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Lexus ES VIN Number Check

Decode a Lexus ES VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See its generation and the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefixJTHJT858A

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Lexus ES

About the Lexus ES

Lexus has sold the ES in the US since the 1990 model year, and there have been eight generations. The V20 came first (1990–1991); XV10 (1992–1996), XV20 (1997–2001), XV30 (2002–2006), XV40 (2007–2012), XV60 (2013–2018), XZ10 (2019–2025) followed, and the XZ20 took over for 2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 24 vehicle recall campaigns and 3,254 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the XV40. Its 2007 and 2008 model years alone account for 987 of them, with owners bringing up air bags most often and speed control / acceleration after that. EPA rates the V20 at 19 mpg combined, while the XZ20, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 44–46 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2026
GenerationsV20 · XV10 · XV20 · XV30 · XV40 · XV60 · XZ10 · XZ20
NHTSA recall campaigns24
Owner complaints3,254 at NHTSA
Lexus ES photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Lexus ES generations

Eight generations since the 1990 model year. The XV40 (2007–2012) has the most owner complaints, the XZ10 (2019–2025) the most recall campaigns (8).

8 / 8
2026· Generation 8 of 8

XZ20 · 8th generation

PlatformTNGA: GA-K
EPA combined mpg44–46
NHTSA recalls0

Engines (EPA)

  • 2.5 L 4-cyl (hybrid) · 2026
  • Electric · 2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, FWD
  • CVT (2026), automatic (2026)

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which ES model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 24 campaigns on file for ES model years 1990–2026, and the 2010 shows up in more of them than any other year (6), ahead of the 2009 (5). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2026
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Lexus ES owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2007 and 2008 hold 987 of the 3,254 complaints, or 30%. Tap any bar or generation.

3,254NHTSA complaints, 1990–2026
511mention a crash
56mention a fire
359injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearXZ20: 0 complaints

Top complaint areas · XZ20

Owner complaints on file for these model years: 0. That is too few to show patterns.

What ES owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2013–2018 (6th generation)

Owner data is thin, with about 50 NHTSA complaints for 2013 and fewer for later years. CarComplaints owners of the 2013 mention water leaking into the cabin and a sunroof that shattered, and NHTSA owners raise scattered brake and hesitation concerns without one dominant pattern. A recall covers the optional pre-collision system on some 2013–2015 models, which may brake unexpectedly when the radar reads a steel plate in the road as an obstacle. [1] [2]

2007–2012 (5th generation)

Dashboards and air bags drive most complaints. CarComplaints owners of the 2009 and 2010 report a sticky, shiny or melting dashboard, and NHTSA owners of the 2007 describe the same problem along with unintended acceleration tied to floor mats. On the 2010, most NHTSA complaints concern Takata air bag recalls and waits for parts. Recalls cover passenger front air bag inflators on 2007–2011 models that may rupture and accelerator pedals on 2007–2010 models that a floor mat can trap. [3] [4] [5]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup and confirm the Takata passenger air bag inflator was replaced on 2007 to 2011 models, since some earlier replacements were recalled again.
  • Make sure the driver floor mat is the correct type and secured.
  • Check the dashboard for stickiness or glare and look for water stains around the sunroof.
Sources (5) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2013 Lexus ES 350
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2013 Lexus ES 350 problems
  3. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2007 Lexus ES 350
  4. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2010 Lexus ES 350
  5. CarComplaints.com, 2009 Lexus ES 350 problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

ES complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Hybrid and electric ES versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

3,254complaints, 1990–2026
511mention a crash
56mention a fire
359injuries reported
11complaints report a death
Most complaints: 2007 (664), 2008 (323), 2005 (200)
’90’95’00200’05664’07323’08’10’15’20’25

2007 · 664 complaints

Crashes 69 · fires 7 · injuries 57 · complaints reporting a death 2

Air bags287
Vehicle speed control130
Structure77
Unknown or other55
Power train37

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

ES CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 71 ES versions for model years 1990–2026 (gas, hybrid and electric). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 191 g/mi, for the 2026 hybrid. Electric versions have none at the tailpipe. Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

V201990–1991

19 mpg · CO₂ 468 g/mi

XV101992–1996

18–21 mpg · CO₂ 423–494 g/mi

XV201997–2001

19–20 mpg · CO₂ 444–468 g/mi

XV302002–2006

21 mpg · CO₂ 423 g/mi

XV402007–2012

22 mpg · CO₂ 404 g/mi

XV602013–2018

24–40 mpg · CO₂ 223–366 g/mi

XZ102019–2025

25–44 mpg · CO₂ 200–352 g/mi

XZ202026

44–46 mpg · 112–127 MPGe electric · CO₂ 0–200 g/mi

2025
28combined MPG
320CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,400EPA yearly fuel cost
5/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
6/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV50 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 50Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2025: 250 AWD · Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.5 L — 28 MPG · 320 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
0150300450600199019952000200520102015202020251990 · Gas: 4681991 · Gas: 4681992 · Gas: 4681993 · Gas: 4941994 · Gas: 4941995 · Gas: 4231996 · Gas: 4231997 · Gas: 4681998 · Gas: 4441999 · Gas: 4682000 · Gas: 4442001 · Gas: 4442002 · Gas: 4232003 · Gas: 4232004 · Gas: 4232005 · Gas: 4232006 · Gas: 4232007 · Gas: 4042008 · Gas: 4042009 · Gas: 4042010 · Gas: 4042011 · Gas: 4042012 · Gas: 4042013 · Gas: 3652014 · Gas: 3652015 · Gas: 3642016 · Gas: 3632017 · Gas: 3652018 · Gas: 3662019 · Gas: 3432020 · Gas: 3462021 · Gas: 3152022 · Gas: 3152023 · Gas: 3152024 · Gas: 3152025 · Gas: 3202013 · Hybrid: 2242014 · Hybrid: 2232015 · Hybrid: 2232016 · Hybrid: 2232017 · Hybrid: 2232018 · Hybrid: 2232019 · Hybrid: 2012020 · Hybrid: 2012021 · Hybrid: 2022022 · Hybrid: 2012023 · Hybrid: 2012024 · Hybrid: 2022025 · Hybrid: 2002026 · Hybrid: 1912026 · Electric: 0
GasHybridElectric

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

ES vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class vs BMW 5 Series

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2013–2018. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the ES, against 46 for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and 18 for the BMW 5 Series. Pick a range to compare.

Lexus ESXZ20

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
0
NHTSA owner complaints
0
EPA combined mpg
44–46
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.5 L · Electric
Also listed
hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, FWD

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
1
NHTSA owner complaints
6
EPA combined mpg
22–28
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo, mild hybrid, supercharged, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 3
  2. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 2
  3. Air bags 2

BMW 5 Series

Model years 2026

NHTSA recall campaigns
1
NHTSA owner complaints
1
EPA combined mpg
25–31
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0 L
Also listed
turbo, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA)
AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Electrical system 1
  2. Engine and cooling 1
  3. Fuel system 1

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Lexus ES VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an ES

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver Lexus ES (seventh generation) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The ES sedan carries its VIN at the base of the driver's side windshield, on the door jamb sticker, and inside the trunk lid near the latch. The XZ20 generation starts with the 2026 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (T for 2026) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Lexus ES VIN questions

Which Lexus ES model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2007 leads with 664, ahead of the 2008 (323) and 2005 (200). Those first two alone make up 30% of the 3,254 ES complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Lexus ES had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 24 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, XZ10 leads with 8. Then come the XV40 (6), XV60 (5), XV30 (4), XV10 (2), XV20 (2), V20 (0) and XZ20 (0), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Lexus ES recalls are high risk?

16V-340 and 17V-006 cover air bag inflators that can rupture. 19V-741, 18V-024 and 19V-005 cover air bag inflator modules and how they deploy. NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 20V-064. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which ES generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the V20 is 1990–1991 and the XV10 1992–1996. XV20 spans 1997–2001, XV30 2002–2006, XV40 2007–2012, XV60 2013–2018, XZ10 2019–2025 and XZ20 2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (T is 2026).

What fuel economy does the Lexus ES get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2026 XZ20 at 44–46 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 19 mpg for the 1990–1991 V20 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Lexus ES compare with the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series on recalls?

For 2026 models the ES has 0 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Mercedes-Benz E-Class has 1, the BMW 5 Series 1. Complaints run 0, 6 and 1 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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