2003 LEXUS ES300

0 recalls — 147 complaints

No recalls found for this vehicle.

Complaint Statistics

147 total complaints 52 crashes 6 fires 20 injuries 2 deaths

Top Reported Components

ComponentComplaints
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL43
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION19
AIR BAGS9
POWER TRAIN7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL6
ENGINE5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
ENGINE Jun 28, 2019
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... Read more
Fire
ENGINE Jun 25, 2019
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... Read more
Fire
AIR BAGS Jun 5, 2019
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 ... Read more
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Jun 5, 2019
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 ... Read more
AIR BAGS May 17, 2019
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).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Apr 21, 2019
Incident date: Apr 20, 2019
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT.I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND SAME PROBLEM .
ENGINE Apr 16, 2018
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 ... Read more
Fire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY Apr 16, 2018
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 ... Read more
Fire
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Jan 30, 2018
Incident date: Jan 21, 2018
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IN MOTION IN REVERSE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Aug 3, 2016
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... Read more
POWER TRAIN May 22, 2015
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 ... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL May 22, 2015
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 ... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Apr 30, 2015
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... Read more
Crash
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM Apr 8, 2015
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 ... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 23, 2015
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... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Jun 12, 2014
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
POWER TRAIN Nov 14, 2013
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... Read more
ENGINE Nov 1, 2013
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 ... Read more
UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jun 21, 2012
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... Read more
ENGINE Jun 21, 2012
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... Read more
POWER TRAIN Jun 21, 2012
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... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 13, 2012
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... Read more
Crash 3 injured
AIR BAGS Nov 29, 2011
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... Read more
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Nov 29, 2011
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. ... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Nov 29, 2011
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. ... Read more
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Nov 29, 2011
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. ... Read more
AIR BAGS Nov 8, 2011
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... Read more
Crash 2 deaths
AIR BAGS Jul 7, 2011
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Nov 22, 2010
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... Read more
Crash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Oct 20, 2010
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... Read more
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM Aug 22, 2010
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
AIR BAGS Aug 22, 2010
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE Apr 11, 2010
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 ... Read more
Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Apr 9, 2010
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... Read more
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Apr 9, 2010
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... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 15, 2010
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... Read more
Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 9, 2010
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... Read more
Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 9, 2010
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 3, 2010
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Mar 3, 2010
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... Read more
Crash 1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 24, 2010
Incident date: Jun 21, 2005
ODI 10126111 FILED 6-21-2005 SUDDEN ACCELERATION 2003 LEXUS ES300. *TR
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 24, 2010
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... Read more
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 23, 2010
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... Read more
Crash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL Feb 23, 2010
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... Read more
Crash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Feb 23, 2010
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... Read more
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Feb 23, 2010
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... Read more
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Feb 23, 2010
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... Read more
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE Feb 19, 2010
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
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Feb 16, 2010
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 ... Read more
Crash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Feb 11, 2010
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 ... Read more
Fire

Showing 50 of 147 complaints.

NHTSA Safety Investigations — LEXUS ES300

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

DP09001 Opened: Apr 8, 2009 — Closed: Oct 29, 2009
DP — Closed — Model Year: 2003
UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED DP09-001 ON APRIL 8, 2009, TO EVALUATE A DEFECT PETITION REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIAL THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM DEFECTS UNRELATED TO FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDALS IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007 LEXUS ES 350 VEHICLES.THE PET... Read more
DP04003 Opened: Feb 17, 2004 — Closed: Mar 5, 2004
DP — Closed — Model Year: 2003
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM
THE POPULATION NUMBER NOTED ABOVE IS ESTIMATED.IN THE JANUARY 15TH, 2004 PETITION REQUEST LETTER TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA), THE PETITIONER IDENTIFIED 37 VOQ COMPLAINTS AS RELATED TO VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ISSUES SIMILAR TO THOSE THE PETITIONER ALLEGEDLY EXPERIENCED... Read more

LEXUS ES300 — All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the LEXUS ES300 across all model years (1992–2002).

9 Total Recalls
869 Total Complaints
2 Investigations
212 Reported Crashes
28 Reported Fires
8 Reported Deaths

LEXUS ES300 — Year by Year

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

Year Recalls Complaints
2013 0 8 View
2006 0 4 View
2005 0 1 View
2003 (current) 0 147
2002 2 194 View
2001 0 36 View
2000 0 78 View
1999 0 35 View
1998 1 61 View
1997 2 50 View
1996 1 44 View
1995 1 55 View
1994 1 50 View
1993 0 53 View
1992 1 46 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