Model year record

2002 Lexus ES300 recalls & problems

The 2002 Lexus ES300 has 2 safety recalls and 153 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (55 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints153filed by owners

Crashes · fires37 · 5reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths24 · 0reported in complaints

2002 Lexus ES300 in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Air bagsDec 11, 2001

Frontal

Recall 01V37200019,587 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THREE-SPOKE STYLE STEERING WHEEL. DURING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE BOTTOM SEAM OF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE COVER (HORN PAD) COULD BE TORN AWAY ALLOWING THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE COVER TO COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THE AIR BAG MODULE.
Risk: IF THIS SHOULD OCCUR, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE DETACHED BOTTOM PORTION MAY STRIKE THE DRIVER CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331 OR LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.

Service brakes, hydraulicDec 11, 2001

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 01V3710001,697 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE TUBE MAY HAVE BEEN DEFORMED PRIOR TO VEHICLE DELIVERY DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF A COIL SPRING SPACER THAT WAS INSTALLED TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE DURING TRANSPORTATION.
Risk: IF THE BRAKE TUBE IS DEFORMED SIGNIFICANTLY, IT COULD CONTACT THE INNER FENDER PANEL, AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TUBE DUE TO VIBRATION DURING DRIVING. BRAKE TUBE DAMAGE COULD ALSO LEAD TO BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE AFTER EXTENDED USE OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE LINE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.

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

2002 Lexus ES300 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2002 Lexus ES300 NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

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

21mpg combined

City / highway	18 / 27 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/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	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)	55	1	0	1	3,804 mi
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal; Cruise control	51	30	0	12	40,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	12	3	0	0	17,000 mi
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition	11	1	0	1	—
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	9	8	0	10	40,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline › Belts and associated pulleys	9	1	2	0	69,000 mi
Unknown or other	9	0	1	0	—
TiresTread/belt	7	0	0	0	17,523 mi
Fuel system, gasolineStorage; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	4	0	1	0	—
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer › Motor	3	0	0	0	—
Suspension	3	0	0	0	—
SteeringRack and pinion	3	2	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

SeatsCrash3 injuries
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 45 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGERS SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS…
Sep 25, 2016 · 155,000 miles
Electronic stability control (esc)
I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY LEXUS AND IT WOULD NO LONGER IDLE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DIES.. THE COMPUTER LOST THE IDLE PARAMETERS THIS IS DANGEROUS AS I TURNED LEFT OFF ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER TOOK MY FOOT FROM ACCELARATOR TO BRAKE ENGINE DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING ALMOST WRECKED MOST MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT LEXUS REFUSED TO ADMIT IT GOOGLE IT ALL OVER INTERNET
Dec 8, 2017 · 100,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
2002 LEXUS EXCELERATED ON IT'S OWN.I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY I STEPPED ON GAS TO GO WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC , THEN TRAFFIC STARTED BACKING UP SO I WENT TO USE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT CAR KEPT EXCELERATING. I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO TRY TO STOP ,THEN I FELT A POP FROM GAS PEDAL AT THAT TIME IT STOPPED EXCELLERATING
May 6, 2017
Fuel/propulsion systemFire
WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN & BRIEF SHUTTER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF RESPONSE BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MOVE OFF THE FREEWAY KNOWING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. UPON GETTING O THE OFF RAMP I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN A VERY FEW MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PASSERS BY WHO STOPPED TO ASSIST ME INDICATED THAT THEY SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FIRE (EITHER FLAMES, SMOKE OR GAUGE INDICATIONS) FOR ME S THE DRIVER UNTIL I HAD EXITED TO THE OFF RAMP. THE…
Jun 13, 2016 · 236,400 miles
Air bags
SIDE AIRBAGS NEAR WINDSHIELD ARE LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS. AT FIRST IT WAS A SLOW LEAK, BUT REALLY POURS IN NOW
Jan 7, 2016
Engine
LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE/GRAY SMOKE WHEN CAR SITS OVERNIGHT FROM PREVIOUS NIGHT DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED BECAUSE OF THIS. WHY NOT A RECALL????
Sep 2, 2015 · 145,000 miles
EngineFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WERE FLAMES AND A BLACK SUBSTANCE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR CENTER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Jan 4, 2016 · 130,000 miles
Engine and engine coolingFire
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
Jan 8, 2015 · 180,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONClosed
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 PETITIONER REFERENCED AN EARLIER ODI INVESTIGATION CONCERNING FLOOR MAT INTERFERENCE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN (PE07-016/EA07-010), WHICH HE STATED WAS TOO NARROW IN SCOPE AS IT DID NOT INCLUDE ALL INCIDENTS OF UNWANTED ACCELERATION AND CONSIDER ALL POTENTIAL CAUSES OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL CONCERNS.THE PETITION ALSO REQUESTED AN INVESTIGATION OF MY 2002-2003 LEXUS ES300 FOR THOSE 'LONGER DURATION INCIDENTS INVOLVING UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION WHERE BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION ALLEGEDLY HAD NO EFFECT' THAT WERE DETERMINED NOT TO BE WITHIN THE SCOPE OF INVESTIGATION PE04-021. AS BACKGROUND, THE…
DP09001 · opened Apr 8, 2009 · closed Oct 29, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLClosed
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 COMMENCE 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…
DP05002 · opened Aug 5, 2005 · closed Jan 5, 2006
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMClosed
THE LEXUS MODELS WERE THE SUBJECT OF DEFECT PETITION (DP) 04-003.TWELVE ODI COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE TO TOYOTA REPORTS, INCLUDING THE TWO MINOR CRASHES.THE V6 EQUIPPED SOLARA MODELS HAVE BEEN EXCLUDED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CONTAIN THE SUBJECT THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.TOYOTA INTRODUCED ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BEGINNING IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2002.ODI OPENED THE INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE IF THE SYSTEM COULD BE THE CAUSE OF COMPLAINTS ALLEGING THE ENGINE SPEED INCREASED, OR FAILED TO DECREASE, (FOR A SHORT DURATION) WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED (THE ALLEGED DEFECT).DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ODI ANALYZED AGENCY DATA AND REVIEWED VEHICLE OWNER QUESTIONNAIRE (VOQ) REPORTS, CONDUCTED INTERVIEWS INVOLVING 113 VOQ AND 36 TOYOTA REPORTS, INSPECTED TWO COMPLAINANT VEHICLES, REVIEWED RELEVANT TOYOTA SERVICE AND NEW CAR FEATURE…
PE04021 · opened Mar 3, 2004 · closed Jul 22, 2004
THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEMClosed
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 IN THEIR OWN VEHICLE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS (AS DESCRIBED IN THE PETITION REQUEST LETTER).DURING IT'S CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) REVIEWED THE 37 COMPLAINTS AND CONCLUDED THAT 34 OF THE COMPLAINTS DID NOT INVOLVE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE AS DESCRIBED AND ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER; THREE VOQS (ONE OF WHICH IS THE PETITIONER'S) DO ALLEGE A THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUE.HOWEVER, THE THROTTLE CONTROL ISSUES ALLEGED BY THE PETITIONER ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE ALLEGED IN THE SUPPORTING VOQS FOR PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE04-021 WHICH INVOLVES THE THROTTLE CONTROL…
DP04003 · opened Feb 17, 2004 · closed Mar 5, 2004