LexusES300h2013Overview/lexus/es300h/2013/base/

2013 Lexus ES300h

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 ES300h.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2013 Lexus ES300h is a passenger car that pairs an Automatic (AV-S6) transmission with an EPA-rated 40/39/40 mpg, delivering notable efficiency from a powertrain requiring just 4.4 quarts of 0W-20 API oil. However, this specific model year represents the peak of the vehicle's 2013-2018 complaint history, logging the generation's highest count of 40 owner complaints alongside a single recall. With service brakes serving as the top complaint area, the 2013 model stands as the most problematic year in the timeline, meaning researchers will encounter significantly more reported issues here than in later model years such as 2017, which saw only a single complaint.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182013

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy40/39/40 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI S65B26R Hybrid · 450 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9030179006. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI S65B26R Hybrid · 450 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHOTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-45R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010V020
Spark plug9091901259
Battery2880036052
Front wiper blades8521206180 alt 8522206180
Thermostat1632536010 alt 1603136010
Cabin air filter8713950100 alt 8713907020

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.9 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase111 in
Curb weight3660 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined40 / 39 / 40 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 27.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.4 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts184 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts96 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub217 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing5-20, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.17 lbs
Oil TypeND 11 oil or equivalent
Oil Capacity4.10-4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group NumberS65B26R Hybrid
Standard BCI Cranking Performance450 cca

Service checks

Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance2.01-2.31 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance3-100 Motor ohms
Engine Compression142-199 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
130 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9030 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30 ft. lbs., Step 3: 9015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 100,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miHybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2013 model year registers 40 complaints, a figure that towers over every subsequent year in this generation—more than double the 2014 count of 14 and roughly six to forty times the volume seen from 2015 onward. Technical service bulletins follow a similar downward trajectory, falling from 287 in 2013 to 229 in 2014 and continuing to decline through 2018, while investigations hold steady at one per year and recalls cease entirely after 2015. This places 2013 at the high point of the complaint and TSB arc, suggesting it accumulated the bulk of early-field observations. Reported concerns cluster around service brakes and electrical systems with five complaints each, plus eight crash-related complaints, though the federal data does not specify root causes. Given that later model years show substantially fewer complaints and identical or fewer recalls, a 2013 ES300h is not the strongest candidate in this generation; buyers prioritizing reliability should consider 2016 or later units, which carry zero recalls and markedly lower complaint volumes.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
287
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
40
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 40 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes5
Electrical System5
Unknown Or Other4
Vehicle Speed Control3
Vehicle Speed Control,Service Brakes2
Visibility/Wiper2
Vehicle Speed Control,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Visibility2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V728000Forward Collision Avoidance: Crash Imminent BrakingReported 03/11/2015

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 19, 2012 to October 27, 2015 and 2013-2015 Lexus ES350 and ES300h… Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace certain PCS components, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 287 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific ES300h. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 ES300h take?

4.4 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 ES300h have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the ES300h get?

EPA figures are 40 city / 39 highway / 40 combined mpg.