Vehicle report

2018 Lexus ES

Free recalls, owner complaints, and NHTSA safety ratings for the 2018 Lexus ES, plus how to check this specific vehicle before you buy.

The 2018 Lexus ES has no open NHTSA recalls on record and 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. NHTSA has not published an overall crash-test rating for this model year. Below is the full breakdown, plus how to check this specific vehicle by VIN before you buy in Alberta.

Open recalls

Complaints

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Overall safety

Get the full vehicle history report

2018 Lexus ES recalls (0)

No open NHTSA recalls were found for the 2018 Lexus ES. Verify by VIN for the specific vehicle, as recalls can be issued at any time.

2018 Lexus ES owner complaints (5)

POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2018 Lexus ES 350. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The driver was able to drive to the residence. Upon test-driving the vehicle, the contact noticed that the vehicle was hesitating and jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound while driving the following day, and the vehicle later became undrivable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 200.
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
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. Moments after the crash, a “SRS Airbag System Malfunction” message appeared on my dashboard. That message is now gone, but airbag and seatbelt lights remain active. I suffered knee injuries from contact with the dashboard, and my child sustained a busted lip and head pain. I’m concerned that a malfunction in the airbag or supplemental restraint system contributed to these injuries. I have video evidence of the incident and in-cabin alerts. I was later advised by Toyota not to drive the vehicle until an inspection is completed, which raises additional concerns about the vehicle’s safety system. I’m reporting this because I believe this malfunction may pose a risk to others, and it should be investigated as a potential defect.
TIRES
27 r
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
This has occurred since I purchased the vehicle new. Might happen a couple of times per month. If I slightly back off from acceleration just for a split second and then decide that I can proceed, when I go back to accelerating, the engine will have no power for 2-3 seconds and then will finally return to normal function. At the same time for seconds only, a message will appear on the dash stating that the brake and accelerator have been depressed at the same time. This all happens in a matter of seconds. And the brake has never been touched! Dealer repeating tells me that can NOT happen unless i hit the brakes, and that I must get confused with the pedals...REALLY !!! Well it has happened maybe 25-30 times At the same time I have near heart failure wondering if the merging or head on traffic is going to smash into me because my acceleration has failed !!! THIS SURE SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE EXITING FUEL PUMP RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE MODEL, HOWEVER MY VIN # IS NOT LISTED. If it isn't that, then I guess it would be electronically related. This a serious danger that one doesn't know when it is going to strike next and the dealer understandably can't REPLICATE the acceleration failure. Me and my family needs some safety protection !!! HELP
STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The Heat Shield on Exhaust becomes loose, rattles and comes off while driving. Danger to to other drives behind me. See the number of complaints over here - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-3rd-gen-2010-2015/863952-exhaust-heat-shield-loose-and-rattling.html

Checking a used Lexus ES before you buy

The recall, complaint, and safety data above describes the 2018 ES in general. To know the condition and history of the specific vehicle you're looking at, check it by VIN. A VIN check shows whether this particular ES's recalls are still outstanding, and a full history report adds accident, title, and ownership records the data above can't show.

Before you buy a 2018 Lexus ES in Alberta:

Run a free VIN check on the exact vehicle for its own recalls and safety data.
Run an Alberta Personal Property Registry lien search so you don't inherit debt.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
If it's a dealer, confirm their AMVIC licence.

See other model years of the Lexus ES, or browse more Lexus models.

2018 Lexus ES — questions and answers

Does the 2018 Lexus ES have any recalls?+

Our check found no open NHTSA recalls for the 2018 Lexus ES. Recalls can be issued at any time, so still verify by VIN for the specific vehicle you're considering — a VIN check reflects whether any recall work has already been completed.

How many complaints does the 2018 Lexus ES have?+

NHTSA lists 5 owner complaints for the 2018 Lexus ES in our results. Complaints are problems reported by owners and don't always lead to a recall, but a pattern of similar complaints is worth weighing before you buy.

Is the 2018 Lexus ES safe?+

NHTSA has not published an overall crash-test rating for the 2018 Lexus ES. Review the owner complaints above and get an independent inspection to assess the specific vehicle's condition.

How do I check a 2018 Lexus ES VIN?+

Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN into our free VIN check to see recalls, complaints, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle, then run an Alberta Personal Property Registry (PPR) lien search before you pay.

Are recall repairs on a Lexus free?+

Yes. Safety recall repairs are performed at no cost by a franchised Lexus dealer, even for a used vehicle and even if you're not the original owner. Confirm the required parts are in stock before relying on the fix.