2003 Lexus ES

Routine

Owners filed 23 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control5
301
Engine3
101
Service Brakes2
202
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Air Bags2
100
Unknown or Other1
100
Suspension1
000
Steering1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Instrument Panel › Speedometer/Odometer
Filed Mar 27, 2026235,000 milesCA

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Lexus ES 300. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 136,406. At the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 235,000.

Engine
Filed May 3, 2023WI

UNKNOWN

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 21, 2019260,000 milesTX

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

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 20, 2019260,000 milesTX

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

Air Bags
Filed Aug 6, 2019CA

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.

Suspension
Filed Aug 12, 2015GA

NO DESCRIPTION

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Mar 20, 201588,600 milesCA

DRIVING OUT OF MY GARAGE USUALLY SLOWLY AND WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS WHILE IN REVERSE TO PULL OUT THE CAR JUST FLEW OUT INTO THE STREET. THE IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO BRAKE AND COULDN'T WORK. WHEN I HIT A TRUCK IN THE STREET BEHIND ME THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. I HAD NO CONTROL. THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, A FIRST TIME AND A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. THE CAR IS AT THE LEXUS AUTHORIZED BODY SHOP WAITING FOR THE LEXUS INSPECTOR TO GO OVER THE CAR. I WOULD BE AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN THE FUTURE THINKING THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN ANYTIME. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND FELT THIS IS THE BEST CAR I EVER OWNED UNTIL NOW. *TR

EngineCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 21, 2014135,000 milesTX

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

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 6, 201468,000 milesMI

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT SNAP INTO BUCKLE. IF I DEPRESS THE RELEASE AND PUSH THE METAL PART IN AT THE SAME TIME IT WILL CATCH AND HOLD. BUT IT WILL NOT GO IN NORMALLY. *JS

Electrical System
Filed Feb 27, 201358,000 milesCA

DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. CAN'T OPEN DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. NO MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN DOOR. I'M 82 YEARS OLD AND COULD NOT FINE A WAY TO OPEN MY DOOR WITH THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTE CONTROL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN . *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Sep 6, 2012126,000 milesNJ

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

Engine
Filed Jun 1, 2012125,000 milesCA

1. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITH INITIAL ACCELERATION (SLOW OR QUICK ACCELERATION). 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES. I SUSPECT THAT OUNCE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS FIXED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. 3. I HAVE GONE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER WITH A NEW CHIP TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH NO SUCCESS. 4. I HAVE DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT HUNDREDS OF LEXUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. IN SOME CASES THE DEALERS HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SUGGEST THATS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED! WHY ISN'T LEXUS LISTENING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS? THANKS *TR

Unknown or OtherCrash
Filed Jan 29, 2012MD

VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHEN IT WAS PUT IN REVERSE, CAUSING IT TO HIT A PARKED CAR IN BACK OF IT. THE ACCELERATION WAS INSTANTANEOUS AND VERY FAST. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER DID NOT HAVE TIME TO REACT BEFORE THE VEHICLE SLAMMED INTO THE PARKED CAR. *TT

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 23, 2011109,000 milesGA

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

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 12, 201032,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LEXUS ES. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Oct 25, 200720,000 milesKS

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.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Oct 18, 200732,000 milesNC

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

Steering
Filed Sep 22, 200752,000 milesPA

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

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 5, 200750,313 milesIA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS 300 ES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY AFTER IT JUMPED A CURB. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICE AND PICTURES. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,313.*AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 12, 2006IL

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

20 of 23 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20254110Routine
20249200Routine
202310200Routine
20229000Routine
202128100Routine
202018100Routine
201934100Routine
20185000Routine
20172000Routine
20169000Routine
20155000Routine
20144000Routine
201333000Routine
201231010Routine
201146000Routine
201041000Routine
200928000Routine
200868000Routine
2007125010Routine
200612000Routine
200558000Routine
200416000Routine
2003 — this page23000Routine
200227050Routine
20012000Routine
20006030Routine
19998130Routine
19981100Routine
19972100Routine
19961000Routine

Compare every ES year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.