Complaint Statistics
147 total complaints
52 crashes 6 fires 20 injuries 2 deaths
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 43 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 19 |
| AIR BAGS | 9 |
| POWER TRAIN | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 6 |
| ENGINE | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
Incident date: Sep 26, 2018
SIR/MADAM, I AM TRYING TO HELP MY FRIENDS (XXXX) AND (XXXXX), LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AND A VERY SWEET COUPLE. PEGGY WAS DRIVING HER HUSBAND TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND DUE TO A FAULT IN THE ENGINE (THERE IS A RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT INFORMED), THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IF IT
... HADN'T BEEN FOR THE DRIVER BEHIND THEM WHO RAN TO THEM AND GOT THEM QUICKLY OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED THEM TO SAFETY, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BLEAK. THEY ARE AN ELDERLY COUPLE AND THE HUSBAND, (XXXXX), HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY WALKING AND THE CAR BURNED VERY QUICKLY. THEY, THANK GOD, MADE IT TO SAFETY IN TIME ONLY TO WATCH THEIR CAR BURN. THEY INFORMED TOYOTA AND SINCE THEY ARE ON FIXED INCOME ASKED TOYOTA FOR HELP WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER USED RELIABLE CAR (THE LEXUS THEY WERE DRIVING WAS 15 YEARS OLD BUT IN GOOD CONDITION AND MORE THAN ENOUGH CAR FOR THEIR TRIPS TO LOCAL STORES OR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. SURPRISINGLY, TOYOTA ONLY RESPONDED WITH ONE LETTER FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE. (XXXX)'S FOLLOW UP CALLS AND LETTERS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, ECO MARK TEMPLIN WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OR ANSWERED. PLEASE HELP THIS COUPLE BELIEVE IN HUMANITY AGAIN. TOYOTA IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY AND TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PHONE CALL FROM THE COMPANY IS SURPRISING TO ALL THAT KNOW OF THIS CASE. I AM ATTACHING ALL THE EVIDENCE: PICTURES, COPIES OF LETTERS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE CASE NUMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. (XXXXX) FOR (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 26, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IGNITING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUI
... SH THE FIRE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER LEXUS USA LOCATED AT 6565 HEADQUARTERS DR, PLANO, TX 75024, (800) 255-3987, AND WHERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AS *TRRead more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 1, 2014
VIN: (XXXXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 (XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 AIRBAG IS BULGING -SEE PICTURES ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY OFF AND ON SINCE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO
... PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).Read more
Incident date: Oct 1, 2014
VIN: (XXXXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 (XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 AIRBAG IS BULGING -SEE PICTURES ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY OFF AND ON SINCE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO
... PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2019
(XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES3 PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Incident date: Apr 20, 2019
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT.I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND SAME PROBLEM .
Incident date: Apr 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AS IT WAS STALLING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT
... CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUT THE BATTERY CORD AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.Read more
Fire
Incident date: Apr 4, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AS IT WAS STALLING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT
... CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUT THE BATTERY CORD AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.Read more
Fire
Incident date: Jan 21, 2018
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IN MOTION IN REVERSE
Incident date: Aug 1, 2016
UNWANTED ACCELERATION WHILE APPLYING THE BREAK WHILE SLOWING DOWN THE RPM GAUGE PINS ITSELF TO ABOUT 3000. THE CAR WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT UNTIL IT JOLTS FORWARD JUST A LITTLE AND THE YOU CAN FEEL THE LOWER GEARS ENGAGE. I BOUGHT IT AS A USED VEHICAL ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO WITH 80,336 MILES . I SEE LOTS OF
... COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING ON MANY OTHER VEHICALS OF THE SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. I'M ASSUMING IT'S A BAD SPEED SENSOR . WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL? THIS STARTED HAPPENING AFTER WE TOOK A RIDE ON THE HIGHWAY. AND IT ONLY APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS APPLIED IT JUST MAKES THE RPMS REV UP, AND THESE DOESN'T GO ANY FASTER KIND OF THE SAME EFFECT YOU WOULD GET IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR.Read more
Incident date: May 21, 2015
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 LEXUS ES30FROM USED CAR DEALER. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF DRIVING IT I NOTICED IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS INNORMALLY. IT WOULD SURGE UP TO 4000RMP BEFORE SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR AND AT ONE POINT WASN'T MOVING WHILE I HIT THE GAS THE ACCELERATION VERY FAST OUT OF NOWHERE. MY MOTHER ALSO
... HAD THIS SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER LEXUS CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND A WEB SITE THAT CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THE LEXUS/TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH AN UPGRADE. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS UPGRADE IS STILL AVAILABLE AND IF MY VEHICLE WOULD QUALIFY? AND IF SO HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT THIS PROCESS.Read more
Incident date: May 21, 2015
I PURCHASED A USED 2003 LEXUS ES30FROM USED CAR DEALER. AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF DRIVING IT I NOTICED IT WAS SHIFTING GEARS INNORMALLY. IT WOULD SURGE UP TO 4000RMP BEFORE SHIFTING TO 2ND GEAR AND AT ONE POINT WASN'T MOVING WHILE I HIT THE GAS THE ACCELERATION VERY FAST OUT OF NOWHERE. MY MOTHER ALSO
... HAD THIS SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND MANY OTHER LEXUS CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND A WEB SITE THAT CLAIMED THAT THERE WAS A TSB PUT OUT FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT THE LEXUS/TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS WOULD FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH AN UPGRADE. I WAS WONDERING IF THIS UPGRADE IS STILL AVAILABLE AND IF MY VEHICLE WOULD QUALIFY? AND IF SO HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT THIS PROCESS.Read more
Incident date: Mar 16, 2015
I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE SLOWLY TO PAUSE ON THE DRIVEWAY TO CLOSE THE GARAGE DOOR AND WHEN I STEP ON THE GAS IN REVERSE THE CAR FLEW OUT OF THE GARAGE AND I COULDN'T STOP IT WITH THE BRAKES. THERE WAS A SMALL ROOFING ACROSS THE STREET WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. NO ONE WAS NEARBY SO NO ONE WAS
... HURT. THE ACCELERATOR SEEMED STUCK FOR THIS INCIDENT TO HAPPEN. HOWEVER, LEXUS HAD AN INSPECTOR CHECK THE CAR AND DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG THAT SHOWED ON THE COMPUTER SO THEY WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OCCURRENCE AND THEY CLOSED THE CASE. I TRIED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE TO SEND THIS TO ARBITRATION BUT NO ONE WOULD SPEAK TO ME. CASE CLOSED. THIS WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE WITH NO CONTROL IN THE CAR. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 18, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BEEPING NOISE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN CODE WAS CLEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN
... BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.Read more
Incident date: Oct 9, 2013
MY CAR OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS STARTED EXPERIENCING ABNORMAL ACCELERATION . THERE WERE TIMES IT USES TO SURGE OR SOUND LIKE IT WAS RAMPING UP TO GO FAST, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAK, YOU COULD HEAR THE ACCELERATION TRYING TO RAMP UP LIKE IF MY FOOT WASN'T ON THE BREAK IT WOULD JUST TA
... KE OFF. THEN THE OPPOSITE STARTED TO HAPPEN. MY CAR IDLE WOULD JUST DROP AND BASICALLY WHEN I WOULD GO TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. IT WAS INCONSISTENT SO SOMETIMES IT WOULD OVER ACCELERATE AND SOMETIMES UNDER. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT I'VE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS AND SOME PEOPLE TO GET AGGRAVATED AT MY CAR.I TOOK IT TO THE PEP BOYS THEY THOUGHT IT NEEDED FLUSHED MAYBE INJECTION CLEANING LIKE ALL OTHER SCENARIOS I AM JUST NOW READING ABOUT. AFTER THAT, IT SEEMED TO WORK FOR A SHORT WHILE, BUT THEN THE ISSUE START OCCURRING AGAIN. I HAD MY SPARK PLUGS CHANGED AND NEW COILS , NEW AIR FLOW HOSE TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST SO I TOOK IT TO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHERE THEIR SUGGESTION IS THE PROBLEM IS IN THE THROTTLE BOTTLE. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON LINK WITH THE ACCELERATION ISSUE AND THE SAME SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FROM THE MECHANICS TO FUEL INJECTION , TO SPARK PLUGS TO SEEMING LIKE TRANSMISSION ISSUE AND ITS THE THROTTLE BODY / PLEASE HAVE LEXUS FIX THESE ISSUES.. THEY ARE EXPENSIVE FOR THE OWNER TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THE TROUBLE SHOOTING AND RANGE OF . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TRRead more
Incident date: Jun 16, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A FENCE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM A FRACTURED RIGH
... T ARM AND SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE BODY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 24, 2013
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM CARMAX ABOUT 2.5 MONTHS AGO WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE DAILY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, I NOTICED THE HESITATION WHILE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP OR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE RPM WOULD INCREASE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELE
... RATOR BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10 - 35 MPH. AT FIRST SIGN, IT APPEARED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTED, SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO CARMAX SERVICE CENTER. TWO DAYS LATER I RECEIVED MY 2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH A CLEAN SLATE (THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT INDICATED WEAR) AND I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IF I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH MORE INFORMATION TOMORROW. LEXUS/TOYOTA NEEDS TO EITHER RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO FIX THIS ISSUE OR THEY WILL HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUITS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A CLASS ACTION SUITE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS FROM LEXUS/TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP TOYOTA/LEXUS IN GOOD STANDINGS. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I AM REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I JUST PURCHASED IT. *TRRead more
Incident date: Oct 17, 2013
AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FROM A LIGHT OR STOP THERE IS HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN OWINGS MILLS,MD.SEVERAL TIMES.THE FIRST INSTANCE THEY SAID COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT IT. I WENT BACK COMPLAINING FOR THE SECOND TIME A WAS
... TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGGED FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS FOR ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIEDIT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYSUSE 93OR 89 OCTANE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND I AM ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR.LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED FROM WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS. *TRRead more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2010
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS THAT VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT STOP SIGN OR WHEN INITIALY IN START TO DRIVE AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AT TIMES FOR FEW SECONDS & AT TIMES IT RATTLES 3-4 TIMES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM LEXUS DEALER IN EXCELL
... ENT CONDITION IN 2006 THAT CAME WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY UPTO 75000 MILES BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH SLIGHT & SMOOTH JERK ABOUT 3 YEARS BACK, TOOK IT TO DEALER AFTER NOTICED FOR FEW TIMES TO DIAGNOSIS. AT FIRST INSTANCE THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT SINCE IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT BUT WHEN AGAIN COMPLAINED FOR SECOND TIME WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGED FOLLOWED BY OTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIED IT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYS USE 93 OR 89 OCTAINE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS ONE IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE & USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK MOSTLY ON EXPRESS WAY. WE DO HAVE COUPLE OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT NOT AS IMPORTANT. NOW, LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAVE INCREASED & FROM WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER ES300 OWNERS AS WELL. *TTRead more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2010
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS THAT VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT STOP SIGN OR WHEN INITIALY IN START TO DRIVE AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AT TIMES FOR FEW SECONDS & AT TIMES IT RATTLES 3-4 TIMES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM LEXUS DEALER IN EXCELL
... ENT CONDITION IN 2006 THAT CAME WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY UPTO 75000 MILES BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH SLIGHT & SMOOTH JERK ABOUT 3 YEARS BACK, TOOK IT TO DEALER AFTER NOTICED FOR FEW TIMES TO DIAGNOSIS. AT FIRST INSTANCE THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT SINCE IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT BUT WHEN AGAIN COMPLAINED FOR SECOND TIME WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGED FOLLOWED BY OTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIED IT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYS USE 93 OR 89 OCTAINE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS ONE IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE & USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK MOSTLY ON EXPRESS WAY. WE DO HAVE COUPLE OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT NOT AS IMPORTANT. NOW, LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAVE INCREASED & FROM WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER ES300 OWNERS AS WELL. *TTRead more
Incident date: Jun 15, 2010
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS THAT VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT STOP SIGN OR WHEN INITIALY IN START TO DRIVE AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AT TIMES FOR FEW SECONDS & AT TIMES IT RATTLES 3-4 TIMES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM LEXUS DEALER IN EXCELL
... ENT CONDITION IN 2006 THAT CAME WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY UPTO 75000 MILES BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH SLIGHT & SMOOTH JERK ABOUT 3 YEARS BACK, TOOK IT TO DEALER AFTER NOTICED FOR FEW TIMES TO DIAGNOSIS. AT FIRST INSTANCE THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT SINCE IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT BUT WHEN AGAIN COMPLAINED FOR SECOND TIME WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGED FOLLOWED BY OTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIED IT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYS USE 93 OR 89 OCTAINE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS ONE IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE & USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK MOSTLY ON EXPRESS WAY. WE DO HAVE COUPLE OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT NOT AS IMPORTANT. NOW, LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAVE INCREASED & FROM WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER ES300 OWNERS AS WELL. *TTRead more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2011
ON 9/4/2011 AT APPROX. 1: 41 PM, I WAS PULLING MY 2003 LEXUS ES300 (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE) INTO A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING SPACE WHEN IT SUDDENLY SURGED, THEN ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB AND ONTO A SIDEWALK WHERE PEOPLE WERE DINING AT TABLES. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED OVER THE CURB, I PUSHED HARDER
... ON THE BRAKE AND TRIED TO STEER THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DINERS. AS THE LEXUS GOES OVER THE CURB AND ONTO THE SIDEWALK, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE LIKE IT WAS BEING PULLED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE BUMPER HIT A TABLE OF DINERS. THREE PEOPLE ARE INJURED; ONE WITH COMPOUND FRACTURE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AS I CONTINUED TO PUSH ON THE BRAKE, TRYING TO WILL THIS CAR TO STOP. IT HIT TABLES AND CHAIRS AS PEOPLE JUMPED OUT OF THE WAY OF THIS RUNAWAY CAR! THE CAR DEFLECTED OFF A BUILDING AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDEWALK. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE. TIRE MARKS FROM THE BRAKING WERE VISIBLE ON THE CURB AND SIDEWALK AS LOCAL NEWS STATIONS RECORDED AND AIRED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE WEATHER AND VISIBILITY WERE CLEAR. AROUND 10/4/2011, ONE MONTH AFTER THE WRECK, A TOYOTA INVESTIGATOR INSPECTED THE CAR'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND FOUND IT "OPERATED SMOOTHLY AND RETURNED TO ITS IDLE POSITION WITHOUTANY BINDING OR STICKING...[IT WAS] CORRECTLY ALIGNED...NO DAMAGE OBSERVED. THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS IN PLACE AND SECURE....A DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM CHECK SHOWED THAT THERE WERE NO TROUBLE CODES RELATING TO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE." BUT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AS OF 3/12/2012: PROPERTY DAMAGE: $20,000. LEXUS BODY DAMAGE:$9000. PERSONAL INJURIES: ONE SETTLED, ONE COUNTERED, ONE TALKING WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER. I NO LONGER OWN THE CAR. I WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. *TRRead more
Crash
3 injured
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
2003 ES 300 - AIR BAG SENSOR ISSUES: THIS ISSUE IS ONGOING AS OF NOV 2011 AND STARTED BACK IN 2005. WHY DOESN'T LEXUS OFFER A WAY FOR CONSUMERS TO FIX ERROR CODES ON THEIR OWN VEHICLES? I KNOW WHAT MY ERROR CODE IS - B1186 - THOUGH, LEXUS WOULDN'T TELL ME THIS. I HAD TO FIND OUT BY DOING MY O
... WN DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. DEPENDING ON WHO I SPOKE WITH, THEY TOLD ME DIFFERENT THINGS FROM NEEDING A DRIVER SENSOR REPLACED, TO THE PASSENGER SENSOR, TO THE CENTER SENSOR, TO THE DRIVER AIRBAG, TO NEEDING ALL OF IT REPLACED. EACH PERSON I SPOKE WITH WAS EXTREMELY RELUCTANT TO PROVIDE ME WITH ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT I NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK FOR THEM TO FIX. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN, THEY SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $700 (2008). LAST MONTH, THEY SAID IT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $1500-$3500. I HAVE DONE MY SHARE OF RESEARCH, READING ALL I CAN ONLINE, INCLUDING CONSUMER FORUMS. I HAVE READ 100S OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT AIRBAGS - SENSOR ISSUES, LACK OF DEPLOYMENT, CHECK LIGHT ON, ETC.. IT APPEARS THAT LEXUS HAS HAD ISSUES WITH AIRBAGS FOR YEARS. YET, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALLS OR EVEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. I CAN'T SELL IT WITH THE LIGHT ON AND ITS NOT WORTH PUTTING THAT MUCH MONEY INTO IT. BUT, LEXUS WON'T OFFER ME ANOTHER SOLUTION EXCEPT TO FORK OVER ALL MY SAVINGS. *KBRead more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
2003 ES 300 - TRANSMISSION ISSUES: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ALMOST EVERY TIME, ALONG WITH HARD SHIFTING 50% OF THE TIME. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION CAN BE SCARY IF I'M TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR TURNING LEFT. THE HARD SHIFTING FEELS LIKE I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND.
... BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ONGOING FOR YEARS AND LEXUS DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ANY HELP. I READ MANY OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AS ARE THEIR RESULTS FOR GETTING THESE ISSUES FIXED - NOT MUCH LUCK FROM THE DEALER - "IT WORKS AS IT IS DESIGNED". REALLY? LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ (100S) AND THEIR HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HOW DOES A CONSUMER GO ABOUT PUSHING FOR A RECALL, OR CLASS ACTION OR WILL THE LEMON LAW WORK? *KBRead more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
2003 ES 300 - TRANSMISSION ISSUES: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ALMOST EVERY TIME, ALONG WITH HARD SHIFTING 50% OF THE TIME. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION CAN BE SCARY IF I'M TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR TURNING LEFT. THE HARD SHIFTING FEELS LIKE I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND.
... BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ONGOING FOR YEARS AND LEXUS DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ANY HELP. I READ MANY OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AS ARE THEIR RESULTS FOR GETTING THESE ISSUES FIXED - NOT MUCH LUCK FROM THE DEALER - "IT WORKS AS IT IS DESIGNED". REALLY? LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ (100S) AND THEIR HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HOW DOES A CONSUMER GO ABOUT PUSHING FOR A RECALL, OR CLASS ACTION OR WILL THE LEMON LAW WORK? *KBRead more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2005
2003 ES 300 - TRANSMISSION ISSUES: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ALMOST EVERY TIME, ALONG WITH HARD SHIFTING 50% OF THE TIME. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION CAN BE SCARY IF I'M TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR TURNING LEFT. THE HARD SHIFTING FEELS LIKE I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND.
... BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ONGOING FOR YEARS AND LEXUS DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ANY HELP. I READ MANY OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AS ARE THEIR RESULTS FOR GETTING THESE ISSUES FIXED - NOT MUCH LUCK FROM THE DEALER - "IT WORKS AS IT IS DESIGNED". REALLY? LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ (100S) AND THEIR HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HOW DOES A CONSUMER GO ABOUT PUSHING FOR A RECALL, OR CLASS ACTION OR WILL THE LEMON LAW WORK? *KBRead more
Incident date: Oct 22, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A ROW OF BUSHES AND THEN STRUCK A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE KILLED. A POLICE REPORT WA
... S FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.Read more
Crash
2 deaths
Incident date: Jul 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 TO 40 MPH MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER ARMS, LEGS AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO T
... HE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INVESTIGATING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,000.Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Nov 16, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RAILROAD. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATIE. A POL
... ICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 118,000.Read more
Crash
Incident date: Apr 17, 2009
I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I WOULD HEAR A KNOCK WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ALSO; I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND IT WAS RAINING I WAS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, I WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED I S
... LID FOR ABOUT A MIN. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY ,THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I PREPARE FOR IT NOW BY BEING VERY CAREFUL. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND THE GUY THAT VALET PARKED MY CAR TOLD ME HE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGE AND 2 SETS OF TIRES WITHIN THE LAST 2 YRS NEITHER WAS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TRRead more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2010
I HAD A TOTAL LOSS CAR CRASH , A LEXUS ES 300 ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE , MY NECK AND BACK WERE AFFECTED AND NOT EVEN ONE AIRBAG OPENED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGERS , THAT THANK GOD I WAS THE ONLY ONE , THAT TRAGIC DAY. I BOUGHT THAT CAR , NOT FOR LUXURY BUT FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY IT OFFERED AND THAT I
... N MY CASE DIDN'T WORK. MY CAR HAS A DEFECT AND A VERY SERIOUS ONE. HOW MANY OTHER LEXUS MIGHT HAVE THE SAME DEFECT? DO SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SOLVE THIS. *TRRead more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 10, 2010
I HAD A TOTAL LOSS CAR CRASH , A LEXUS ES 300 ON MY WAY TO COLLEGE , MY NECK AND BACK WERE AFFECTED AND NOT EVEN ONE AIRBAG OPENED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGERS , THAT THANK GOD I WAS THE ONLY ONE , THAT TRAGIC DAY. I BOUGHT THAT CAR , NOT FOR LUXURY BUT FOR THE SAFETY AND SECURITY IT OFFERED AND THAT I
... N MY CASE DIDN'T WORK. MY CAR HAS A DEFECT AND A VERY SERIOUS ONE. HOW MANY OTHER LEXUS MIGHT HAVE THE SAME DEFECT? DO SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE TO SOLVE THIS. *TRRead more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Mar 26, 2010
ON MARCH 26, 2010 MY HUSBAND AND I WERE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS YOU WOULD EXPECT), WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL THROTTLE. IN THE BRIEF BUT TERRIFYING MOMENTS THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL I UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AS I THREW THE
... GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 1, 1901
2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A LOW SPEED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT ABRUPT DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOW
... N FROM HIGHER SPEEDS AND AN ABRUPT UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED A COMPUTER PATCH WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT USUALLY DID NOT WORK AND IT COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JBRead more
Incident date: Jan 1, 1901
2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A LOW SPEED THERE IS A DELAY BEFORE THE ENGINE RESPONDS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT ABRUPT DOWNSHIFT WHEN SLOWING DOW
... N FROM HIGHER SPEEDS AND AN ABRUPT UPSHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A SLOW SPEED. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT DECIDE WHAT GEAR IT SHOULD BE IN. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED A COMPUTER PATCH WAS AVAILABLE FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT IT USUALLY DID NOT WORK AND IT COULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORSE. *JBRead more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MPH. THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT THE DEA
... LER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,972. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.Read more
Crash
Incident date: Mar 7, 2010
PLACE OF ACCIDENT - ST. JOSEPH CHURCH PARKING LOTMACON, GA 31201. I WAS TURNING TO GET INTO THE AVAILABLE PARKING SPACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT NO REASON AT ALL. THE CAR FLEW AND HIT THE ELECTRIC POST IN FRONT OF ME. THIS ALL HAPPENED IN A SPLIT OF A SECOND. LUCKILY, THE CAR SIDE SW
... EPT THE ELECTRIC POST OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO CAR(S) AND THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 25, 2009
TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE COASTING TOWARD AN INTERSECTION AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED. SHE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO VEER TOWARD A NEARBY WOODED AREA. THE V
... EHICLE CRASHED INTO APPROXIMATELY 3 TREES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. AS A RESULT, SHE SUFFERED UNKNOWN INJURIES. THE VEHICLE HAD SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 39,000.Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 15, 2009
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE IN SMALL PARKING LOT, CAR ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. WOULD NOT STOP WHEN STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TWO OTHER CARS. REPORTED TO DMV IN CA, WHERE CAR REGISTERED, ALTHOUGH ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN NEVADA. CAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND REPAIRED BY INSURANCE CO. LEXUS DEA
... LER CHECKED CAR AFTER REPAIR AND BLAMED FLOOR MATS BUT WE DISAGREE. IF ANYONE HAD BEEN BEHIND CAR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED. *TRRead more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 1, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABOVE 80 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO 6 VEHICLES. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. T
... HE POLICE CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 86 MPH DUE TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD INCREASED AT THAT SPEED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 41,000.Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 21, 2005
ODI 10126111 FILED 6-21-2005 SUDDEN ACCELERATION 2003 LEXUS ES300. *TR
Incident date: Jun 10, 2004
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300 PURCHASED APRIL 2004. SHE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXPERIENCING FAILURES WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED AND VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IT WAS IDLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A "SMART CAR" AND WAS AWARE WHEN THERE WAS A DRIVER, OTHER THAN HERSELF BEHIND THE W
... HEEL, WHICH WOULD "CONFUSE" THE VEHICLE. NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER A SECOND TIME. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER BECAME FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE; THEY STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO WAIT A YEAR UNTIL THE "NEW PROGRAMMING" WAS AVAILABLE. ONE YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE SOFTWARE REPROGRAMMING AND THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LUNGE VIOLENTLY WHILE SITTING IDLE, DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 35 MPH OR WHILE COASTING. WHEN THE VEHICLE LUNGED IT FELT AS IF SHE WAS BEING STRUCK FROM THE REAR BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 78,000.Read more
Incident date: Sep 19, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS AC
... CELERATION FAILURES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD SEE NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER BECAUSE THEY HAD NO RELATED REPORTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,094. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,916. UPDATED 04/19/10. *JBRead more
Crash
Incident date: Sep 19, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER WAS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE GEAR, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HE LOST CONTROL OF IT. THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A TREE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS AC
... CELERATION FAILURES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD SEE NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG. SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD HER THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER BECAUSE THEY HAD NO RELATED REPORTS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,094. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,916. UPDATED 04/19/10. *JBRead more
Crash
Incident date: Nov 20, 2009
RE: 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC CONDUCTED COMPUTER TESTS. NO ERRORS REGISTERED. MECHANIC STATED HE THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE THE MEDIA BLITZ OF TOYOTA'S ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC TOOK SOME OF THE ELEC
... TRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM APART CLEANING THE PARTS WITH AN AIRHOSE. CONSEQUENTLY THE STALLING STOPPED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE AND "REPAIR." *TRRead more
Incident date: Jan 1, 2010
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) [XXX]I OWN A 2003 LEXUS ES 300. THE CAR HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR BUT THE ENGINE HAS INTERMITTENTLY SURGED. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 20-30 TIMES TO ME AND HAS HAP
... PENED A COUPLE TIMES TO MY GIRLFRIEND WHEN SHE HAS BORROWED MY CAR. IT'S LIKE THE ENGINE WILL REV UP FOR JUST A SECOND OR 2 AND THEN REV DOWN. THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD DURING THE REV UP. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW. MY ADDRESS IS BELOW IN CASE YOU NEED TO REACH ME. [XXX] *TRRead more
Incident date: Nov 20, 2009
RE: 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC CONDUCTED COMPUTER TESTS. NO ERRORS REGISTERED. MECHANIC STATED HE THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE THE MEDIA BLITZ OF TOYOTA'S ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC TOOK SOME OF THE ELEC
... TRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM APART CLEANING THE PARTS WITH AN AIRHOSE. CONSEQUENTLY THE STALLING STOPPED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE AND "REPAIR." *TRRead more
Incident date: Feb 8, 2010
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN THERE WAS A SMALL SURGE IN ENGINE RPMS, SHE LIFTED HER FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR RETURN TO NORMAL. *TR
Incident date: Jan 13, 2010
ON JANUARY 13, 2010 WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR LEXUS ES 300, THE CAR ACCELERATED AS SHE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPACE, CAUSING THE CAR TO COLLIDE WITH A POLE IN THE PARKING LOT. THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (LEXUS OF LOUISVILLE) WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CLAIMED THE CAR
... WAS NOT ONE OF THE MODELS RECALLED. WE REPAIRED DAMAGE TO THE BODY AT A COST OF $2500, BUT ARE NOW CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TRRead more
Crash
Incident date: Jan 11, 2010
OUR 2003 LEXUS ES 300 ENGINE AREA CAUGHT IN FIRE WHEN MY WIFE PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT. ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS, PARKING LOT SECURITY, HE SAW THE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM THE ENGINE AREA FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND THEN FIRE. HE SAID IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING IS SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL/ENGINE AND CAUGHT THE
... FIRE. WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH DAMAGED AND BURNED HALF OF THE CAR, A LEAD FIRE MAN COMMENTED THAT HE HAS SEEN SEVERAL INCIDENTS THAT THE LEXUS SEDANS WERE SUDDENLY CAUGHT IN FIRE WHILE PARKING. WITH THIS UNFORTUNATE TRAGEDY OCCURRED TO OUR LEXUS CAR, WE ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY FOR ALL LEXUS SEDAN ESPECIALLY ES 300 DRIVING BY CONSUMERS OUT THERE. FORTUNATELY, MY WIFE LEFT THE CAR FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT IN FIRE, BUT MENTALLY SHE WAS STILL IN SHOCK WITH IT. WE DID CONTACT LEXUS TO FILE A COMPLAIN, AND THEY SAID AN ADJUSTER WILL CONTACT US NEXT 10 DAYS TO REVIEW AND DISCUSS THE CASE. IT'S MORE THAN 3 WEEKS AND WE STILL HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM LEXUS. OF COURSE, OUR LEXUS ES 300 IS A TOTAL LOSS NOW, BUT WE REQUEST NHTSA INVESTIGATING AND LOOKING INTO THIS CASE FOR THE SAFETY OF CONSUMERS AND DEMAND LEXUS TO INVESTIGATE AND ANSWER US AND THE PUBLIC THE CAUSE FOR A SUDDEN CAUGHT IN FIRE. THANK YOU! *TRRead more
Fire
Showing 50 of 147 complaints.