LEXUS ES HYBRID · model year

2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID

5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018LEXUSES HYBRID carries 5 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 ES HYBRID is seat belts with 1 filings, followed by engine (1) and unknown or other (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2018 ES HYBRID. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

5
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

5 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS1
ENGINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
AIR BAGS1

Recent Complaints

20200102CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 LEXUS ES300H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 50 MPH, UNABLE TO SEE VERY WELL DURING NIGHT TIME, THE CONTACT WENT OFF THE PAVEMENT AND ONTO THE GRASS. THE CONTACT WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GUARDRAIL AND REALIZED HE WAS OFF THE ROAD THEN ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE SLID ON THE GRASS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE JAMMED INWARD TO THE DASHBOARD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENCOUNTER HIS CHEST. ALL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG UNINFLATED RAPIDLY AFTER DEPLOYMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN DUE TO BEING JAMMED FROM THE ACCIDENT. THE 'INFORM DEVICE' NOTIFIED AUTHORITIES THAT THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT WIGGLED UNTIL HE WAS RELEASED. A PASSER BY STOPPED TO ASSIST AND OPENED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE EMS AND THE POLICE ARRIVED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT EXAMI

Mileage: 36,000

20181124EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN DRIVING THE LOW BEAMS ON MY LEXUS ES 300H ILLUMINATE A MAXIMUM 4 DIVIDING LINES ON A ROAD AND THAT'S EQUAL TO 120 FEET. MY AUTO HIGH BEAMS COME ON FREQUENTLY AS THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT ARE VERY LIMITED . I HAVE A 2019 CAMRY AND THOSE LIGHTS WHICH ARE SIMILAR ILLUMINATE AT LEAST 200 FEET AND AT LEAST 8 DIVIDING LINES. MY DEALER CHECKED AND STATED THEY ARE CORRECT.

Mileage: 1,500

20180803UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY NEW LEXUS ES300H 2018. I LEASED THE CAR FROM KEYES IN VAN NUYS(LA). WHEN I SEAT IN THE CAR AFTER 5 MINUTES SOME THING CAUSE ITCHING MY FACE,THIS SITUATION IS EVEN WORSED WHEN I DRIVE IN THE HIGHWAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP MORE THAN 8 TIMES THEY START CLEANING CHANGING THE CABIN AIR FILTER BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. I GAVE RIDES TO MY FRIENDS ALSO AND THEY COMPLAIN IN A SAME WAY THAT I DID (ITCHING, COUGHING). LAST WEEK I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF BREATHING PROBLEM THAT I GET AND NOW I AM USING INHALATION AEROSOL. THIS ISSUE NEED A SERIOUS INSPECTION BECAUSE NON OF THESE DEALER ARE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 80

20180706ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 LEXUS ES300H. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ITCHING OF THE FACE, COUGHING, AND THROAT COMPLICATIONS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DEALER (LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE, 700 SERRAMONTE BLVD, COLMA, CALIFORNIA 94014) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CLEANED THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80.

Mileage: 80

20180426SEAT BELTS

I WAS TOLD BY A CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT THROUGH EMAIL THAT "THE LATCH SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR REAR FACING CHILD SEATS." THIS IS COMPLETELY SHOCKING TO ME AS THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS IN THE MANUAL THAT THIS IS THE CASE. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH OUR DAUGHTER FOR MONTHS USING THE LATCH SYSTEM FOR HER REAR FACING CONVERTIBLE CAR SEAT. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY ENOUGH TO INSTALL WITH THE SEAT BELT INSTEAD.

Compare 2018LEXUSES HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID have?
The 2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID has 5 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID is SEAT BELTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2018 LEXUS ES HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.