2003 Lexus ES300

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2007· AIR BAGSCrash

  OWNER OF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON INTERSTATE, CROSSING A BRIDGE, TAPPED BRAKES WHEN APPROACHING SLUSH AND SNOW, LEXUS ES300 WENT INTO A SPIN, SPUN AROUND ONCE, SPUN ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ROLLING DOWN AN EMBANKMENT, ROLLING OVER TWICE AND LANDING UPSIDE DOWN IN DRAINAGE DITCH. DRIVER WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN, HANGING IN SEAT BELT THAT HAD DEPLOYED THE FULL LENGTH OF THE BELT. SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN THE SEAT, WINDSHIELD, BACK GLASS AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. NO FRONT OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED DURING CRASH OR ROLL OVER. DRIVER SUSTAINED CONCUSSION, NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES. CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY INSURANCE CARRIER. *TR

• 12/31/2003· POWER TRAIN

  SINCE MY ACQUISITON OF A 2003 LEXUS ES-300, THE VEHICLE HAS DISPLAYED VERY UNEVEN SHIFTING AND HESTITATION AS THE TRANSMISSION UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS, PARTICULARLY AT LOW SPEEDS. IN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT AFTER 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING, THE DEALER EXAMINED THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT LEXUS HAD PROVIDED A SOLUTION IN THE FORMS OF A "RE-FLASH" FOR THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER. THIS WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER, FAILED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION AT ALL. WHEN I COMPLAINED A SECOND TIME AFTER 5,600 MILES OF OPERATION, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NOTHING FURTHER COULD BE DONE AND REFERRED ME TO THE LEXUS NATIONAL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LINE. AFTER SEVERAL CALLS I WAS TOLD BY A NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND NOTHING COULD/WOULD BE DONE. IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION, THE VEHICLE IS BOTH UNPLEASANT TO DRIVE AND UNSAFE SINCE IT HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATING.

• 12/23/2011· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LINE RUPTURED (PART NUMBER 23801-20150 PIPE SUB ASSEMBLY). FUEL WAS SPLASHING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND FUMES WERE POURING INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN CAUSING NAUSEA. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A WORK SHOP WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND WE COULD SEE FUEL SPLASHING WHEN THE ENGINE WAS ON. I CONTACTED THE LEXUS DEALER WHO DOESN'T KEEP THE PART IN STOCK AND WOULDN'T COMMENT ON THE PROBLEM NOR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO DIAGNOSE OR ADVISE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

• 12/09/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 11/29/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  2003 ES 300 - TRANSMISSION ISSUES: I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION ALMOST EVERY TIME, ALONG WITH HARD SHIFTING 50% OF THE TIME. THE ACCELERATION HESITATION CAN BE SCARY IF I'M TRYING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR TURNING LEFT. THE HARD SHIFTING FEELS LIKE I GOT HIT FROM BEHIND. BOTH PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ONGOING FOR YEARS AND LEXUS DEALER HAS NEVER BEEN ANY HELP. I READ MANY OF THE ONLINE FORUMS AND FOUND THAT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON AS ARE THEIR RESULTS FOR GETTING THESE ISSUES FIXED - NOT MUCH LUCK FROM THE DEALER - "IT WORKS AS IT IS DESIGNED". REALLY? LEXUS NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ (100S) AND THEIR HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. HOW DOES A CONSUMER GO ABOUT PUSHING FOR A RECALL, OR CLASS ACTION OR WILL THE LEMON LAW WORK? *KB

• 11/29/2011· 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. *KB

• 11/23/2004· TIRES

  DEAR SIR, MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT TOYO TIRES. I HAVE A LEASED LEXUS ES300. THE LEASE STARTED IN DECEMBER OF 2002, FOR 39 MONTHS /36,000 MILES. WE HAVE 18,875 MILES ON THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE & THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE TIRES ARE BOLD. I TOOK IT TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP , SCANLON OF FT. MYERS & THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME FOR NEW TIRES. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF TIRES WEARING OUT AT 18,000 MILES. THE TOYO TIRES ARE CHEAP TIRES. THE TIRES CAME WITH THE CAR, & I HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY ARE MANUFACTURED SO POORLY. IS IT FAIR THAT WE HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW TIRES? THANK YOU, LEONARD MOJTA. *JB

• 11/22/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STUCK AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE RAILROAD. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATIE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 118,000.

• 11/22/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  LEXUS 300 HESITATION. STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR, CAR HESITATED AND HAD TO PUMP ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD. *BF THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MANY TIMES. THE CONSUMER ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CONSUMER PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR TO GO FORWARD. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. *SC

• 11/17/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  THERE IS A DELAY AFTER SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN AT TAKE OFF. THE DEALER COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATES THAT IT IS THE NEW DESIGN. *AK THE PROBLEM WOULD ALSO OCCUR WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN, MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, ENTRANCE RAMPS, INTERSECTIONS AND PARKING SPOTS. *SC *JB

• 11/15/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE CONSUMER STATED AT ANY TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE VEHICLE STICKS IN GEAR. *TC

• 11/14/2013· POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM CARMAX ABOUT 2.5 MONTHS AGO WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE DAILY BACK AND FORTH TO WORK, I NOTICED THE HESITATION WHILE COMING TO COMPLETE STOP OR A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE RPM WOULD INCREASE WHILE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE WHEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 10 - 35 MPH. AT FIRST SIGN, IT APPEARED THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTED, SO I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO CARMAX SERVICE CENTER. TWO DAYS LATER I RECEIVED MY 2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH A CLEAN SLATE (THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS INDICATED THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT INDICATED WEAR) AND I WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IF I STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE CENTER WITH MORE INFORMATION TOMORROW. LEXUS/TOYOTA NEEDS TO EITHER RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO FIX THIS ISSUE OR THEY WILL HAVE A MAJOR LAWSUITS FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH A CLASS ACTION SUITE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS FROM LEXUS/TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES TO KEEP TOYOTA/LEXUS IN GOOD STANDINGS. AFTER READING OTHER COMPLAINTS, I AM REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND I JUST PURCHASED IT. *TR

• 11/13/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE VEHICLE JERKS AND DRAGS, CONTACTED THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT LEXUS WAS DOING SOME SORT OF COMPUTER PROGRAM UPDATE THAT RELATES TO HER VEHICLE. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. MR

• 11/12/2006· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash

  A DISABLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MINE WAS HOVERING OVER NARROW EXPRESS LANE SHOULDER AND RIGHT LANE. I SLOWED AND PUT MY SIGNAL ON PREPARING TO MERGE INTO THE LEFT LANE, BUT THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME DID NOT REACT SIMILARLY AND CONSEQUENTLY REAR-ENDED ME AT FULL SPEED (+). THE FORCE OF THIS IMPACT PUSHED MY CAR INTO THE DISABLED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON EITHER IMPACT, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROTECT ME FROM A SERIOUS SPINAL FRACTURE. *JB

• 11/12/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTERMITTENTLY WHEN PULLING FROM A STOP OR TURNING A CORNER FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE HESITATION WAS NORMAL. THIS HESITATION HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN THREE TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH

• 11/09/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE IS OFF, PERMITTING CAR TO ROLL.*AK

• 11/08/2011· AIR BAGSCrash

  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.

• 11/05/2009· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2003 LEXUS IN TOWN. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PREVIOUS SIMILAR INCIDENTS, AND HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING SINCE. SHE HAD STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, BUT WAS TOO FAR BACK, SO SHE WANTED TO PULL UP A LITTLE. SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD. SHE REPEATEDLY PUSHED THE BRAKE, BUT THEY DID NOT WORK. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN SHE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AFTER THE ACCIDENT, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING OBVIOUS. HOWEVER, SHE, AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS, HAVE VERIFIED THAT SHE REPEATEDLY PUSHED THE BRAKE TO NO AVAIL. *TR

• 11/01/2013· ENGINE

  AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RUNNING FROM A LIGHT OR STOP THERE IS HESITATION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALER IN OWINGS MILLS,MD.SEVERAL TIMES.THE FIRST INSTANCE THEY SAID COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO REPEAT IT. I WENT BACK COMPLAINING FOR THE SECOND TIME A WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE FUEL INJECTORS CLOGGED FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER LIST OF POTENTIAL SERVICE ITEMS FOR ABOUT $1000+ EXPENSE WHICH WE DENIEDIT SINCE WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED OUR CAR GOOD & ALWAYSUSE 93OR 89 OCTANE GAS WITH MAINTENANCE SERVICE AS RECOMMENDED. THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR AND I AM ALWAYS WORRIED ABOUT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT WITH THIS CAR.LATELY THIS HESITATION FREQUENCY HAS INCREASED FROM WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE AND SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS. *TR

• 10/25/2007· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A TWO VEHICLE CRASH. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000. UPDATED 11/14/07.

• 10/20/2010· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD PULL OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY I WOULD HEAR A KNOCK WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE ALSO; I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE EVENING AND IT WAS RAINING I WAS ON A BUSY FREEWAY, I WAS BEGINNING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND A LOUD RUBBING NOISE OCCURRED I SLID FOR ABOUT A MIN. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY ,THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES, I PREPARE FOR IT NOW BY BEING VERY CAREFUL. THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. JUST THE OTHER DAY I WAS ON A BUSINESS TRIP AND THE GUY THAT VALET PARKED MY CAR TOLD ME HE ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE OF THE BRAKES GOING ALL THE WAY DOWN. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHANGE AND 2 SETS OF TIRES WITHIN THE LAST 2 YRS NEITHER WAS THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. *TR

• 10/20/2008· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOCK ON THE DOOR FROZE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER ANY RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,602 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,402.

• 10/18/2007· POWER TRAIN

  THE CAR CHANGES GEAR WHEN BRAKING TO A STOP OR COASTING. WHEN I APPLY THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR MAY HESITATE AND THE SNAP INTO GEAR AND LUNGE FORWARD OR IT MAY QUICKLY GO BETWEEN TWO GEARS UNTIL IT FINALLY JERKS INTO GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. I TOOK THIS CERTIFIED CAR TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE UPDATED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM BUT IT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS BEFORE. THE CAR HAS NOW STARTED TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AS IF WAS CHANGING GEARS BUT DOESN'T NEED TOO. T HE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY BUT I AM DISCOURAGED BY MY FIRST SERVICE EXPERIENCE. *JB

• 10/15/2003· POWER TRAIN

  AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE MOVING. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK *SCC *JB

• 10/15/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THERE IS A PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS FLOORED. THIS LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS LEAVES THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER EXPOSED TO ACCIDENT AND INJURY. LEXUS HAD OFFERED "REPAIR" FOR THIS, BUT IT DOES NOT WORK ON ALL TYPES OF MODELS. THEY NOW STATE THAT THE AUTO IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. *LA *JB

• 10/09/2003· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION IS UNPREDICTABLE. SOMETIMES IT HESITATES, SOMETIMES IT LURCHES. IT SHUDDERS AT TIMES WHEN SHIFTING. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR 2 COMPUTER DOWNLOAD FIXES. THE FIRST LASTED A DAY MAKING THE CAR SEEM LIKE THE DEMO I TEST DROVE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND ANOTHER FIX BY COMPUTER WAS DONE WITH NO CHANGE TO THE QUERKY, UNSAFE CONDITION OF THIS TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE WAS NEARLY BROADSIDED IN CROSS TRAFFIC PATTERN AS THE CAR HESITATED AS SHE ATTEMPED TO TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET. I HAVE HAD 4 SIMILAR SITUATIONS. THESE PROBLEMS ARE AT SPEEDS UP TO 40 MPH. THESE PROBLEMS DO NOT SEEM TO OCCUR IF YOU STOMP ON THE ACCELERATOR FROM A STOPED POSITION. THE GENEARAL MANAGER AT THE AGENCY HAS DRIVEN THE CAR "AROUND THE BLOCK" AND EXPERIANCED NONE OF THESE PROBLEMS. YET THE SERVIVE DEPT. ADMITS ITS NOT THE WAY THIS CAR SHOULD OPERATE AND NO FURTHER MANUFACTURER UPDATE/CORRECTION IS AVAILABLE. THEY SAY THEY ARE WORKING ON IT. THE MANAGER SAYS PER TOYOTA THIS IS THE NORMAL WAY THIS CAR DRIVES AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TO SATISFY MY COMPLAINT. THESE TWO STATEMENTS ARE A CONTRADICTION. I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY ONE OF THE TECHNICIANS TO USE PREMIUM FUEL BECAUSE IT WOULD HELP THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION WORK BETTER. I'VE DONE THIS SINCE THAT CONVERSATION AND THE PERFORMANCE IS STILL SUB STANDARD AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC STILL UNPREDICTABLE AND DANGEROUS. *LA

• 10/08/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT OF MY 2003 LEXUS AND THE AIR CURTAIN DID NOT ACTIVATE. I HIT MY HEAD ON THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW. DAMAGE WAS ESTIMATED OVER $3000.00 ON MY VEHICLE. I TRIED TO GET ANSWERS FROM THE DEALER BUT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE SENSOR WAS LOCATED AND WHY IT DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

• 10/06/2004· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I HAVE NOW SENT MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE TWICE TO LEXUS OF ORLANDO ABOUT UNEXPECTED SURGING OF THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AS I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. WHEN IT DOES OCCUR THE UPSHIFT IS HARSH, THE DOWNSHIFT DELAYED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS CONFUSED ABOUT THE DRIVER'S INTENTION, AND THERE IS PRONOUNCED HESITATION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED. THIS LACK OF RESPONSIVENESS LEAVES BOTH THE VEHICLE AND PASSENGERS EXPOSED TO ACCIDENT AND INJURY. ON MY FIRST VISIT, I WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE COMPUTER WOULD BE RESET, AS THE VEHICLE LEARNS YOUR DRIVING STYLE IN THE FIRST 30 OR SO MILES, AND I MUST HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE HARSHLY. THIS SO CALLED RESET DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM; LESS THAN A WEEK LATER, I NARROWLY ESCAPED A CRASH AFTER MY CAR HESITATED WHILE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I PROMPTLY RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. UPON COMPLETION OF THE SECOND SERVICE, WHICH INCLUDED A DRIVE WITH THE TECHNICIAN, LEXUS SERVICE NOW SAYS THESE PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT TO THE MODEL AND THEY CAN'T FIX THEM. IN ADDITION, I AM AWARE THAT NUMEROUS OWNERS FREQUENTLY COMPLAIN OF HESITATION AND SURGING IN 2002, 2003, AND 2004 MODELS AND MANY COMPLAINTS (OVER 100) OF THE SAME NATURE HAVE BEEN FILED WITH THE NHTSA. THIS STATEMENT IS TO ISSUE NOTICE THAT I AM NOT SATISFIED, AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED.*AK

• 09/29/2006· POWER TRAIN

  I OWN A LEXUS 2003 ES. THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFORMING UNSAFELY! 1. AT STOP LIGHTS, WHILE HOLDING THE CAR STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE, THE TRANS WANTS TO GO AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. 2. AT LOW SPEEDS (20 -30 MPH) THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THE TRANS WILL JUMP DOWN CAUSING THE RPMS TO SUDDENLY INCREASE THEN SLAM INTO THE NEXT GEAR LUNGING THE CAR FORWARD. 3. MY BIGGEST CONCERN DRIVING DOWNHILL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE TRANS JUMPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE INTO 4TH GEAR LUNGING THE CAR FORWARD! I AM AFRAID OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN WHEN THE ROAD IS WET! *NM

• 09/27/2003· TIRES

  THESE TWO ISSUES MAY BE RELATED? THE VEHICLE DISPLAYS INSTABILITY AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THE ORGINAL TIRES WERE MAKING NOISE BEYOND ANYTHING CONSIDERED NORMAL. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 20000K. COST $477

• 09/26/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH IN THE FAST LANE ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO THE RIGHT AND GET OFF THE FREEWAY TO A GAS STATION. AS I WAS SLOWING TO A STOP, THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING BEFORE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL AND IT SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL. I FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT LOWER SPEED TO GET HOME AND THEN GET IT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT MORNING.*JB

• 09/24/2004· POWER TRAIN

  ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I HAVE TAKEN MY 2003 LEXUS ES300 IN FOR SERVICE TO REPAIR A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE 23,511 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING ERRATICALLY AND HESITATING. IT IS CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. LEXUS DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

• 09/22/2007· STEERING

  CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL; TOOK THE CAR TO WILKIE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN ARDMORE, PA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDS NEW STEERING SHAFT. CAR HAS 52000 MILES AND A PART LIKE THIS FAILING THIS EARLY IS NOT EXPLAINED. *JB

• 09/21/2019· STEERING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  I WAS COMING UP MY STREET LIKE I DO EVERY DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING AND I WAS STUCK STARING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I HIT A TREE AND GOT SEVERELY INJURED THE CAR IS TOTALED

• 09/20/2019· STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKESCrash

  I WAS DRIVING IN RESIDENTIAL DOING SPEED LIMIT 30. THE CAR STARTED TO EXHILARATE RIGHT BEFORE MY TURN ON THE MY STREET. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK BECAUSE THE CAR JUST KEPT GOING FASTER THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULDN'T STOP AND RAN START INTO A TREE AND SPUN OUT, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURIES *TT *AS

• 09/19/2006· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A MAIN ROAD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED. THEN, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER.

• 09/15/2003· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE WAS DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT FOR A REPLACEMENT DASH TO ARRIVE. *PH *JB

• 09/12/2006· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH 41000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND ACTUALLY HESITATES THEN JERKS. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL LEAD TO A BREAK DOWN AT SOME POINT. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE ARE NO UPDATES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION. *JB

• 09/06/2012· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  BACKING UP INTO MY DRIVEWAY MAKING TURN TO STRAIGHTEN CAR OUT AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR JUST SPEED UP IN REVERSE. CAUSING CRASH INTO SIDE OF MY HOUSE. AFTER THAT I TRIED TO BACK CAR INTO DRIVEWAY BUT DUE TO DAMAGE WAS UNABLE TO. I PULLED CAR OVER TO STREET PARKING. WHEN I PULLED CAR ONTO STREET THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. RIGHT AFTER INCIDENT I CHECKED TO SEE IF GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK I DONT BELIEVE IT WAS. I WAS STARTLED AND IN SHOCK. REPORTED INCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

• 09/05/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALERSHIP TO INCREASE THE SOUND OF THE TURNING SIGNALS WHEN ACTIVATED, AND THE SIGNALS TURNING OFF ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE TURN SIGNALS. *PH *JB

• 08/31/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER RECALIBRATED (EMC) ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

• 08/22/2010· AIR BAGS,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMCrash

  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. *TR

• 08/21/2014· STRUCTURE,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINECrash

  I WAS REVERSING AND TRYING TO TURN WHEN MY CAR LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION BY IT SELF AND WENT FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP UNINTENTIONAL HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE). IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR FEW DAYS I HAVE EXPERIENCED MUSCLE STIFFNESS, PAIN AND POOR NIGHT SLEEP. *TR

• 08/15/2002· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 45MPH CAR CUT OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.*AK

• 08/12/2015· SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

  NO DESCRIPTION

• 08/07/2005· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT A HESITATION AND STUTTERING WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A SLOW-DOWN OR A STOP. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG SEVERAL TIMES AND MORE RECENTLY HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE COMPUTER-CONTROLLED ACCELERATOR AND CANNOT BE FIXED. I HAVE SEVERAL TIMES HAD A CLOSE CALL ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I NEEDED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY AND THE CAR HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATING. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT HAVE BEEN VERY FRIGHTENED BY THE DELAY IN PERFORMANCE. I HAVE HAD 2 PREVIOUS LEXUS ES 300'S THAT DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM

• 08/06/2019· POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS

  1) PASSENGER DRIVER SIDE DASH AIR BAG LOOKS AS IF IT IS READY TO BURST. 2) TRANSMISSION OFTEN HAS SLIGHT SLIP WHILE DRIVING. I NOTICE AT CERTAIN GEAR CHANGE WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC VEHICLE.

• 08/03/2016· 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.

• 07/28/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  VERIFICATION ON THE INVESTIGATION OF THE 2003 LEXUS ES300 INVOLVED IN SURGING, REPORTING 30 CRASHES DUE TO A POSSIBLE DEFECT. *MR *SC *JB

• 07/26/2004· POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ONGOING AND WORSENING LACK OF ACCELLERATION PREDICTABILITY. CAR WILL HESITATE ESPECIALLY WHEN POWER IS REQUIRED (SUCH AS MERGING TRAFFIC, LEFT TURNS, ETC.) AUTOMATIC RANSMISSION SOUNDS LIKE IT DELAYS ENGAGING WHEN NECESSARY.*AK