LexusES300H2018Overview/lexus/es300h/2018/base/

2018 Lexus ES300H

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 ES300H.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S6)

The 2018 Lexus ES300H is a passenger car equipped with an AV‑S6 automatic transmission and carries an EPA fuel‑efficiency rating of 40/39/40 mpg. Reliability data for the year show only five owner complaints, with air‑bag concerns the leading issue and no recalls recorded. Across the 2013‑2018 model‑year span, complaints dropped from a high of 40 in 2013 to a low of just one in 2017, placing the 2018 ES300H in a period of markedly improved dependability. Consequently, the 2018 model reflects the trend of decreasing complaints that characterized the later years of the ES300H generation.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

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

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 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.

Tail / brake / turnAUTOOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter178010V020
Spark plug9091901259
Battery2880036052
Front wiper blades8522206180 alt 8521206180
Thermostat1632536010 alt 1603136010
Cabin air filter8713950100

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.

Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts96.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1000 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerLexus
Spark Plug Gap.028
Spark Plug Torque18 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.16 lbs.
Oil TypeND Oil 11 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity4.10-4.50 oz.

Service checks

RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0.
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum44.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum50.0 psi
RPM44.0-50.0 @ Idle rpm
Residual Pressure21.0.
Engine Compression116

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 25; Rear: 20
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 77; Rear: 58
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .984; Rear: .335
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .006
Maximum Drum DiameterParking Brake: 6.850

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
127 ft. lbs.27 ft. lbs
227 ft. lbs.: Step 3: Turn 90 degrees27 ft. lbs
4Turn 90
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
230.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
390.0

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) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine 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) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (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 2018 ES300H recorded 5 federal complaints, a modest rise from the single complaint logged in 2017 but still far below the 40 complaints seen in the 2013 launch year. No recall was issued for 2018, matching the pattern of zero recalls from 2016 through 2018, while the number of TSBs dropped to 81, continuing a downward trend from 287 in 2013. The most frequently cited problem areas in 2018 were Air Bags, Exterior Lighting, Unknown Or Other, and Engine, each appearing once in the complaint list. Crash-related complaints numbered one, and there were no fire complaints reported for that model year. Consequently, the 2018 ES300H remains a low‑risk purchase, though buyers should confirm that any reported air‑bag or lighting defects have been remedied before finalizing the transaction.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
81
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
1 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 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1
Unknown Or Other1
Engine1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 81 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
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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

Does the 2018 ES300H have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 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.