2010 Lexus ES problems & reliability
41 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 Lexus ES. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
1 complaint report injuries (1 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2010 Lexus ES vehicles were involved in 33 fatal crashes with 20 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags → | 20 | 49% |
| Structure | 6 | 15% |
| Unknown OR Other | 6 | 15% |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 5% |
| Power Train | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 2% |
| Seats | 1 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 2% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“on the front dashboard there is a lot of oil deposit which is from the dashboard material which is reflective and sticky, this oil deposit reflects on the windshield and is making visibility hard when driving in sunlight... i have reached out to the Lexus corporate and they have indicated that the recall is over (even…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Jul 29, 2026
“Good afternoon, The first thing that I need to say (which will become obvious when seeing the attachments) is that I made an “extremely foolish,” decision on March 13, 2025 when I decided to purchase this Lexus 2010 vehicle from Audi Orange Park. I was without a car and had a work trip coming up and along with other…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Aug 29, 2025
“I have the full panoramic glass roof. The seal around the whole roof has rotted away. There is nothing wrong with the glass, but I believe the missing molding makes the glass less secure. Without the molding, rainwater is seeping into who knows what electrical components within the vehicle. Lexus will not replace the…”
Unknown OR Other · filed Aug 21, 2025
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
49 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2010 Lexus ES. The 10 most recent:
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…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 15, 2025
Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2025
Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Feb 7, 2025
Some 2005 – 2024 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…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2024
Some 2005 – 2024 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…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2024
Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The…
L-SB-0030-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 21, 2024
Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The…
L-SB-0030-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 21, 2024
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
L-SB-0023-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
L-SB-0024-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
L-SB-0023-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 19, 2024
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 2010 Lexus ES in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2010 Lexus ES?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.