29 of the
862 complaints filed about the Lexus ES300
are about the fuel system —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
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 CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS WITH CAUSE LISTED AS " UNDETERMINED" BY THE INSURANCE CO.
NHTSA complaint #10881603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,340. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2015
NHTSA complaint #10668699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATED I FELT FRICTION/VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS.
NHTSA complaint #10471296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR (DAMPER) FAILED ALLOWING FUEL TO FLOW INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FUMES THROUGH AIR INTAKE INTO PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS FIRE IF NOT DETECTED IN TIME AND REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10393180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAVE A 2000 ES300. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE/TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER A QUICK SCAN CODE PO446 WAS DISCOVERED. I STARTED BY TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY; THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER A WEEK. I HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE VACUUM LINES AT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND UP UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COVER. EVERYTHING LOOKS OK. I DO ALL MY OWN WORK, AND I HATE BEING A 'PARTS REPLACER'. I'D RATHER SOURCE THE EXACT PROBLEM AND FIX JUST THAT PARTICULAR PART. HAVING SAID THIS, MY RESEARCH ON THIS SITE HAS INDICATED THAT THE PO446 CODE COULD BE ONE OF MANY THINGS, INCLUDING THE CHARCOAL CANISTER ITSELF, THE VSV ATTACHED TO THE CANISTER, OR THE VACUUM VALVE UP UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COVER. FIRST QUESTION: I WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AT EXPENSIVE WAY? DOES ANYONE HERE KNOW IF THE ISSUE BEING RECALL AND THEY CAN REPLACE NEW OEM CHARCOAL CANISTER INCLUDES THE VSV VALVE? IF IT DOES, HOW CAN I GET THIS DONE. SECOND QUESTION: DO YOU THINK I AM WAY OFF BASE WITH MY INTENTION TO REPLACE THE CHARCOAL CANISTER NEXT? IF SO, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? OBVIOUSLY, I AM TRYING TO AVOID MY DEALER AT ALL COSTS. PERHAPS SOMEONE HERE COULD HELP IN MY QUEST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10356834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I HAVE PERIODICALLY COMPLAINED TO MY TOYOTA OF TUCSON (AUTO MALL) SERVICE DEPT. THAT MY '98 ES300 PERIODICALLY PRODUCES INTENSE GASOLINE ODOR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, MANY MONTHS APART. THE FUMES SEEM TO BE SWEPT IN THROUGH A/C OR HEATING VENTS, AND CAN CONTINUE FOR THE DURATION OF A LOCAL DRIVE, ONLY TO DISAPPEAR THE NEXT TIME THE CAR IS STARTED. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT SEEM TO FOLLOW ANY PATTERN -- NOT JUST AFTER FILL-UP; NOT JUST AT START-UP; NOT JUST WHEN ENGINE HOT OR COLD. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAS OFFERED NO FIX. NOW, WITH LONG-KNOWN TOYOTA PROBLEMS BEGINNING TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COMPANY, I AM WONDERING IF THERE IS, IN FACT, SOME CORPORATE OR NHTSA AWARENESS OF A GAS LEAK ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10313796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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 ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM APART CLEANING THE PARTS WITH AN AIRHOSE. CONSEQUENTLY THE STALLING STOPPED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE AND "REPAIR."
NHTSA complaint #10312992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 HAPPENED A COUPLE TIMES TO MY GIRLFRIEND WHEN SHE HAS BORROWED MY CAR. IT'S LIKE THE ENGINE WILL REV UP FOR JUST A SECOND OR 2 AND THEN REV DOWN. THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD DURING THE REV UP. I THOUGHT YOU WOULD WANT TO KNOW. MY ADDRESS IS BELOW IN CASE YOU NEED TO REACH ME. [XXX]
NHTSA complaint #10312993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 LEXUS E300 ON RTE95 IN PROVIDENCE R.I. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE TRAVELING AT THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC--65MPH. SUDDENLY T CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHOUT WARNING WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I WAS IN THE MIDST OF HEAVY TRAFFIC LOSING SPEED RAPIDLY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD . THE CHIP WHICH FEEDS GAS TO THE ENGINE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10308747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 12 MY WIFE WAS ENTERING A PARKING SPOT WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE 2003 LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY WITH A ROAR SURGED FORWARD JUMPED A PARKING BUMPER AND A HIGH SIDEWALK CURB WENT FORWARD ABOUT 6 FEET AND HIT A CONCRETE AND STEEL GIRDER STAIR CASE. THE CRASH DID OVER 5000.00 DOLLARS DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND OVER 5000.00 DOLLARS TOTHE STAIRS.MY WIFE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND HAD A SORE COLLAR BONE.
NHTSA complaint #10303741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 15, 2009 WE WERE DRIVING HOME AND MY HUSBAND FELT THE CAR ALMOST STALLED. THEN WE SMELLED GASOLINE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM RIGHT UNDER THE ENGINE. WE EXITED THE CAR AND IT WAS ALREADY ON FIRE. THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. IT WAS A 2002 LEXUS 300ES WITH ONLY 44,000 MILES. TOYOTA HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RUDE TO US AND TOOK ALMOST A MONTH TO INSPECT THE CAR. THEY SAY THEY CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. HOW CAN A CAR START ON FIRE WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING IT OVER STRAIGHT ROADS.? WE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER PROBLEM. I READ OF A COUPLE OF OTHER LEXUSES THAT CAUGHT FIRE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO MAKE TOYOTA FULLY EXAMINE THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10276750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION GASOLINE WAS POURING OUT ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THE FUEL PRESSURE DAMPER WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.*AK UPDATED 03/17/06.
NHTSA complaint #10147632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH UP TO DATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THREE MONTHS. ALL BUT ABOUT 1 WEEK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP.. THE INSTRAMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY $1000 TO FIX,,, JOKE... THE POWER STEERING PUMP AMD SENSORS WENT OUT CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO FAIL CAUSED THE CAR TO SEVERLY OVERHEAT,, CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROLS CAUSING CARBON BUILDUP IN THE FUEL INJECTORS, IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE BIGGEST PEICE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER OWNED.
NHTSA complaint #10096210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS A PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS FLOORED. THIS HAS BEEN THERE SINCE I LEASED THE CAR AND I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO A TRANSMISSION LAPSE OR THROTTLE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF NEAR ACCIDENTS WHEN I PULLED OUT TO PASS AND THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS PROBLEM AND OFFERED A FIX, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY NOW SAY THAT THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED.
NHTSA complaint #10070941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICING DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR - BANK 2, SENSOR 1, PART NUMBER 89465-33080 - DEALER LISTED AS $183.30 FOR THE PART WHILE WARRANTY COMPANY LISTED AS $128.11 FOR THE SAME PART. WHEN CHECKING WARRANTY COVERAGE, WAS TOLD WARRANTY DID NOT EXIST - PAID $1,860.00 TO BREDEMANN LEXUS IN GLENVIEW FOR THE WARRANTY ON 6/14/03.
NHTSA complaint #10058211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY. ENGINE CONTINUED KNOCKING, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL REASONS BY DEALER WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. CONSUMER SPENT APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE, BUT THE REPAIRS HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. HAD TO HAVE THE NEW FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REPLACED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. ALSO, CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT. HE FELT THAT HE WAS BEING RIPPED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10048348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.