73 of the 862 complaints filed about the Lexus ES300 are about the airbag system — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.
73
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
50
Crashes
1
Fires
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).
NHTSA complaint #11218107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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).
NHTSA complaint #11208366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FRACTURED BONES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10928784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
SIDE AIRBAGS NEAR WINDSHIELD ARE LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS. AT FIRST IT WAS A SLOW LEAK, BUT REALLY POURS IN NOW
NHTSA complaint #10871321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CAR WAS GOING 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, DRY, PAVED, FLAT STREET WHEN THE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN FACIAL ABRASIONS AND SUDDEN HEARING LOSS IN BOTH EARS WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. TOYOTA MAINTAINS CAR WAS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO A LEXUS SPECIALIST WHO BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE MOISTURE ON FLOOR OF BACKSEAT. I ADVISED HIM TO STOP AND SO VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED AT TIME OF SUBSEQUENT FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST'S INSPECTION. LEXUS HAS REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE IN LIGHT OF ABOVE EXPLANATION. CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE CAR WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. HEARING LOSS REMAINS IN SPITE OF EXPENSIVE NEW HEARING AIDS.
NHTSA complaint #10816356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE GOING APPROX 30 MPH ON A FLAT DRY PAVED ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10714250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SWERVED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED, EMITTING A SMOKEY SUBSTANCE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACE AND EAR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,800.
NHTSA complaint #10693305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY FATHER WAS DISORIENTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE JUST KEPT DRIVING, HOPING TO FIGURE IT OUT. HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A VERY DEEP RAVINE. THE CAR SUSTAINED OVER $17000 IN DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. HE HAS 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 6 DAYS NOW. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. HE BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP, PERFORMANCE LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THEY WORKED ON HIS CAR IN MAY...TOTAL WAS OVER $2000.00.
NHTSA complaint #10606660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CAR HAS BRAKE PEDAL CHARACTERISTIC WHICH ALLOWS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REACH FULL STOP OF THE END OF FULL MECHANICAL TRAVEL (VS. HYDRAULICALLY LIMITED BY BRAKE PRESSURE) AND THE BRAKES ARE NO LONGER ABLE TO APPLY MORE BRAKING FORCE. THIS CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS CAR MODEL IS DIRECTLY LINKED WITH THE CAUSATION OF THE COLLISION AND WAS CERTAINLY A MAJOR SURPRISE TO THE OWNER AS THIS EVENT WAS OCCURRING. NO SUCH WARNING PROVIDED TO CONSUMERS WITH THIS PARTICULAR BRAKING ISSUE IN LEXUS ES300H. CHARACTERISTIC IS ENDEMIC TO THE MODEL AS TESTED IN OTHER IDENTICAL MODELS BY THE OWNER. STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG (ONE OF SEVERAL THAT DEPLOYED IN THIS TOTAL LOSS ACCIDENT) DID NOT PREVENT OWNER FROM PHYSICALLY STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL EVEN THOUGH HE WAS UTILIZING THE SEAT BELT. CHEST FORCEFULLY STRUCK STEERING WHEEL, WHICH SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED AND SHOULD BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURE OF THIS SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM. THE OWNER WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED FROM IMPACTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH INFLICTED SERIOUS BODILY INJURY. FURTHERMORE, HE WAS ABLE TO OBSERVE THE ENGINE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLD UP DURING THE IMPACT AND SO NO VISUAL OBSTRUCTION OCCURRED IN THE MOMENTS OF IMPACT AND AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT PROPERLY COVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO PREVENT STEERING WHEEL BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. SEAT BELTS SHOULD HAVE RESTRAINED THE OWNER FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH IT DID NOT DO. THE OWNER ALWAYS HAD THE SEAT POSITIONED WELL AWAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF THE AIR BAG DESIGN, AND THE SEAT BELTS AND BRAKES NOT WORKING IN A MANNER THEY ARE EXPECTED TO DO SO, THE OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FEATURE TYPICAL ANTI LOCK CAPABILITY, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATE UPON ACTIVATION. NO SUCH PULSATION OCCURRED DURING THIS PRE-ACCIDENT AND ACCIDENT DECELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #10576579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 OWN 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.
NHTSA complaint #10437720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10434902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STAND STILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PAIN ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER, CHEST AND UPPER ARM. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS CRASHED INTO WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE EXPERIENCED BACK PAIN. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 08/30/11 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 11/30/11
NHTSA complaint #10418506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 THE 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.
NHTSA complaint #10410866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE NECK, SPINE AND SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000.
NHTSA complaint #10410546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10390319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE SIDE SWIPED HIS VEHICLE, CAUSING HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASH INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND SHOULDER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTACT HIM. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 09/19/11
NHTSA complaint #10378612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
MY 1998 LEXUS HIT A CEMENT WALL AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CALLED AND WROTE TO LEXUS HEADQUARTERS THREE TIMES AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED. I WANT TO HEAR FROM LEXUS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10376579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
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 IN 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.
NHTSA complaint #10351124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
CAR SURGED OUT OF CONTROL-STOPPED BY A FIRE HYDRANT AND LAWN BUSHES =CAR WAS TOTALED- BAGS DID NOT OPEN-PROBLEM WITH SENSORS REPLACED 2 AND THE\IMMEDIATELY BEFORE CRASH- RUN AWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PLUS ANOTHER LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10313124 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
DD.
NHTSA complaint #10284247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.