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2022 Lexus ES

Hybrid Gas

Midsize Cars
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 1

Complaints1 crash reported 16

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 44 mpg

Starting MSRP12 trims · manufacturer $42,100

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2022 Lexus ES is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize sedan with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the ES 300h, is EPA-rated at 44 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 16 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall. Manufacturer pricing runs from $42,100 to $52,480 across 12 trims.

Lexus ES — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Lexus ES · Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Trims & pricing

Source: manufacturer press kitWhich trim should I buy? → Compare a trim →

Trim	Powertrain	Drive	MSRP	HP	Torque	MPG comb	Seats	Cargo (2nd row)	Wheels
ES 250 AWD	Gas	AWD	$42,100	203 hp	184 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	17 in
ES 250 AWD F SPORT	Gas	AWD	$46,750	203 hp	184 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	19 in
ES 250 AWD Luxury	Gas	AWD	$47,500	203 hp	184 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in
ES 250 AWD Ultra Luxury	Gas	AWD	$51,280	203 hp	184 lb-ft	28 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in
ES 350	Gas	FWD	$42,100	302 hp	267 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	17 in
ES 350 F SPORT	Gas	FWD	$46,750	302 hp	267 lb-ft	25 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	19 in
ES 350 Luxury	Gas	FWD	$47,500	302 hp	267 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in
ES 350 Ultra Luxury	Gas	FWD	$51,100	302 hp	267 lb-ft	26 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in
ES 300h	Hybrid	FWD	$43,300	215 hp	163 lb-ft	44 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	17 in
ES 300h F SPORT	Hybrid	FWD	$46,850	215 hp	163 lb-ft	44 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	19 in
ES 300h Luxury	Hybrid	FWD	$48,700	215 hp	163 lb-ft	44 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in
ES 300h Ultra Luxury	Hybrid	FWD	$52,480	215 hp	163 lb-ft	44 mpg	5	13.9 cu-ft	18 in

MSRP excludes destination. Open a trim for the complete spec sheet and standard/optional equipment. Have the car in front of you? Decode its VIN to see which of these trims it is and what it was priced at.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
ES 300h	Hybrid	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl + 259V Li-Ion	43	44	44	$1,500
ES 250 AWD	Gas	AWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	34	28	$2,400
ES 350	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	22	32	26	$2,600
ES 350 F Sport	Gas	FWD	3.5L 6-cyl	22	31	25	$2,700

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44457, 44456, 44454, 44455.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
ES 300h	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
ES 250 AWD	6 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV50 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 50	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
ES 350, ES 350 F Sport	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

23TA15, 23LA03

999,901 vehicles 58% reported repaired Hybrid only

Problem Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short circuit may develop in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, preventing the front passenger air bag from deploying. Risk An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue to be mailed in phases through January 2026. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 23TB15/23TA15 Lexus 23LB03/23LA03.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V865000 reported Dec 20, 2023 Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific ES

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2022 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Lexus publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Lexus’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2022 Lexus ES, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

16complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

3.8 per 10,000 built · Lexus reported 42,455 ES built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2022: 3 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 3

Seat Belts 2

Service Brakes 2

Wheels 2

Back Over Prevention 2

Tires 2

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

While the vehicle was parked and no one was pressing the brake pedal, the ABS actuator pump continued to run and made a constant buzzing/whirring noise. This suggests that the actuator is cycling excessively to maintain brake pressure.

Service Brakes Sep 27, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11690047

The contact owns a 2022 Lexus ES300H. The contact stated that after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the contact continued driving at an undisclosed speed when another vehicle in front of him came to a sudden stop. The contact stated that his foot slipped from the accelerator pedal and his vehicle rear-ended the other vehicle.

Forward Collision Avoidance at 33,000 miles Feb 22, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11508592

I purchased this vehicle about a month ago and i have a problem and issue with the Gas Pedal It makes loud noise and snaps back when the foot is lifted off the gas pedal.

Vehicle Speed Control Oct 7, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11769496

I am reporting a potentially serious front suspension failure involving my 2022 Lexus ES 350 with approximately 65,000 miles. The vehicle was at a Lexus dealership for service when I was informed that both front strut assemblies had sheared while the vehicle was raised on the lift.

Suspension Oct 6, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11769447

Within approximately three weeks of purchasing this vehicle, the blind-spot monitoring and rear traffic sensor systems were found to be completely inoperative. All dashboard warning lights related to these systems were illuminated the night before discovery, then went dark the following morning.

Lane Departure Jun 12, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11743826

There is already a service bulletin for the vacuum pumps on these cars, but it should be made into a recall because these pumps generate the vacuum needed by the brake system.

Engine Jan 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11711049

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Lexus itself: 31 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 36 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 73 per 100,000 built. Every ES model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR AWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 205

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-22

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 201 service bulletins, 4 emissionss

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Wheels.

L-SB-0026-26 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Engine
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge at battery on high voltage (HV) Ni-MH and Li-ion batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing the battery rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger. The charging instru
L-SB-0040-20 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-09-22 · Engine
OBSOLETE NOTICE September 22, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0026-26
26LF01 Emissions
2026-09-10 · Fuel/Propulsion System
Under certain conditions, debris can accumulate inside the fuel cap causing potential fuel vapor leaks that can cause increased evaporative emissions to exceed the regulated limits. This issue will not trigger the M.I.L. (Malfunction Indicator Lamp).
L-SB-0021-25 Service bulletin
2026-03-10 · Engine
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
L-SB-0021-25 Service bulletin
2026-02-27 · Engine
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 27, 2026: This bulletin is no longer applicable and is now obsolete.
L-SB-0057-22 Rev2 Service bulletin
2026-02-02 · Electrical System
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 2, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0004-26.
L-SB-0004-26 Service bulletin
2026-01-23 · Electrical System
Some 2018 – 2025 model year Lexus vehicles equipped with the Enform™ 2.0 Navigation System, require a Special Service Tool (SST) USB flash drive to update the map, points of interest, and system software.
L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 Service bulletin
2025-12-15 · Structure — Body
Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interio

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
B15FE B15FE on Lexus →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	3 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 0.40%

failed emissions

1,242 initial inspections of 1,218 vehicles.

Measure	The 2022 ES	Every 2022 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	0.40%	1.7%	1,241
Failed the safety inspection	0.89%	1.4%	1,242
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.16%	0.18%	1,242
Miles driven a year	8,088	10,455	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	34,529	44,815	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2022 vehicle” is every 2022 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

ES by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 1 307 mi 2025 A 1 5 44 mpg 2024 A 2 9 44 mpg 2023 A 2 12 44 mpg 2022 this page A 1 16 44 mpg 2021 A 1 35 44 mpg 2020 C 3 24 44 mpg 2019 C 4 40 44 mpg 2018 B 2 15 40 mpg 2017 A 1 26 40 mpg 2016 A 1 37 40 mpg

Common questions about the 2022 ES

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

How much does the 2022 Lexus ES cost?

Manufacturer pricing runs from $42,100 for the ES 250 AWD AWD to $52,480 for the ES 300h Ultra Luxury FWD, across 12 trims. Those are MSRPs from the manufacturer's own press material; they exclude destination, options, taxes and whatever the dealer adds. Every trim and price is listed above.

Does the 2022 Lexus ES have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 1 recall campaign for the 2022 Lexus ES. The most serious on file is 23V865000, covering Air Bags. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2022 Lexus ES?

NHTSA gave the 2022 Lexus ES 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it A (92/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2022 Lexus ES?

Across the 4 EPA-rated configurations of the 2022 Lexus ES, the best EPA combined figure is 44 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2022 Lexus ES?

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2022 Lexus ES, most often about forward collision avoidance, seat belts, service brakes. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2022 Lexus ES?

The EPA smog rating for the 2022 Lexus ES runs 5 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV30, California LEV-III ULEV50, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 50, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2022 Lexus ES?

The manufacturer has filed 205 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2022 Lexus ES, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-22. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2022 Lexus ES do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2022 Lexus ES failed the emissions check on 0.40% of first inspections — lower than the 1.7% for every 2022 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 0.89% (every 2022 vehicle: 1.4%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

Which 2022 Lexus ES trim is the best value?

$10,380 separates the cheapest of the 12 trims from the most expensive, so the answer depends on which of the differences you would actually use. Every trim has its own page here with the manufacturer's full specification and equipment list, plus a short summary of exactly what it adds over the base trim — worth reading before a dealer frames the walk-up for you. The trim-by-trim ladder shows what every step up costs and what it makes standard.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	4 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	4 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	1	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	16	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	3 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	205	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	none	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	We had no VIN pattern to decode for this model year, or the manufacturer filed nothing usable.
Trims, pricing & equipment	12 trims	Manufacturer press kit	Transcribed from the manufacturer's own press material, every value carrying the document it came from.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly. Trim-level specifications and pricing are transcribed from the manufacturer's official press kit; every value carries its source in the data file.

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