Model year record
2003 Lexus ES300 recalls & problems
The 2003 Lexus ES300 has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 116 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (49 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 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
2003 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 | 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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal | 49 | 35,000 mi |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 27 | 3,724 mi |
| Air bagsFrontal; Side/window | 13 | 55,000 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 11 | 2,545 mi |
| Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery; Ignition › Switch | 10 | 19,000 mi |
| Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor | 7 | 73,000 mi |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 6 | 39,523 mi |
| Engine | 5 | 110,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 57,000 mi |
| StructureFrame and members › Underbody shields | 3 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist system | 2 | — |
| Exterior lightingTurn signal; Headlights | 2 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- EngineFire
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…
- EngineFire
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 EXTINGUISH 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…
- Air bags
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).
- Air bags
(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
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT.I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND SAME PROBLEM .
- EngineFire
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…
- Vehicle speed control
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, IN MOTION IN REVERSE
- Unknown or other
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…
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…
- 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…
- 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…
- 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…