2009 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
183 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Lexus ES, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 46,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2009 sits among all ES years
What owners report
“Takata recall i received recall notice in the past and was told i would be notified when parts were available. Now dealer tells me there is no recall. Dealer is lexus of rockville centre ny”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 ES
“When i was going to park my car in the box in front of the hotel room, i touched the accelerator slightly to advance the two meters distant to be properly parked, then the accelerator run in high speed the brakes did not respond. To reduce the impact, i turned the wheel to the right and crashed…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 ES
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 63 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 28,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 15,000 and 55,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2009 Lexus ES.
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,…
Technical service bulletins
153 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2009 Lexus ES. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2009 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2009 Lexus ES drew 183 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 28/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2009 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2009 Lexus ES are airbags (115 complaints), speed control (27), and electrical (9).
At what mileage do 2009 Lexus ES problems show up?
Owners most often report 2009 Lexus ES problems around 28,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 15,000 and 55,000 miles.
Does the 2009 Lexus ES have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2009 Lexus ES. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.