KnownCarProblems2007 Lexus ES350 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 539 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007 Lexus ES350, most often about the air bags (47% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is the most complained-about ES350 model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2007 Lexus ES350 problems
Air bags
253 complaints · 47%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, on-off switch assembly, side/window.
Low oil light came on..still had 400 miles on sticker..took to Lexus dealer, advised them I noticed oil leaks on my driveway& please check any problems with why my light should be on..Lexus changed oil, filter &inspection..said all is good..3 weeks later less than 2 blocks from home..engine oil light came on, stopped…
Air bag not working on passenger side...red lights flashing on both sides..took to Lexus service for repair....told they replaced the sensor and that is not correcting the malfunction .....I was told I would have to replace the passenger seat and it would cost around $8,000.......that is prohibitive as the blue book…
Speed control
127 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 17,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
The vehicle owner claims that the vehicle suddenly accelerated and that she applied the brakes but the vehicle did not slow down. She also tried the emergency brake but that did not slow the vehicle either. She then hit another vehicle and that stopped her vehicle. The vehicle then started on fire after the collision.
While driving my 2007 Lexus 350 es on saturday, may 3, I experienced unintended acceleration. My vehicle unexpectedly accelerated and I was unable to successfully brake or shut off the car with the push button ignition. While struggling to gain control of the vehicle (and avoid hitting other vehicles), I was finally…
Body and structure
46 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
Dashboard has melted. Vehicle is out of warranty. Safety hazard is the extreme reflection from the sun. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light and makes driving difficult. I can not afford a new dashboard and Lexus is claiming that the weather is hot in florida and it can happen ...oh well
The contact owns a 2007 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the dashboard surface became sticky and a discoloration was present due to the direct sunlight. The contact also mentioned that there was a glare in the windshield from the dashboard, which distorted the vision when driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
Transmission
33 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, driveline.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Lexus ES350. While driving approximately 25 MPH on normal road conditions, the contact depressed the brake pedal and the engine began to rev, followed by unintended acceleration. The brake pedal required greater force to stop the vehicle. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the…
Vehicle: Lexus ES350 - 2007 problem: when backing up out of the driveway or onto a busy street, the car stalls when shifted into drive. The computer resets itself which could be 5 seconds and the car needs to be restarted or enough time to be crashed into. I have had three near misses as the car stalled when backed up…
Other or unspecified
24 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles.
While driving at a slow speed, my front passenger window fell out of the car when I went to raise it. The window didn't break, and I made it home and reinstalled it and held it in with tape. This happened last winter. I have done a lot of research on this, especially in the Lexus forums, and this has been happening to…
I was driving and pulled up next to another car as I pulled off the highway, when the driver motioned to me for directions I immediately tried to rolled the window down to speak to rge person. The passenger side window makes a popping sound and sounds like it jumps out of the track. This prevent opening and closing…
Visibility and wipers
21 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 62,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, defroster/defogger/hvac system.
My right headlight began to flicker and did so for several weeks, then the left one started to do the same thing. Now they both completely shut off when I'm driving. I need to turn them on and off several times before they come back on. This is not only frightening, but extremely dangerous. Makes me afraid to drive…
The contact owns a 2007 Lexus ES350. The contact stated that the front drivers side window slipped out of its tracks. As a result, the window would not move up or down. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the window and assembly were replaced. The failure also occurred on the front passenger side…
Engine
20 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 46,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Tl contact owns a 2007 Lexus ES350. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the malfunction indicator lamp light and charging system warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that there was oil leaking from the vehicle beginning december 2010. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The…
The water pump failed with less than 40000 miles and under 5 years old. It will cost $1500. The pump was $175. Do to the design of the engine and placement of the pump it will take 11 hours.
Lights
17 complaints · 3%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
My right headlight began to flicker and did so for several weeks, then the left one started to do the same thing. Now they both completely shut off when I'm driving. I need to turn them on and off several times before they come back on. This is not only frightening, but extremely dangerous. Makes me afraid to drive…
The headlights turn off randomly. Sometimes it's the left headlight and sometimes it's the right headlight and other times it's both headlights. It happens at night and during the day. No warning no indication only that the road goes black. It happens when the car is stationary and while driving it happens summertime…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2007 Lexus ES350 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began november 20, 2019. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are j0a, j0b, and j0c. Lexus' numbers for this recall are jli, jlj, and jlk.
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4runner, 2003-2006 tundra, 2003-2013 corolla, 2009-2010 corolla matrix, 2004-2005 rav4, 2002-2007 sequoia, 2011-2013 sienna, 2008-2012 scion xb, 2008-2009 lexus is-f, 2007-2012 yaris and lexus es350, 2010-2017 lexus gx460, 2002-2010 lexus sc430, 2006-2012 lexus is250 and is350 and 2010-2015 lexus is250c and is350c vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota, scion and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2017. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331, or pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), h0a (toyota zone c), glg (lexus zone a), glh (lexus zone b) and hla (lexus zone c).
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain 2012 toyota 4runner, corolla, corolla matrix, sienna, yaris, scion xb, lexus es350, gx460, is-f, is250, is350, is250c, is350c, and lexus lfa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain 2009 toyota corolla, corolla matrix, yaris, yaris hb, scion xb, pontiac vibe, lexus, es350, is250, is350, and is-f vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsy
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the toyota and lexus owners. General motors will contact the pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on december 6, 2016. Owners may contact toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are g1p (toyota zone a), g1r (toyota zone b), g2g (lexus zone a), and g2h (lexus zone b). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are g0p (toyota zone a), g0r (toyota zone b), glg (lexus zone a), and glh (le
Full defect summary
Toyota motor engineering & manufacturing (toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 scion xb and lexus is f, 2009-2011 toyota corolla and corolla matrix, 2006-2011 toyota yaris, lexus is250 and lexus is350, 2010-2011 toyota 4runner, lexus is250c, lexus is350c and lexus gx460, 2011 sienna, 2007-2011 lexus es350, and 2009-2010 pontiac vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 scion xb and lexus is f, 2007-2008 toyota yaris, 2006-2008 lexus is250 and lexus is350 and 2007-2008 lexus es350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, distric
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota filed an amended defect report on november 25, 2009, stating that dealers will modify the accelerator pedal and, on certain vehicles, alter the shape of the floor surface under the pedal. These changes address the risk of pedal entrapment due to interference with the floor mat. Redesigned accelerator pedals will become available beginning in april 2010 and dealers will replace any modified pedal with the new pedal if desired. Also, dealers will replace any genuine toyota or lexus all-weather floor mats with redesigned all-weather mats, or repurchase the previous mats from owners who do
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2004-2010 passenger vehicles. The accelerator pedal can get stuck in the wide open position due to its being trapped by an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Unwanted and unintended acceleration
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened dp09-001 on april 8, 2009, to evaluate a defect petition requesting additional investigation of potential throttle control system defects unrelated to floor mat interference with accelerator pedals in model year (my) 2007 lexus es 350 vehicles.the petitioner referenced an earlier odi investigation concerning floor mat interference with accelerator pedal return (pe07-016/ea07-010), which he stated was too narrow in scope as it did not include all incidents of unwanted acceleration and consider all potential causes of vehicle speed control concerns.the petition also requested an investigation of my 2002-2003 lexus es300 for those 'longer duratio
Unwanted acceleration, floor mat
Summary
The driver side floor mat will not interfere with the throttle pedal if properly secured using the retaining hooks provided by toyota.however, if the all weather mat is unsecured and moves forward from its intended position it can entrap the throttle pedal at the fully open position after it has been depressed.this can happen regardless of whether or not another mat (carpet) is underneath.when this occurs, some operators react by applying the brake pedal multiple times, depleting the braking system's (vacuum based) power assist.stopping the vehicle with unassisted braking while the throttle is fully open requires significant pedal force, which some operators did not, or were unable to, apply
Accessory floor mat
Summary
Complainants interviewed by odi stated that they applied the throttle pedal to accelerate the vehicle then experienced unwanted acceleration after release.subsequent (and sometimes repeated) applications of the brake pedal reduced acceleration but did not stop the vehicle.in some incidents drivers traveled significant distances (miles) at high vehicle speeds (greater than 90 MPH) before the vehicle stopped (odi notes that multiple brake applications with the throttle in an open position can deplete the brake system's power (vacuum) assist reserve resulting in diminished braking).the subject vehicles have an engine control button instead of a traditional ignition key. Some drivers reported th
Questions about the 2007 Lexus ES350
- What are the most common problems with the 2007 Lexus ES350?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (253 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); speed control (127 complaints, typically around 17,000 miles); body and structure (46 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2007 Lexus ES350 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2007 a bad year for the Lexus ES350?
- It is the most complained-about ES350 model year since 2000, with 539 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.