2010 Lexus ES 350 Reliability
The 2010 Lexus ES 350 has 178 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and unknown or other. Compared with other ES 350 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the ES 350's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
178
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
12
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Lexus ES 350 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2009 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 128 | 72% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 7% |
| Body structure | 13 | 7% |
| Visibility / wipers | 8 | 4% |
| Speed control / throttle | 7 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 3% |
| Equipment | 3 | 2% |
2010 Lexus ES 350 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09V388000 | Oct 5, 2009 | Speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal | 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. |
| 16V340000 | May 23, 2016 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
| 18V024000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2013 Scion xB, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sienna, 4Runner, Lexus IS250, IS350, IS250C, IS350C, IS-F, and GX460 vehicles sold, ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA,… |
| 19V005000 | Jan 9, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Toyota 4Runner, 2014-2015 Scion xB, Lexus IS350C, IS250C, 2014 Toyota Sienna, Lexus IS-F, and 2014-2017 Lexus GX460 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama,… |
| 19V741000 | Oct 17, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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… |
How the 2010 compares with nearby ES 350 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year ES 350 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 323 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2009 | 173 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2010 (this page) | 178 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2011 | 197 | 3 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2012 | 116 | 3 | Air bags | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Lexus ES 350
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Visibility: test the wipers at every speed, washers, defrosters and the climate system (fogging is a common complaint).
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Lexus ES 350 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Lexus ES 350 reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Lexus ES 350 reliable?
The 2010 Lexus ES 350 has 178 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about air bags and unknown or other. Compared with other ES 350 model years, it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the ES 350's typical year.
What are the most common 2010 Lexus ES 350 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Lexus ES 350 are air bags (128), unknown or other (13), body structure (13), visibility / wipers (8). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Lexus ES 350 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2010 Lexus ES 350, including 09V388000 (speed control / throttle — accelerator pedal) and 16V340000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Lexus ES 350 compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 173 complaints and 5 recalls (avoid); the 2011 has 197 complaints and 3 recalls (avoid). The 2010 has 178 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Lexus ES 350?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Lexus ES 350 research
Other Lexus ES 350 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 ES 350, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.