2011 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
221 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Lexus ES, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 28/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 48,500 miles.
Typical
Where 2011 sits among all ES years
What owners report
“Takata recall i called lexus company hotline 2nd time, and they said they can't fix my car since there is no remedy. What are my options? Thanks sachin”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 ES
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 52 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 48,500 miles. Half of those reports fall between 29,300 and 83,000 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 2011 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
217 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2011 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 2011 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2011 Lexus ES drew 221 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 2011 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2011 Lexus ES are airbags (173 complaints), electrical (9), and other (7).
At what mileage do 2011 Lexus ES problems show up?
Owners most often report 2011 Lexus ES problems around 48,500 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 29,300 and 83,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Lexus ES have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2011 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.