31 of the 862 complaints filed about the Lexus ES300 are about the other systems — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
31
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE OWNED MY 2000 ES 300 LEXUS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER ANY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS . IT HAD 93,204 WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT NOW HAS 238,452.
NHTSA complaint #11243949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 FASTER KIND OF THE SAME EFFECT YOU WOULD GET IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10893003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DEALER AND FINANCE COMPANY CLAIM CLEAN TITLE BUT DOCUMENTS REFLECT OTHERWISE.
NHTSA complaint #10609464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS THAT VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT STOP SIGN OR WHEN INITIALY IN START TO DRIVE AT ABOUT 20-30 MILES PER HOUR AT TIMES FOR FEW SECONDS & AT TIMES IT RATTLES 3-4 TIMES. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED FROM LEXUS DEALER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION IN 2006 THAT CAME WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY UPTO 75000 MILES BUT THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH SLIGHT & SMOOTH JERK ABOUT 3 YEARS BACK, TOOK IT TO DEALER AFTER NOTICED FOR FEW TIMES TO DIAGNOSIS. AT FIRST INSTANCE THEY COULD NOT FEEL IT SINCE IT WAS NOT CONSISTENT BUT WHEN AGAIN COMPLAINED FOR SECOND TIME WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGED FOLLOWED BY OTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIED IT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYS USE 93 OR 89 OCTAINE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS ONE IS MY WIFE'S VEHICLE & USED TO COMMUTE TO WORK MOSTLY ON EXPRESS WAY. WE DO HAVE COUPLE OTHER ISSUES WITH THIS CAR BUT NOT AS IMPORTANT. NOW, LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAVE INCREASED & FROM WHAT I HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH SOME OTHER ES300 OWNERS AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10462547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRAC OFF AND CK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE DURING DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL THEN OPERATE IN A ROUGH MANNER AND WILL NOT STEADILY IDLE, RPM'S DRASTICALLY DROP AND VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL OUT ON THE ROAD DURING OPERATION. ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEXUS OF WILMINGTON IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE: 8/25/04 - CODE 440 PO AND RESET LIGHTS (WARRANTY) NO REPAIRS; 11/03/2005 - CODES P0046, P0441 & P0440 CLAIMED LOOSE GAS CAP & DIDN'T MAKE ANY REPAIRS; 11/16/05 - CANISTER SWITCHING VALVE SHORTED OUT, REPLACED & CLEARED LIGHTS, CHARGE 45.00 FOR VALVE; 02/16/2006 NOW OUT OF WARRANTY; AGAIN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER SHORTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED $362.52; 08/30/2006 BANK 1 SENSOR 1 OXYGEN SENSOR SHORTED OUT, REPLACED SENSOR $280.56; 10/29/09 DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED CODE P0420 CATALYST SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD ON BANK 1, NEED TO REPLACE..$124.95 FOR DIAGNOSTICS CHECK; REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER 1,831.19; 05/13/10 CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION $434.25. MALFUNCTION FIRST OCCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND DEALER DID NOT SUGGEST REPLACEMENT PART DURING THAT TIME. NOT UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED, DID LEXUS EXPRESS CONCERN FOR REPLACE OF PARTS. NOW THE ISSUE HAS AROSE AGAIN AND I DON'T FELL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER FOR ANY ADDITIONAL ISSUES ARISING FROM THE SAME MALFUNCTION. I HAVE ALL SERVICE REPORTS FROM THE DEALER TO DOCUMENT ALL OF THESE OCCASIONS AND MY SERVICE HISTORY FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. ALL OF THESE ISSUES ARE RELATED TO THE TRAC OFF & CK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM LEXUS OF WILMINGTON AND FEEL THEY SHOULD NOW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT, MOST LIKELY, SHOULD HAVE COMMENCED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD.
NHTSA complaint #10381931 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1999 LEXUS ES300. CONSUMER REQUESTS INFORMATION ON TOYOTA DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10361992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM MY HOME. UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO YEILD TO A SCHOOL BUS AND STOP. AFTER THE STOP I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TO PARK THE CAR. I TURNED FOUR TIMES TO GET TO THE PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK OR JUST COASTING. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED. THE CAR ACCERALATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND PROCEEDED ON THE GRASS. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES DOWN HARDER. SINCE THE BRAKEKS WERE NOT RESPOND, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STOMPED/PUMPED THE BRAKES WITH NO AVAIL. THE BRAKES WERE NOT RESPONDING. THE CAR WAS ON THE GRASS AND LUCKILY SINCE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN A LEFT HAND TURN POSTION I AVOIDED HITTING STUDENTS AND A HUGE TREE. USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FINALLY STOPPED THE CAR. 3. I CALLED 180025LEXUS AND HAD THEM PICK THE CAR UP AND TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (STERLING MC CALL LEXUS) THE SERVICER ADVISOR (LOPEZ) CALLED SAYING THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VECHILE AND IT WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN THE CAR WAS PICKED UP MY HUSBAND MADE A NOTATION ON THE SERVIE SHEET SAYING HE DID NOT AGREE. HE ALSO WENT TO TALK TO THE SALES MANAGER (COOK) TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HOW UNHAPPY WE WERE. HE ALSO LET HIM KNOW THAT WE HAD RESEARCHED LEXUS ON THE NHTSA SITE AND FOUND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT AND MANY ORTHER REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED CONCERNING BRAKES NOT WORKING AND WITH HIGH ACCERATION. HE SAID TO REPORT IT TO 180025LEXUS AND HE WOUDL GET ON TO IT ONCE IT WAS REPORTED. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY ISSUE AND SINCE LEXUS WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILTY THE CAR MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10121756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE HAD MY 1998 ES300 IN WITH TOM WOOD LEXUS OF INDIANAPOLIS WELL OVER A DOZEN TIMES SINCE DECEMBER OF 2002 FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE ABS/TRAC OFF AND LOW OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF RANDOMLY. AFTER REPLACING THE ABS PUMP ($1,400 FOR THE PART ALONE), THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. AFTER AN UNACCEPTABLE AMOUNT OF FALSE DIAGNOSTICS, WASTED SERVICE TRIPS (AT LEAST A WEEK LONG EACH TIME) AND USELESS BUT COSTLY REPAIRS, MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP. THEY SUSPECTED THAT A SLUDGE ENGINE IS THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEMS. BUT IT TURNED OUT THAT I DID NOT HAVE THE SLUDGE PROBLEM. THE LEXUS DEALER ENDED UP FINDING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE OIL SENSOR SYSTEM. THIS WAS AFTER THEY REPLACED THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL ACTUATOR PUMP AND THE ABS ECU. IT TOOK THEM 6 MONTHS TO FIND AND FIX ALL OF MY PROBLEMS. IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE 6 MONTHS AND TOOK UP ALMOST ALL OF MY VACATION TIME FROM WORK FOR THE YEAR TO MAKE WASTED TRIPS TO THE DEALER. MOST OF THE LOANER CARS THEY GAVE ME WERE SMOKY JUNKERS THAT I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WEEKS AT A TIME. I HOPE THIS PROVIDES INSIGHT FOR FUTURE CUSTOMERS. THE CARFAX REPORT I RAN CAME UP CLEAN WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN NOVEMBER OF 2002. I HAVE HAD IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH AFTER IT WAS FINALLY "REPAIRED" AND IT IS WORKING WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10070202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE LEXUS SPECIALIST AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER ES 300 MODELS AS WELL AS THE RL MODELS AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THE ONES WITH THE TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES HAVEN\\\\\\'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS A TSB ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT THERE.
NHTSA complaint #10070114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I REALIZE THAT MY PROBLEM, WITH A BAD RADIO IS NOT A MECHANICAL ONE. HOWEVER, I AM SENDING THIS FOR YOUR INFORMATION, AND TO INDICATE THAT LEXUS DOES NOT LIVE UP TO ITS ADS AS PURSUING PERFECTION I HAVE SPOKEN TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT LEXUS, IN MY DEALERSHIP AND AT THE MAIN OFFICE OVER A PERIOD OF 10 MONTHS. I HAVE EVEN WRITTEN TO THE VICE PRESIDENT OF LEXUS. HE DID NOT REPLY TO MY FIRST LETTER SO I SENT HIM A SECOND LETTER, CERTIFIED. RETURN RECEIPT. I RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO THAT SECOND LETTER FROM SOMEONE AT CUSTOMER RELATIONS. IN ADDITION TO THAT CALL, I HAVE RECEIVED A CALL FROM A SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR, AND FROM ANOTHER PERSON. THE FINAL DECISION SEEMS TO BE THAT, ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE RADIO IN THE ES 300, AND THAT THEY REALIZE THAT IT IS DUE TO A FAULTY ANTENNA IN THE REAR WINDOW, BUT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. I TOLD THAT PERSON THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AND AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE WHICH I ASSUME WILL BE NEGAZTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10070548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY EXPERIENCED A HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING, THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10012059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER IS COMPLAINING OF THE INVISIBILITY OF THE RED GAUGE INDICATOR NEEDLES. THE COLOR OF THE NEEDLES AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND MAKES THEM IMPOSSIBLE TO READ.
NHTSA complaint #568222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE LIGHTS , CHECK ENGINE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES I FELT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE ENGINE WAS GETTING HOT AND OVERHEATING, CUTTING OUT DYING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THEN THE TEMP GUAGE NEVER BOBBLED OR MOVED UNTIL THE CAR TRIED TO DIE AT 45 MPH. THEN IT BOBBLED, JUST SLIGHTLY THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THE RADIATOR WAS FRIED DRIED. AND THE PISTON RINGS ARE FRIED AND TOAST AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, THEY CHANGED THE RADIATOR AND ADVISED ME OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH I KNEW NOTHING OF AND THE PISTON RINGS. IF I JUST REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS, IN ABOUT A 3 MONTHS I WILL HAVE TO DO THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE ENGINE. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO DO THAT. THE IDIOT LIGHTS AND GAUGES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. DT
NHTSA complaint #768748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I CANNOT READ THE RED DIAL ON THE SPEEDOMETER. DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, IT FADES AWAY EVEN THOUGH THE PANEL LIGHTS ARE TURNED ALL THE WAY UP. I KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC, NOT KNOWING HOW FAST (OR SLOW) I AM GOING. THIS ONLY HAPPENS DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, NOT NIGHTTIME. I SPOKE TO LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE (MS. YVONNE CHILDS, 800 255 3987) AND TO RAY CATENA LEXUS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NOBODY CALLED ME BACK. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE CORRECTED. TS
NHTSA complaint #768004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE CANNOT VIEW THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING THE DAYTIME. THE MFR ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PANEL IS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *MR THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE WHITE NUMBERS ON THE INSTRUMENTS WERE OKAY, BUT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE RED NEEDLE DURING THE DAY LIGHT (UNLESS YOUR IN THE SHADE/OR IN THE EVENING). THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE IS UNABLE TO TELL THE SPEED OF TRAVEL, WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OVERHEATING, AND/OR THE AMOUNT OF FUEL LEFT. ALSO THE MULTI-INFORMATION DISPLAYS AND THE ODOMETER READINGS ARE BARELY VISIBLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVES A STANDARD ANSWER THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8020437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WE CANNOT SEE THE RED DIAL ON THE SPEEDOMETER EVEN THOUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT CONTROL IS TURNED FULLY UP. WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. WE JUST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC. WE SPOKE TO YVONNE CHILDS AT LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE (800 255 3987) WHO WOULD LOOK INTO IT, BUT NEVER GOT BACK TO US. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON, AND HE SAID HE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #767164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WE CANNOT SEE THE RED DIAL ON THE SPEEDOMETER EVEN THOUGH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT CONTROL IS TURNED FULLY UP. WE NEVER KNOW HOW FAST WE ARE GOING. WE JUST TRY TO KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC. WE SPOKE TO YVONNE CHILDS AT LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE (800 255 3987) WHO WOULD LOOK INTO IT, BUT NEVER GOT BACK TO US. I SPOKE TO ANOTHER SERVICE PERSON, AND HE SAID HE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY FACTOR THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #767164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE DIGITAL DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.*AK
NHTSA complaint #8017412 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
INDICATOR NEEDLE ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE NOT VISIBLE DURING DAY LIGHT HOURS. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #8015808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.