Lexus ES
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
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Every Lexus ES model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per year| Year | Powertrains | Safety | Recalls | Complaints | Crash | Best efficiency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Electric Hybrid | A | 0 | 1 | — | 307 mi | |
| 2025 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 5 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2024 | Hybrid Gas | A | 2 | 9 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2023 | Hybrid Gas | A | 2 | 12 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2022 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 16 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2021 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 35 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2020 | Hybrid Gas | C | 3 | 24 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2019 | Hybrid Gas | C | 4 | 40 | ★★★★★ | 44 mpg | |
| 2018 | Hybrid Gas | B | 2 | 15 | ★★★★★ | 40 mpg | |
| 2017 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 26 | ★★★★★ | 40 mpg | |
| 2016 | Hybrid Gas | A | 1 | 37 | ★★★★★ | 40 mpg |
Which model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2016 is the cleanest ES year we hold, and the 2023 the one to check hardest.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2026: added electric; dropped gas; best combined mpg 44 → 46; 4 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2021: 3 → 4 EPA configurations
- 2019: best combined mpg 40 → 44; 2 → 3 EPA configurations
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 ES vs Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan | ES +8.5 | |
| 2026 ES vs Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan | ES +5.9 | |
| 2026 ES vs Hyundai Elantra · Midsize Sedan | ES +7 | |
| 2026 ES vs Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan | ES +10.5 | |
| 2026 ES vs Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan | ES +3.5 |
Common questions about the Lexus ES
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Lexus ES year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2016 ES comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (92/100), 1 recall and 37 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Lexus ES years should I avoid?
No ES model year carries a D or F Safety Signal or a standing advisory. The ranking page orders every year on recalls and complaints per year on the road, and says why.
How many recalls does the Lexus ES have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 18 recall campaigns for the Lexus ES. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.