Is the 2011 Lexus ES 350 a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other ES 350 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2011 Lexus ES 350 are in line with other ES 350 years. Air bags stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2011 ES 350 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 45,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 145 (95%) | 29k–68k miles · around this mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 45,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 153 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 6 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2020.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2011 Lexus ES 350: 3
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. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags)… An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Lexus: 103
Repair instructions Lexus sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2011 Lexus ES 350. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
Prior to installing remanufactured U660 and U760 transaxles, it is necessary to remove the lower oil cooler tube union from the original transaxle case…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2010 ES 350: 137 complaints, keep it · 2012 ES 350: 89 complaints, keep it.
Every Lexus ES 350 year
2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All ES 350 years side by side
Other Lexus models: Lexus ES · Lexus ES 300 · Lexus ES 330 · Lexus GS 300 · Lexus GS 350 · Lexus GX · Lexus GX 470 · Lexus IS · Lexus IS 250 · Lexus IS 350 · Lexus LS · Lexus LS 430 · Lexus LS 460 · Lexus NX · Lexus RX · Lexus RX 300 · Lexus RX 330 · Lexus RX 350 · Lexus RX Hybrid. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2011 Lexus ES 350 a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other ES 350 years. At 45,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Lexus ES 350?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (145).
How many recalls does the 2011 Lexus ES 350 have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-005), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-340). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.