Model year 2018 · Midsize Cars
2018 Lexus ES: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2018 Lexus ES at 24–40 mpg combined across 2 versions. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
24–40
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
NHTSA lists this vehicle as ES HYBRID.
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Lexus dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2018 Lexus ES recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2018 Lexus ES, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2018 Lexus ES in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 27, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2018 Lexus ES fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES 300h | 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid | CVT (6 modes) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 40/39/40 mpg | $1,700 | 223 |
| ES 350 | 3.5L 6-cyl | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 21/30/24 mpg | $2,800 | 366 |
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2018 Lexus ES crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Lexus ES300H 4 DR FWD | 5 stars | 4 stars | 5 stars | 4 stars | 11.1% | Standard |
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2018 Lexus ES owner complaints
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Lexus ES, most recently on Dec 2, 2025. 2 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 3 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Air bags | 2 |
| Seat belts | 2 |
| Unknown or other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling: Exhaust system: Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 |
| Power train | 1 |
| Structure: Body | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.
Other Lexus ES model years
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 ES | 44–46 mpg · 112–127 MPGe | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2025 ES | 25–44 mpg | 1 | 5 | 5/5 |
| 2024 ES | 25–44 mpg | 2 | 9 | 5/5 |
| 2023 ES | 25–44 mpg | 2 | 10 | 5/5 |
| 2022 ES | 25–44 mpg | 1 | 14 | 5/5 |
| 2021 ES | 25–44 mpg | 1 | 30 | 5/5 |
| 2020 ES | 25–44 mpg | 2 | 19 | 5/5 |
| 2019 ES | 25–44 mpg | 2 | 35 | 5/5 |
| 2017 ES | 24–40 mpg | 0 | 4 | 5/5 |
| 2016 ES | 24–40 mpg | 0 | 16 | 5/5 |
| 2015 ES | 24–40 mpg | 1 | 11 | 5/5 |
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Other 2018 Lexus models
Sources
- Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
- Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
- Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
- Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
- NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Lexus.