to had been inspected the first time at Park Lexus to certify it as a Certified Pre Owned by Lexus, 200 point inspection. After a week of me owning the car, I sent it back to Parker Lexus for a rattling noise coming from the drivers side area. Parker Lexus said everything was fine with the underbody of the car. This is the second time. The third time. I took it back to Parker Lexus again for them to locate the noise again. Again they said everything was fine with the car. The fourth time I took it to Hendrick Lexus Kansas City for them to look for the issue. They verified the issue and said that the Cross Member, under the car, was bent all the way back and including the hole where the bolt was supposed to go. Hendrick Lexus also said that who ever had looked at it before had put Felt on the Cross Member to alleviate the noise coming from the under the car. No warning lamps, no other symptoms prior to failure. The problem first arose the day of buying the car 10/31/2025, driving it home.
Vehicle hesitates when gas pedal pressed; creating hazard to cross intersections, merging into traffic. In order to have car respond, hard press on gas pedal required, which creates another dangerous situation of unexpected leap! While no recalls are shown, 2 reports [XXX] are shown on the federal safety agency recall site. Owners of this vehicle report same problem for all model years, and indicate dealers cannot fix/do not fix. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2019 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, another vehicle entered his lane, and the contact collided with the other vehicle's front passenger's side. The air bags did not deploy. The contact suffered injuries to his right leg and arm. The contact's son suffered injuries to his chin and right knee. The contact and his son later received medical care and physical therapy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site. The vehicle was currently in the body shop for repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Driving car experienced a loud thump. Lost all engine power. Pulled to side of road. Had a hybrid system unavailable warning. Called a tow. Checked oil level to find it below the low mark. Car left a huge puddle of oil when loaded. Got to dealership. They found a hole in the engine block. Engine seized. Looms like it was the rod for the first cylinder. This issue sounds like what was the 2020 model years recall. My car had 128k on it all maintenance was completed on time, at the dealership. I regularly check oil level, and it was within normal range.
I bought a 2019 Lexus ES350 F Sport in October 2023 with 41,000 miles. Almost a year later to the day I went to a touchless car wash and now have excessive condensation in both headlights. Lexus shows these lights at $2500 a piece, plus labor to install. With modest investigating for a remedy I see I’m not alone in this predicament. Due to high cost of replacement I believe this warrants looking into whether it should be a recall or at least a safety bulletin as moisture in an electric environment will quickly become a major issue.
I was stop not driving
Compare the 2019 Lexus ES
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Questions about the 2019 Lexus ES
Is the 2019 Lexus ES reliable?
Owners have filed 34 complaints about the 2019 Lexus ES, 1.5 times a typical ES model year.
What is the 2019 Lexus ES year score?
The 2019 Lexus ES scores 58 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Lexus ES: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Lexus ES?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 12 complaints. Next is engine (9).
How many recalls does the 2019 Lexus ES have?
1 recall, covering air bags.
What gas mileage does the 2019 Lexus ES get?
Official estimates for the 2019 Lexus ES range from 25 to 44 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 43 city and 45 highway.
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