46 of the 150 complaints about the Lexus ES (30.7%) concern Airbags & seat belts, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 8.1× the Airbags & seat belts share across all tracked vehicles.
46Complaints · Airbags & seat belts
30.7%Share of complaints
8.08×vs. all vehicles
4Last 12 months
10.9%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls
Analysis
4 Airbags & seat belts complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 24 in the 12 months before — down 83%.
5 of these reports (10.9%) describe a crash or fire, with 11 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 23V865000 (2023-12-20, model years 2020 and 2021).
On 7/25/25, I was rear-ended while driving my 2018 Lexus ES 300h with my child in the front seat. Despite the force of impact and resulting injuries, none of the airbags deployed.
none of the air bags deployed when my car was T-Bone at the driver door when the other car ran the red light. The other car air bags deployed and appears to be total loss My lexus EX300h has been repair but is available for inspection
Driver side airbag cover is open. Previously reported, dealer states that it was open due to dashcam wiring being placed and cover not being closed completely. Dealer closed the cover completely. Today, the cover is open again.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-01-22 · ODI 11712623
The contact owns a 2024 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while attempting to use the front driver's side seat belt, the seat belt failed to extend as needed, and the contact was unable to use the seat belt.
Airbags & seat belts · 2026-01-13 · ODI 11710622
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES-300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
Airbags & seat belts · 2025-12-17 · ODI 11705688
The contact owns a 2021 Lexus ES 300H. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V865000 (Air Bags). The contact called the dealer for over a year for parts availability updates and was informed that parts were not yet available.
Airbags & seat belts · 2025-09-30 · ODI 11690558
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Related recalls
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION Campaign 23V865000 · 2023-12-20 · Model years: 2020, 2021
Summary: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER Campaign 19V288000 · 2019-04-10 · Model years: 2019
Summary: 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.
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.
