2003 LEXUS ES

0 recalls, 37 complaints - 29 TSBs

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

37 total complaints 17 crashes 12 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	6
SERVICE BRAKES	4
STEERING	3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	3
ENGINE	3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	2
AIR BAGS	2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	2
POWER TRAIN	2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	1

Incident date: Mar 27, 2026

Incident Summary: On 2/2/2026, my vehicle was serviced under Safety Recall 25V-274 at an authorized GMC dealership. The service technician performed the mandated diagnostic protocol (including the PicoScope test) and informed me that the engine had "passed" inspection. No internal components were re... Read more

Incident date: Apr 28, 2023

My Prius 2010 has thrown the ABS, Traction, and Brake HUD lights all together. I took it to an Autozone and scanned the code to get the C1391: Abnormal Leak of ACC PRESS error. Many Prius 2010 have this issue, I'm sure I'll need to replace the actuator and/or accumulator and I know that will cost a... Read more

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

I WAS COMING UP MY STREET LIKE I DO EVERY DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING AND I WAS STUCK STARING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HIT A TREE AND GOT SEVERELY INJURED THE CAR IS TOTALED

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

I WAS COMING UP MY STREET LIKE I DO EVERY DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING AND I WAS STUCK STARING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HIT A TREE AND GOT SEVERELY INJURED THE CAR IS TOTALED

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

I WAS COMING UP MY STREET LIKE I DO EVERY DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING AND I WAS STUCK STARING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HIT A TREE AND GOT SEVERELY INJURED THE CAR IS TOTALED

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

I WAS DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL DOING SPEED LIMIT 30. THE CAR STARTED TO EXHILARATE RIGHT BEFORE MY TURN ON THE MY STREET. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK BECAUSE THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING FASTER THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULDN'T STOP AND RAN START INTO A TREE AND SPUN OUT, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 17, 2019

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jun 24, 2019

1) PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DASH AIR BAG LOOKS AS IF IT IS READY TO BURST. 2) TRANSMISSION OFTEN HAS SLIGHT SLIP WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICE AT CERTAIN GEAR CHANGE WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC VEHICLE.

Incident date: Jun 24, 2019

1) PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DASH AIR BAG LOOKS AS IF IT IS READY TO BURST. 2) TRANSMISSION OFTEN HAS SLIGHT SLIP WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICE AT CERTAIN GEAR CHANGE WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC VEHICLE.

Incident date: Jul 7, 2015

NO DESCRIPTION

Incident date: Jul 7, 2015

NO DESCRIPTION

Incident date: Jul 7, 2015

NO DESCRIPTION

Incident date: Mar 16, 2015

DRIVING OUT OF MY GARAGE USUALLY SLOWLY AND WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS WHILE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT THE CAR JUST FLEW OUT INTO THE STREET. THE IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO BRAKE AND COULDN'T WORK. WHEN I HIT A TRUCK IN THE STREET BEHIND ME THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I HAD NO CONTROL. THIS NEVER H... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Mar 16, 2015

Crash

Incident date: Mar 20, 2013

I WAS REVERSING AND TRYING TO TURN WHEN MY CAR LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION BY IT SELF AND WENT FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP UNINTENTIONAL HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE). IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR FE... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Mar 20, 2013

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Mar 20, 2013

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Jul 3, 2014

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT SNAP INTO BUCKLE. IF I DEPRESS THE RELEASE AND PUSH THE METAL PART IN AT THE SAME TIME IT WILL CATCH AND HOLD. BUT IT WILL NOT GO IN NORMALLY. *JS

Incident date: Feb 27, 2013

DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. CAN'T OPEN DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. NO MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN DOOR. I'M 82 YEARS OLD AND COULD NOT FINE A WAY TO OPEN MY DOOR WITH THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTE CONTROL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN . *TR

Incident date: Feb 27, 2013

Incident date: Sep 1, 2012

BACKING UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY MAKING TURN TO STRAIGHTEN CAR OUT AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR JUST SPEED UP IN REVERSE. CAUSING CRASH INTO SIDE OF MY HOUSE. AFTER THAT I TRIED TO BACK CAR INTO DRIVEWAY BUT DUE TO DAMAGE WAS UNABLE TO. I PULLED CAR OVER TO STREET PARKING. WHEN I PULLED CAR ONTO STREET THE... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Mar 3, 2010

1. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITH INITIAL ACCELERATION (SLOW OR QUICK ACCELERATION). 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES. I SUSPECT THAT OUNCE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS FIXED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. 3. I HAVE GONE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO UPDATE THE COM... Read more

Incident date: Mar 3, 2010

Incident date: Jan 28, 2012

VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS PUT IN REVERSE, CAUSING IT TO HIT A PARKED CAR IN BACK OF IT. THE ACCELERATION WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND VERY FAST. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE PARKED CAR. *TT

Crash

Incident date: Dec 22, 2011

FUEL LINE RUPTURED (PART NUMBER 23801-20150 PIPE SUB ASSEMBLY). FUEL WAS SPLASHING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FUMES WERE POURING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN CAUSING NAUSEA. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A WORK SHOP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND WE COULD SEE FUEL SPLASHING WHEN THE ENGINE WAS O... Read more

Incident date: Jun 16, 2005

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LEXUS ES. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE ... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Oct 13, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO VEHICLE CRASH. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DE... Read more

Crash

Incident date: Mar 15, 2007

THE CAR CHANGES GEAR WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP OR COASTING. WHEN I APPLY THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR MAY HESITATE AND THE SNAP INTO GEAR AND LUNGE FORWARD OR IT MAY QUICKLY GO BETWEEN TWO GEARS UNTIL IT FINALLY JERKS INTO GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. I TOOK THIS CERTIFIED CAR TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND ... Read more

Incident date: Sep 13, 2007

CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL; TOOK THE CAR TO WILKIE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN ARDMORE, PA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDS NEW STEERING SHAFT. CAR HAS 52000 MILES AND A PART LIKE THIS FAILING THIS EARLY IS NOT EXPLAINED. *JB

Incident date: Apr 3, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS 300 ES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY AFTER IT JUMPED A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS T... Read more

Incident date: Sep 16, 2006

A DISABLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE WAS HOVERING OVER NARROW EXPRESS LANE SHOULDER AND RIGHT LANE. I SLOWED AND PUT MY SIGNAL ON PREPARING TO MERGE INTO THE LEFT LANE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT REACT SIMILARLY AND CONSEQUENTLY REAR-ENDED ME AT FULL SPEED (+). THE FORCE OF THIS IMPACT PUSHE... Read more

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Sep 16, 2006

Crash 1 injured

Incident date: Aug 1, 2006

I OWN A LEXUS 2003 ES. THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFORMING UNSAFELY! 1. AT STOP LIGHTS, WHILE HOLDING THE CAR STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE, THE TRANS WANTS TO GO AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. 2. AT LOW SPEEDS (20 -30 MPH) THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THE TRANS WILL JUMP DOWN CAUSING THE RPMS TO SU... Read more

Incident date: Sep 19, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A MAIN ROAD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED. THEN, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR A SHORT TIM... Read more

Incident date: Sep 12, 2006

I HAVE A 2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH 41000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND ACTUALLY HESITATES THEN JERKS. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL LEAD TO A BREAK DOWN AT SOME POINT. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE ARE NO UPDATES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS TRANS... Read more

Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 LEXUS ES

29 manufacturer communications from 19 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
350000 EQUIPMENT	7
110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	3
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	2
130000 VISIBILITY	2
116340 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER	2
060000 ENGINE (PWS)	2
200000 WHEELS	2
190000 TIRES	1

350000 EQUIPMENT

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custome

200000 WHEELS

190000 TIRES

102400 POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should

103200 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT

060000 ENGINE (PWS)

200000 WHEELS

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. ST004-01, SU001-08, and L-SB-0174-08. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure

350000 EQUIPMENT

Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97,

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

356000 EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 01, 2019 Rev1: G1668 Applicability has been updated to include 2019 ? 2020 model year Lexus vehicles. G2158 The Techstream Preparation and Process Overview sections have been updated. Any previous printed versions

350000 EQUIPMENT

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

060000 ENGINE (PWS)

355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0001-18.

355100 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, and PG002-90. Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01,

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TSB: REVISION NOTICE November 22, 2017 Rev1: ? Applicability has been updated to include 2014 ? 2018 model year vehicles. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. In the event that a Lexus vehicle becomes submerge

350000 EQUIPMENT

TSB: Revision Notice: Applicability section has been updated to include 2016-2017 applicable model year Lexus vehicles. The Repair Procedure section, Required Tools & Equipment section, and the Repair Procedure section has been updated.

100000 POWER TRAIN

Auto matic Transmission Replacement kPrecautions

116340 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER

Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset

118000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset.

116340 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER

Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset.

350000 EQUIPMENT

Techstream ECU Flash Reprogramming Procedure.

110000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Techstream ECU Flash Reprogramming Procedure.

130000 VISIBILITY

Windshield Wiper Blade Maintenance and cleaning

220000 SEATS

Beginning in 1998, Lexus introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Lexus does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Lexus leather or other seat cover materials on vehicles due to the following: Seat covers NOT rec

142000 AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

130000 VISIBILITY

Spots in Window Glass - vehicle exterior

NHTSA Safety Investigations, LEXUS ES

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

EA, Closed , Model Year: 2007

UNWANTED ACCELERATION, FLOOR MAT

THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR MAT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL IF PROPERLY SECURED USING THE RETAINING HOOKS PROVIDED BY TOYOTA.HOWEVER, IF THE ALL WEATHER MAT IS UNSECURED AND MOVES FORWARD FROM ITS INTENDED POSITION IT CAN ENTRAP THE THROTTLE PEDAL AT THE FULLY OPEN POSITION AFTER IT HAS BEE... N DEPRESSED.THIS CAN HAPPEN REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT ANOTHER MAT (CARPET) IS UNDERNEATH.WHEN THIS OCCURS, SOME OPERATORS REACT BY APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES, DEPLETING THE BRAKING SYSTEM'S (VACUUM BASED) POWER ASSIST.STOPPING THE VEHICLE WITH UNASSISTED BRAKING WHILE THE THROTTLE IS FULLY OPEN REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT PEDAL FORCE, WHICH SOME OPERATORS DID NOT, OR WERE UNABLE TO, APPLY FOR THE REQUIRED DURATION.CONTINUED DRIVING IN THIS CONDITION RESULTS IN OVERHEATED BRAKES, WHICH FURTHER DIMINISHES THE BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS.SOME OPERATORS ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF BY DEPRESSING THE ENGINE CONTROL BUTTON, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNAWARE THE BUTTON HAD TO BE DEPRESSED FOR THREE SECONDS TO STOP THE ENGINE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION; THIS FUNCTIONALITY WAS NOT EXPLAINED ADEQUATELY IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.IN ODI INTERVIEWS, OWNER'S REPORTED THEY WERE UNAWARE THE ALL WEATHER MAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INTERFERE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL, ADVISING THAT THIS WAS NEVER PROPERLY EXPLAINED GIVEN THE SIGNIFICANT HAZARD IT REPRESENTED.OWNERS REPORTED SEVERAL EXPLANATIONS FOR WHY THE MAT WAS UNSECURED, INCLUDING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED IN THIS CONDITION (MOST COMMON REASON), OR THAT THEY HAD (UNWITTINGLY) INSTALLED THE MAT THEMSELVES, OR THAT ANOTHER PARTY, SUCH AS A CAR WASH ATTENDANT, HAD DISTURBED THE MAT WITHOUT THE OWNER'S KNOWLEDGE.ONE CONSUMER REPORTED THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITHOUT THE RETAINING DEVICES INSTALLED.IN A SEPTEMBER 26, 2007 LETTER TO NHTSA, TOYOTA INDICATED THAT THEY WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE ALL WEATHER MAT WITH A REDESIGNED MAT.ACCORDING TO TOYOTA, THE NEW MAT DESIGN WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL.THE POPULATION NOTED ABOVE REPRESENTS THE NUMBER OF SUBJECT MATSTHAT HAVE BEEN SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.SINCE TOYOTA CANNOT IDENTIFY WHICH VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE SUBJECT MATS, THEY WILL SEND A LETTER TO ALL REGISTERED OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (ESTIMATED 750K) ADVISING THEM OF THE CONCERN AND REMEDY.A COPY OF THAT LETTER WILL BE POSTED TO NHTSA'S WEB SITE UNDER RECALL 07E-082; IT CONTAINS A DESCRIPTION OF THE CONDITION AND THE ACTIONS AN OPERATOR SHOULD TAKE IN THE EVENT THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING.THE FATALITY INCIDENT NOTED ABOVE OCCURRED IN JULY 2007 AND WAS INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA'S SPECIAL CRASH INVESTIGATIONS OFFICE.IT HAS NOT BEEN REPORTED ON A VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE.THE OPERATOR REPORTEDLY TRAVELLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MPH FOR AN ESTIMATED EIGHT MILES ON AN INTERSTATE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE IT STRUCK TWO OTHER VEHICLES.ONE OF THE STRUCK VEHICLES AND THE SUBJECT VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.THE OCCUPANT OF THE STRUCK VEHICLE DID NOT EVACULATE AND DIED AT THE SCENE.THE SUBJECT VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED A BROKEN BONE.THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT ALSO.ODI DID NOT ISSUE AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER DURING THIS INVESTIGATION.THE TOYOTA REPORTS NOTED ABOVE WERE REPORTED DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-016 AND ARE CURRENT THROUGH APRIL 2007 FOR MY 2007 LEXUS ES350 ONLY.ODI DOES NOT HAVE FIELD EXPERIENCE DATA FROM TOYOTA FOR CAMRY VEHICLES.THROTTLE ENTRAPMENT DUE TO IMPROPERLY INSTALLED FLOOR MATS COULD BE A CONCERN IN ALL VEHICLES.THEREFORE, DRIVERS SHOULD ALWAYS ENSURE THEIR FLOOR MATS ARE PROPERLY AND SAFELY INSTALLED.THIS INCLRead more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 2005

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IN A LETTER DATED JULY 8, 2005, AND AFTER EXPERIENCING TWO INCIDENTS (AND ONE CRASH) WHERE HE ALLEGES HIS MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002 CAMRY ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, MR. JORDAN ZIPRIN PETITIONED THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION?S (NHTSA) OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) TO CO... MMENCE A PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT WITHIN THE ETC SYSTEM IN MY 2002 TO 2005 TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES, OR TO REOPEN A PRIOR INVESTIGATION PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE) 04-021.IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 18, 2005, MR. ZIPRIN AMENDED HIS PETITION TO INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF INTERRELATED BRAKE AND ACCELERATION PROBLEMS THAT ALLEGEDLY RESULT IN INAPPROPRIATE AND UNCONTROLLABLE VEHICLE ACCELERATIONS.THE 1172 VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE REPORTS CITED BY THE PETITIONER INVOLVE 4 LEXUS AND 15 TOYOTA MODELS DEFINING A POPULATION OF 7 MILLION VEHICLES.THE REPORTS TYPICALLY ALLEGED A DEFECT IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM, THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH SYSTEMS.IN ITS REVIEW OF THE REPORTS, ODI A) FAILED TO FIND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE EXISTENCE OF A BRAKE RELATED DEFECT IN THE CITED MODELS, AND B) DETERMINED THAT MANY CITED PRODUCTS WERE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ETC.ACCORDINGLY, ODI RESTRICTED ITS ANALYSIS TO THE 432 PETITIONER REPORTS INVOLVING MY 2002 TO 2005 CAMRY, SOLARA, AND ES MODELS (ALL EQUIPPED WITH ETC) THAT ALLEGED AN ABNORMAL THROTTLE CONTROL EVENT (SEE THE JANUARY 3, 2006 FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE FOR FURTHER DETAILS).ABOUT 40% OF THE 432 REPORTS INVOLVE A DRIVEABILITY CONCERN WHERE THE OPERATOR INTENTIONALLY APPLIES THE THROTTLE PEDAL, IN EXPECTATION THAT THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE, AND THEN EXPERIENCES A DELAY OR HESITATION IN VEHICLE RESPONSE.THESE REPORTS INVOLVE VEHICLE RESPONSE TO INTENTIONAL DRIVER COMMANDS WHICH ODI CONSIDERS UNRELATED TO THE ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY THE PETITIONER.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED.ABOUT 20% OF THE REPORTS INVOLVE INCIDENTS WHERE OPERATORS ALLEGE VEHICLE ACCELERATION WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND AN INABILITY OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED.NEITHER THE REPORTS, NOR THE INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY ODI, IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE INCIDENTS OR DISCLOSED EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE OR THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM HAD OCCURRED.BECAUSE THESE REPORTS DO NOT INDICATE A DISTINCT SAFETY DEFECT FOR INVESTIGATION, THE REPORTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED BY THE PETITIONERTHE REMAINING REPORTS (~ 40%, SIMILAR TO THE PETITIONER?S AND THOSE OF PE04-021) TYPICALLY DESCRIBE INCIDENTS WHERE A VEHICLE IS BEING MANEUVERED AT SLOW SPEED IN A CLOSE QUARTER SITUATION AT WHICH POINT THE OPERATOR ALLEGES THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT AND CRASHES.IN THE AFTERMATH, OPERATORS ARE UNSURE OF WHETHER THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED OR NOT, SOMETIMES STATING THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO USE THE BRAKE; A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE OPERATOR BELIEVES AN UNCOMMANDED ACCELERATION CAUSED IT.IN SPITE OF THE EFFORT EXPENDED DURING PE04-021 AND DURING THIS ANALYSIS, ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY VEHICLE-BASED CAUSE TO EXPLAIN THE REPORTS, OR UNCOVERED ANY EVIDENCE TO INDICATE THAT A THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED.THEREFORE, THE REPORTS HAVE AMBIGUOUS SIGNIFICANCE AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE A BASIS ON WHICH ANY FURTHER INVESTIGATIVE ACTION IS WARRANTED.BASED ON THE ANALYSIS CONDUCTED, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THE NHTSA WOULD ISSUE AN ORDER FOR THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION REQUESTED IN THE PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA?S LIMITED RESOURCES TRead more

LEXUS ES - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the LEXUS ES across all model years (1997, 2025).

11 Total Recalls

852 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

120 Reported Crashes

26 Reported Fires

0 Reported Deaths

LEXUS ES - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2025	1	9	View
2024	2	9	View
2023	2	10	View
2022	0	9	View
2021	1	28	View
2020	1	19	View
2019	1	55	View
2018	0	8	View
2017	0	2	View
2016	0	13	View
2015	0	7	View
2014	0	3	View
2013	0	49	View
2012	0	35	View
2011	0	59	View
2010	0	46	View
2009	0	29	View
2008	0	78	View
2007	0	164	View
2006	0	12	View
2005	0	75	View
2004	0	21	View
2003 (current)	0	37
2002	0	48	View
2001	0	3	View
2000	0	9	View
1999	1	8	View
1998	1	3	View
1997	1	2	View
1996	0	2	View

Other LEXUS Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
LS	421	284	View
RX	420	1,181	View
TX	406	75	View
LX	353	73	View
NX	352	296	View
NX HYBRID	310	13	View
LS HYBRID	256	5	View
RZ	252	29	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

2003 LEXUS ES

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 LEXUS ES

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, LEXUS ES

LEXUS ES - All Years Overview

LEXUS ES - Year by Year

Other LEXUS Models