2014 Lexus Es350: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2014 Lexus Es350
On the 2014 Lexus Es350, the failure owners report most often is complete transmission failure, with 3 reports on file. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 5,000 miles. Overall it scores 78 out of 100, severe risk for a 2014.
Severe risk for a 2014 — 31st riskiest of the 270 2014 vehicles we can rate. 26 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2014 Lexus Es350
Owners have reported 12 named failure modes on the 2014 Lexus Es350, and the three most-reported carry 35% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Complete transmission failure leads with 3 reports and about 1.2 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other engine problem follows with 3 reports, median 10,000 miles.
Other fuel system problem follows with 3 reports, median 1,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (3), engine (3) and fuel (3).
The mileage the reports cluster at
18 of the reports on the 2014 Lexus Es350 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 5,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 94% by 50,000 miles and 94% by 100,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 0 and 10,000 miles, which alone holds 56% of the dated reports.
72% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, which is early enough that a fair number of these cars were still under a factory warranty when the owner complained.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 10 mention a crash. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 5.88, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: complete transmission failure at $2,800–$8,000, other engine problem at $300–$4,000, other fuel system problem at $300–$2,200 and other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
23% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 1.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 3 | 3 | — | 11k | — | 1.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 3 | 3 | — | 1k | — | 1.2 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 3 | 3 | — | 1k | — | 1.2 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 175 | — | 0.8 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 24k | — | 0.8 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.8 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.4 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 1 | 1 | — | 21k | — | 0.4 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 1 | — | 4k | — | 0.4 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 175 | — | 0.4 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 1 | 1 | — | 175 | — | 0.4 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Unclassified problem | other | 3 | 2 | — | 73k | — | 1.2 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2014 Lexus Es350 draws about 10 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 90th percentile of complaint rates among 2014 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 2,567 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2014 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2014 lexus es350. While making a u turn at approximately 5 MPH, the rpms increased, the steering wheel seized, and the brake pedal failed to slow the vehicle down without warning. The contact crashed the vehicle into a fence and a tree. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,500. Updated 03/30/15*lj updated 9/22/2017*cn
I experienced a low speed sudden unintended acceleration of my 2014 lexus es350 for the first time on december 22, 2015. I was turning into a parking place where I live as I have done hundreds of times. As I was taking my foot off the acceleration pedal to starting hitting the brake pedal, the car suddenly accelerated. I heard the engine revving and I was taken totally by surprise. My reaction was to turn to the left to avoid hitting the wall in front of me while hitting the brake without any response from the car. I hit the wall with the right front side of the car and kept going for a little while until I somehow shifted gears. The car stopped and I put it on reverse. I again experienced the same situation on march 21, 2016 while parking the car at a different place. Fortunately, nothing obstructed the car so I was able to stop it before hitting anything - the override toyota designed after all the earlier sudden unintended acceleration accidents worked this time. But this second incident confirmed to me that the first one will no longer be an isolated incident hence I'm filing this safety complaint so other lexus owners learn…
Other fuel system problem
I purchased my 2015 lexus es350 on tuesday, november 25th, 2014. On november 27th, I was turning right into a parking space and the vehicle accelerated aggressively on its own causing the car to run over the concrete parking spot stopper and propel 200-300 feet until I hit a palm tree, stopping the car from entering a nearby lake. This caused significant damage to the car. My wife and I were in complete shock as I was unable to stop / control the car - I attempted to pump the brakes multiple times (leaving tire tracks) but the car continued accelerating until we hit the tree. We filed a report w/ the florida sheriff's department. Additionally, the day before (nov 26th), I noticed the side mirrors on the car did not tilt properly when in reverse - the left mirror tilted down, the right mirror tilted up. This may be a result of the 'mirror switch block' but together with a few other mechanical issues, this leads me to believe the 2-day old car had some significant and dangerous mechanical / electronic issues. I have attached more information about the car and a picture of the parking spot where the acceleration occurred. Please…
While accelerating from a standing stop or accelerating while changing lanes, the vehicle would hesitate before the engine engaged. What was more frightening was when the vehicle was operating on the road and there was a need to change lanes, you pressed on the gas then the vehicle would type to enter text hesitate from 1 to 3 seconds. You literally found yourself in no mans land, as the vehicle failed to respond and you found yourself caught straddling two lanes and the vehicle virtuallystopped accelerating. This situation starting occurring more and more when I or jane lanes,made right and left hand turns, or accelerated from a standing stop. T the vehicle hesitation, while accelerating, is frighting and dangerous. It seems to be getting worse. We made an appointment with newport lexus to have the vehicle's stalling corrected and serviced. On october 21, 2015 we took the vehicle to newport lexus and explained the problem to the service attendant. The vehicle was examined and then road tested by chris peret, newport lexus chief mechanic. After the road test, the vehicle did hesitate at times when he accelerated the vehicle. The…
Recalls on the 2014 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2014 Lexus Es350, affecting an estimated 2,567 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover forward collision avoidance: crash imminent braking. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: CRASH IMMINENT BRAKING
30,812 vehicles 2015-11-03- Defect
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h vehicles manufactured June 18, 2012 to July 6, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a Pre-Collision System (PCS) as optional equipment. In these vehicles, the PCS may unexpectedly activate and apply the brakes when the radar detects a steel joint or plate in the roadway as an object.
- Consequence
- A vehicle that unexpectedly brakes increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this campaign are F1V and F2E.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2014 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2014 sits in the model line
Severe risk for a 2014 — 31st riskiest of the 270 2014 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 11 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 70 and 2017 worst at 80, with 2014 itself at 78.
If the model year is negotiable, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2007, 2009 and 2010 score lower than 2014 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2013–2019 generation specifically, 2015 is the strongest year at 71 and 2017 the weakest at 80.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2013-2019 generation, 2015 Lexus Es350 scores best at 71 and 2017 Lexus Es350 worst at 80.
The limits of complaint data
26 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 26 reports, 18 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 69% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2014 Lexus Es350?
The most-reported failures are complete transmission failure (3 reports), other engine problem (3 reports, median 10,000 miles) and other fuel system problem (3 reports, median 1,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
Is the 2014 Lexus Es350 reliable?
It scores 78 out of 100 on our risk index, which is severe — 31st riskiest of the 270 2014 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2014 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Lexus Es350 is best?
Within the 2013–2019 generation, 2015 scores best at 71 out of 100 and 2017 worst at 80. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed