Lexus ES Lexus ES

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Expensive Lexus ES repairs by problem area

Engine (33%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (18%)

Brakes and Traction Control (7%)

Suspension and Steering (24%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (13%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (2%)

Other (4%)

Chart based on 55 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Lexus ES.

Lexus ES repair cost distribution

$2500+ (17%)

$1000 - $2499 (83%)

$500 - $999 (0%)

$100 - $499 (0%)

< $100 (0%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 35 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2015 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

105000 mi

US $1399
Spark Plugs Front Brakes Battery did not pass load test while in shop for something else 

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2011 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

268-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

116000 mi

US $2000
Water pump housing Housing belt tensioner 

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2010 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

272-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

75000 mi

US $2300
Howling tire noise when driving. Flat spot diagnosis due to bad struts all around. Replaced front struts and 4 wheel alignment performed.Will replace rear struts and tires summer 2019.Rack & pinion unit installed, fluid changed. Car riding harsh after repair, possibly overinflated tires. Will check, if not, return car to shop. 

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2009 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

272-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

164000 mi

US $3600
Worn struts were replaced. 
168000 mi

US $500
Replaced struts and strut bearings. Old struts we’re worn enough to cause uneven tire wear 
114100 mi

C $1200
Emergency Brake Cables 

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2008 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

272-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

93000 mi

US $1100
replaced front pads and rotors 
95000 mi

US $1000
replaced lower control arms and tie rods 
57040 mi

C $1250
Water pump and thermostat needed to be replaced. Leaking badly- known problem with the V6 in both Lexus and Toyota. Lots of labour cost involved. Only 92000 Kms on this vehicle and the water pump started to go. Part was inexpensive =$290 cdn but labour added up. Came out to $1250 which included water pump, thermostat, flush and replacing of coolant and tax of course. Disappointed that a water pump would break... 
94000 mi

US $1825
Water pump apparently suddenly conked out while driving. Coolant emptied, engine stalled. Car had to be towed to dealer for emergency repair. Also, since December 2016, the check-engine light was on, the diagnostic code had indicated an o2 sensor problem, I was told by a dealer this was benign and only had a slight impact on fuel economy and smog checks so that wasn't fixed until now (along with water pump). 

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2007 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

272-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

108000 mi

US $1500
Oil cooler pipe leak 
82000 mi

US $331
Replaced Blower Motor 
89500 mi

US $1500
Replaced left and right rear door locks with rebuilt motors= $700 Right Front axle boot leaking - replaced. $425 Rough shifting. Dealer upgraded software = $150 
94000 mi

US $350
Replaced front passenger door lock with rebuilt motors= $350 Right Front axle boot leaking - replaced. (Same as July 2012) 
125000 mi

US $1880
Replaced All(4) Oil Control Valves. Replaced Spark Plugs. 
119000 mi

US $4400
oil leaking into engine, rod replaced cv joints cv joints and rod replaced as well as leak in engine 
184000 mi

US $1400
car stopped in the middle of highway. Car dealer replaced Alternator 
106500 mi

US $450
Passenger side axle replacement. Worn and causing a vibration at 40-50MPH. The problem may have started from an evasive maneuver on the highway one year prior. 
111000 mi

US $2000
Replace rack and pinion assembly. 
135000 mi

US $2400
timing chain cover leak. take down engine, remove timing chain cover, seal with formed in place gasket 
159800 mi

US $370
Power Steering Rack Pressure Hose 
156300 mi

US $659
battery icon went on dashboard. Fully charge battery will be dead after 30 minutes while engine shut off. Burnt smell coming from engine. At first seemed like weak battery. But after replacing battery, battery charge will be drained. 
192000 mi

US $6000
transmission slipping. dealer replaced transmission timing chain cover leak. previous dealer did not repair properly the leak. 
201000 mi

US $500
radiator and coolant bypass hose leaks 
97000 mi

US $100
Ignition coil #1 not firing. Replaced ignition coil #1. Engine mount cracked. Replaced engine mount. 
98100 mi

US $700
Steering rack leaking. Replaced Steering rack. Excessive noise in idler pulleys. Replaced idler pulleys. 
103300 mi

US $100
leaking power steering hose CV axle boots leaking grease. replaced boots lower control arms had separated bushings. replaced. 
116000 mi

US $2200
Belt tensioner bearing noise Replaced radiator Speed sensor port O-ring leaking 
91360 mi

C $1700
Mark Levinson audio amp blown. Mark Levinson subwoofer blown 
93800 mi

C $600
Wind deflector on panoramic roof shattered - not clear whether due to low temperatures (-20) or ice from highway 
186000 mi

US $1300
New spark plugs. New air filter. Needed to remove battery at shop due to huge amount of battery acid build on terminals, i could remove battery. Replace battery and have battery linkage soaked to remove acid, engine coil replacement 
160000 mi

US $100
Door handle came, broken connection 
130000 mi

US $375
Oxygen Sensor died. CEL still on. I'm leaning towards a bad error reset as it has been near two months and everything seems okay. 
142000 mi

US $350
Another oxygen sensor died and was replaced. Another oxygen sensor died. Make sure to replace in pairs. 
159000 mi

US $1300
Front right axle was leaking fluid. Replaced axle and joints. 
190000 mi

US $400
left axle replaced. 
53280 mi

C $1250
Nav unit "crashed", had to be replaced 
88040 mi

C $900
A/C parts were replaced 
77000 mi

US $1200
Replaced leaking struts and also rebuilt power steering pump 
42000 mi

US $147
Found grease leaking from inner axle boot seal; replaced and resealed inner axle boot. ($500 paid by extended warranty of total $647 cost) 
47000 mi

US $2667
Replaced rack and pinion steering after it was found to be worn out in regular servicing inspection. 
50226 mi

US $1156
Replace alternator after failure (which required car to be towed to dealer). Also replaced battery, which was on warranty. 
51000 mi

US $114
Look into other issues pointed out by dealer such as oil leak that would require expensive repairs according to dealer; this shop found car in sound condition and not needing other repairs. I put in stop-leak fluid which probably helped. check out noise that turned out to be a loose flap. 
68939 mi

US $4318
Replace leaking power steering hoses Replace leaking sway bar end Replace ball joint Replace engine mount Replace brake pads (front & rear) 
110000 mi

US $423
Wheel bearing was replaced. 
113800 mi

US $700
Water pump Radiator 
129000 mi

US $1300
Front lower control arm bushings Front Passenger window regulator and window 
137000 mi

US $1800
Replaced steering wheel and vent trim. 
160000 mi

US $500
Replaced right front axle. 
100000 mi

US $150
Battery died 
150000 mi

US $1000
rack and pinion replace 
37000 mi

US $1000
Right side High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamp flickers and then goes out after 15 min of use. Left lamp flickers slightly when car door slammed. Dealer replaced both HID bulbs under warranty.  
175700 mi

US $1300
Slight leak 

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2004 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

225-horsepower 3.3L V6 5-speed automatic FWD

86000 mi

US $1300
Unknown drivetrain repair. 
93000 mi

US $285
Replaced leaking oil pan 
214500 mi

US $1100
The rear suspension had to be replaced along with all 4 tires 

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2002 Lexus ES

Engine not specified

142400 mi

US $1250
It was the main computer system of the car 

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2002 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

210-horsepower 3.0L V6 5-speed automatic FWD

138300 mi

US $1000
replace O2 sensor as well as water pump and belts 
98996 mi

US $1417
Timing Belt Replacement, Water Pump, Radiator Flush, 2 Serpentine Belt Replacement. Top Engine Mount Driver Door Handle 

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2000 Lexus ES 4dr Sedan

210-horsepower 3.0L V6 4-speed automatic FWD

115000 mi

US $1500
Transmission was shifting poorly, so took to Ecco to have it checked. Fluid was burnt up, transmission failed at 115,000 miles. Buying a used one and putting it in. 
155000 mi

US $1150
Replaced rear sway bar links 
177000 mi

US $360
Front sway bar links 
178000 mi

US $560
Alternator failed 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Sedans
See TrueDelta's information for all Lexus models.

Lexus ES Expensive Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Lexus ES problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.