Model year record
2001 Lexus ES300 recalls & problems
The 2001 Lexus ES300 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 29 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (8 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2001 Lexus ES300.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2001 Lexus ES300 4-DR. w/SAB
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
ES 300
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 8 | 41,014 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Pads | 8 | 31,500 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission › Park/neutral start interlock switch; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 6 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 3 | — |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery | 2 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 2 | — |
| TiresSidewall | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Equipment | 1 | — |
| Seat beltsFront | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL FILLINGS WERE FOUND INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
- Air bags › FrontalCrash
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO MY HEAD AND EYE. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH BEFORE BREAKING AND CONTACT. *TR
- Vehicle speed control
2001 LEXUS ES 300. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FULL RPM, PROBABLY AROUND 6,000 PLUS. HER FEET WERE FLAT ON THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NOT PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, NOR HAD SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN THE RPMS BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY A COMPUTER FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE RPM TO INSTANTLY INCREASE IN THAT MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WENT TO THE GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEHAVED IN A NORMAL MANNER.
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedalCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A JERSEY WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT FEELS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND NOT STOP AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,014 UPDATED 08/19/10*BF UPDATED 08/24/10
- Equipment adaptive/mobility
I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS 300. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT-EXCEPT FOR 12-18 MONTHS AGO- MY MAT GOT STUCK. AS I DROVE IT KEEP AT HIGH SPEED AND KEPT GOING FASTER- THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AS I PUSHED DOWN. I PIT MY HEAD DOWN AND PULLED AT THE MATT & UNHOOKED THE FRONT HOOK UNDER THE SEAT . I THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY MAT- AS OF THAT DAY-I REMOVED MY MAT & HAVE RUINED MY CARPET, BUT THAT IS FINE. I AM SURPRISED THIS RECALL IS NOT FOR MY MAKE & MODEL- WHEN I HEARD THE ISSUES WITH THE PEDAL...IT BROUGHT BACK THAT DAY- IF I WAS UNABLE TO FREE THE PEDAL, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED- I WOULD NEVER HAD THOUGHT TO HIT THE E BRAKE OR SHUT CAR DOWN- AND I PUT ALL MY POWER…
- Power train › Automatic transmission
TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AT 92,00 MILES AND FAILED, MADE REPAIR $560. NOW AT 104,000 TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY FAILED. *TR
- Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH. THE FIRST VEHICLE SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AND CAUSED THE SECOND VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE BUMPER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE THIRD VEHICLE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INJURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS…
- Vehicle speed controlCrash1 injury
ON 2 RECENT OCCASIONS (NOV 13, 2006 AND MAY 5, 2007) MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND SLAMMED INTO A WALL. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT SHEET METAL (ABOUT $9,000 ON EACH INCIDENT). IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE BUT SHE SWEARS THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. ALSO, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THIS HAVE HAPPENED TWICE. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.