Tl* the contact owned a 2011 lexus es350. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 70 MPH, without warning an abnormal noise was heard coming from the passenger wheel and within seconds he lost control of the vehicle crashing into a ditch and flipping over. The driver depressed the brake pedal as the vehicle slid on the wet roadway due to the rain. The driver was ejected from the vehicle thru the windshield as the air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a broken hip and face laceration as he was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was made. The insurance company was contacted and towed the vehicle to a lot where it was deemed a total loss. No dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure as a claim was filed. However no further assistance was taken. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
The worst 2011 Lexus ES350 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.
- Airbags145
- Electrical3
- Acceleration2
- Engine2
- Body1
- Brakes1
- Lights1
- Seats1
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Lexus ES350
Recalls 3
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑888‑270‑9371 or Lexus customer service at 1‑800‑255‑3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Recall number 19V741000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Toyota is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS250, IS350, 2011-2016 4Runner, 2011-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2011-2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, 2011-2017 Lexus GX460, and 2011-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Toyota is also recalling certain 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Lexus IS350, 2010-2016 4Runner, 2010-2013 Lexus IS250, 2010-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2010-2014 Lexus IS-F, and 2010-2012 Lexus ES350 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, or replace the air bag assembly. The recall began February 15, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are "Zone A" Toyota: G0P, Lexus: GLG; "Zone B" Toyota: G0R, Lexus GLH; "Zone C" Toyota: H0A, and Lexus: HLA.
Recall number 19V005000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1‑800‑331‑4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).
Recall number 16V340000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 2011 Lexus ES350
Defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
Technical service bulletins for the 2011 Lexus ES350 196
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- DP: Customer Support Program 19LE05 expired December 1, 2022.
- Ti: 19LE05
- DP: Limited Service Campaign KLG expired December 01, 2022
- CSP: On July 30, 2018, a settlement of claims for Economic Loss related to Takata airbag inflators was...
- CSP: Takata CSP Coverage Job Aid
- Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign
- This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s)...
- Some 2005 ? 2022 model year Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in...
- POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground...
- For proper calibration of the millimeter wave radar sensor, the vehicle and radar target must be on a...
2011 Lexus ES350 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6‑cyl | FWD | 19 | 27 | 22 |
What 2011 Lexus ES350 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
This web site (the federal safety agency) says there is no recall on this VIN, but toyota/lexus site says there is, for the airbags. This misleading information on a government web site can be dangerous.
N/a
1. Body paint has deteriorated greatly on roof, front hood and trunk, pictures attached. 2. Leather seats deteriorated. Driver seat broke in various parts. Passenger and rear seats also deteriorating. Pictures attached. Date recorded on the when did this happen field is an approximate when we first noticed the implication of these issues.
Takata recall - no incident yet
Exploding sunroof
Takata recall - have called the dealer three different times and says parts aren't available
Takata recall received a recall notice in july 2016. Received no contact from the manufacturer about scheduling repairs. Contacted the manufacturer in march 2017. I was told that they had no immediate plans to replace the airbags due to lack of replacement parts. My vehicle is seven years old, and based on the information published regarding degradation of the original airbags, I understand that my vehicle is in greater danger of having defective and possibly dangerous airbags. As a result, I requested a replacement or loaner vehicle until repairs could be made to my vehicle and was told I would be contacted by a local dealer representative to arrange one, but was never contacted thereafter. Manufacturer case number is 1701061699.
I was driving on interstate just outside beaumont, texas on thursday, november 2 when I heard a loud noise similar to a gunshot or an explosion. Immediately after I heard the noise, I noticed my sunroof cover shaking and wind coming through the top of my car. I pulled the cover back just a little and noticed shattered glass. When I pulled over at the next service station, I got out and realized my sunroof was shattered. I contacted lexus and they pretended to be surprised; however, after further research, I discovered a class action lawsuit and many other complaints regarding this same issue. I have since had the sunroof repaired, but not by lexus. The dealership offered to repair it to the tune of $2,000. The sunroof repair company where I took my car repaired it for a fraction of that. This morning I received a phone call from lexus corporate office stating that the damaged sunroof was due to "impact," which is not true. Of course, lexus is not taking any responsibility for my vehicle. I suspect they will continue to keep their defective vehicles on the road until an adequate number of people have died from the defects. The general manager of lexus of clear lake reached out to me on this past saturday and asked that I email her, which I did. However, I never heard anything back from her.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 lexus es350. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Jm family enterprises (lexus) of coconut creek, florida was made aware of the recall and stated that the parts were unavailable and that the contact could lease a vehicle as an alternative option. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Part distribution disconnect. *bf consumer stated it is not safe for a passenger to sit in the front seat, making the car, essentially, useless for us. Front passenger seat unusable. Updated 7/27/18
Compare the 2011 Lexus ES350
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2011 Lexus ES350
Is the 2011 Lexus ES350 reliable?
Owners have filed 153 complaints about the 2011 Lexus ES350, 7.0 times a typical ES350 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2011 Lexus ES350 year score?
The 2011 Lexus ES350 scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Lexus ES350: 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 2011 Lexus ES350?
Airbags, with 145 complaints, typically around 47,000 miles. Next is electrical (3).
How many recalls does the 2011 Lexus ES350 have?
3 recalls, covering air bags.
What gas mileage does the 2011 Lexus ES350 get?
Official estimates for the 2011 Lexus ES350 range from 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.5L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 19 city and 27 highway.
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