2012 Lexus ES Problems, Recalls & Reliability
130 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Lexus ES, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 42,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2012 Lexus ES has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2012 sits among all ES years
What owners report
“Takata recall - i was notified in january 2017 for the recall and it is now october 17, 2017 and no repair has been made.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 ES
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 35 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,163 miles. Half of those reports fall between 15,200 and 74,900 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 2012 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
226 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2012 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 2012 Lexus ES reliable?
The 2012 Lexus ES drew 130 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 2012 Lexus ES problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Lexus ES are airbags (98 complaints), electrical (7), and body & structure (6).
At what mileage do 2012 Lexus ES problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Lexus ES problems around 51,163 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 15,200 and 74,900 miles.
Does the 2012 Lexus ES have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2012 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.