There are 1 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2009 Lexus ESin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ON MONDAY AUGUST 6TH, 2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 5: 25 AM, I ([XXX]) WAS ARRIVING AT WORK AT METHODIST HOSPITAL. I PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO MAKE A WIDE U TURN INTO A PARKING STALL DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK AND I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. I KEPT TRYING TO BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. I WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND DROVE OVER A STEEL POLE. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO HIT A VERY LARGE TREE, THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE BRAKES FINALLY WORK ABOUT 3 TO 4 FEET IN FRONT OF THE TREE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND THE TREE AND PARK LIKE I DO EVERY DAY. AFTER PARKING, I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, GOT MY PHONE FROM MY PURSE IN THE TRUNK AND CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TOLD HIM WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I WAS VERY SHAKEN AND CRYING. THE CAR WAS WRECKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. [XXX] CALLED SECURITY & [XXX] CAME OVER. WE BOTH WENT BACK OUT WHERE THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. I SHOWED HIM WHERE IT HAPPENED, WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE I ENDED UP. [XXX] TOLD A FEW PHOTOS. WE HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS [XXX] #2 OPTION (JUDY)AND OUR ATTORNEY ([XXX]) [XXX]. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF OMAHA. LEXUS WANTS US TO SIGN A BLACK BOX RELEASE. OUR ATTORNEY SUGGEST WE TURN IN A CLAIM TO SEE IF FARMERS WISHES TO SEE THE BLACK BOX 1ST.. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026