NHTSA vehicle safety data

2009 Lexus ES Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2009 Lexus ES right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 28 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2009 Lexus ES.

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2009 Lexus ES owner complaints

Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Lexus ES, describing incidents dated November 7, 2011 to October 27, 2025.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 14 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Structure 2 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Engine 1 complaint

Of the 28 complaints on file, 4 report a crash; across all 28 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11696331 · Filed October 29, 2025
Experienced unintended acceleration when pulling into a parking space. My vehicle went over the curb and into a ditch. The bushes and embankment of the ditch stopped the vehicle. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of a problem.
ODI #11695936 · Filed October 27, 2025
On Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 at approximately 11:50 am, my vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. I was pulling into a parking spot and suddenly accelerated and jump the barrier into a ditch. Luckly there were bushes to stop me. I was standing on the brake. There were no prior indications there…
ODI #11633738 · Filed January 2, 2025
The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal…

Read all 28 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2009 Lexus ES right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2009 Lexus ES. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

28 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2009 Lexus ES.

Electrical System

ODI #11696331

Crash

Incident: October 27, 2025 · Filed: October 29, 2025

Experienced unintended acceleration when pulling into a parking space. My vehicle went over the curb and into a ditch. The bushes and embankment of the ditch stopped the vehicle. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of a problem.

Electrical System

ODI #11695936

Crash

Incident: October 27, 2025 · Filed: October 27, 2025

On Monday, Oct. 27, 2025 at approximately 11:50 am, my vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. I was pulling into a parking spot and suddenly accelerated and jump the barrier into a ditch. Luckly there were bushes to stop me. I was standing on the brake. There were no prior indications there was an issue.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #11633738

Incident: January 1, 2014 · Filed: January 2, 2025

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently accelerated upon releasing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that recently upon entering the garage, the vehicle suddenly accelerated after releasing the brake pedal, almost causing the vehicle to crash into the residence. The struck other materials inside the garage, causing front-end damages to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the vehicle had already been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V388000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

Structure

ODI #11595070

Incident: January 1, 2024 · Filed: June 18, 2024

The contact owns a 2009 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the dashboard had become sticky and had started to melt. Over time, the contact stated that glare had started to reflect from the windshield onto the dashboard, obstructing visibility while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was acknowledged that the defect was a known failure. The contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and informed the contact that the Extended Warranty coverage had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11529640

Incident: June 21, 2023 · Filed: June 29, 2023

Dashboard is sticky, shiny, and melting from the heat. All lint, dust and cloth sticks to the sticky dashboard. Shiny dashboards can pose safety hazards that affect visibility with a glare bouncing off the windshield, and overall health issues since melted dashboards can emit harmful odors. Lexus is saying their Customer Support Program ZLZ expired in 2021. I never received any mail from them about this program even though they claim they mailed it to me in 2018. I have been having my vehicle serviced at Longo Lexus since 2009, with the last maintenance service done on 6/21/23, and the dealership just noted this problem sticky dashboard issue to me, after the Lexus customer support program expired. The server advisor at Longo told me they could replace my dashboard for $2,572, but don't understand why they didn't offer to replace it for free in 2018-2021, like they did my floor mats, which was also a safety hazard. This sticky and melting dashboard problem is a manufacturer defect and my dashboard needs to be replaced by Lexus at no cost to me regardless if my vehicle is out of warranty. Also, the expiration date for this Customer Support Program needs to be extended for all owners of Lexus vehicles with this problem, regardless of mileage.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11527438

Incident: June 16, 2023 · Filed: June 16, 2023

Dashboard is melting from heat and needs to be replaced. Company refuses to replace saying recalls expired 2021. Never received any mail from them even though they said they mailed it to me. Be going to Price LeBlanc for service since 2013 never mentioned anything about it. Thanks

Steering

ODI #11514877

Incident: March 8, 2023 · Filed: March 31, 2023

I was driving home from work & just before 5pm I hit a section of the side of the road that has deteriorated on SR 68 between Tecumseh high school & Lynnville, IN. It blew out the inner wall of my tire & I had to get it replaced. I have seen this happen to other drivers on this road as well. The road needs to be repaired before someone gets seriously injured. This incident caused me to replace all 4 of my tires prematurely. Please repair the road - there are at least 2 areas that need to be repaired

Structure

ODI #11419061

Incident: May 30, 2020 · Filed: May 30, 2021

DASHBOARD ON 2009 LEXUS ES 350 HAS BEGUN TO MELT AND ON SUNNY DAYS THE REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD POSES A SAFETY HAZARD AND REDUCES VISIBILITY. IN ADDITION THE MELTING PLASTIC IS VERY STICKY AND COULD BE HAZARDOUS FOR DRIVER NOT TO MENTION THE POISON EXPOSURE TO ITS VAPORS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 2007 AND 2008 MODELS. THE 2009 IS IDENTICAL IN DESIGN AND LEXUS SHOULD FIX THIS. I CONTACTED THEM AND THEY OFFERED TO PAY A SMALL PORTION OF THE $1700 REPAIR COSTS.

Engine

ODI #11362118

Incident: September 19, 2020 · Filed: September 30, 2020

BROKEN ENGINE VALVE SPRING. ONLY ONE SO FAR THAT CAUSE THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET.

Vehicle Speed Control; Service Brakes

ODI #11288540

Incident: December 11, 2019 · Filed: December 11, 2019

VEHICLE SEEMS TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHILE PRESSING BRAKE, EVEN MOVING FORWARD AFTER COMING TO COMPLETE STOP

Other Lexus ES model years

Check your 2009 Lexus ES VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus ES at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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