2003 Lexus GS300

Routine

Owners filed 12 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 Control4
211
Tires3
000
Structure › Body › Hood1
000
Power Train1
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages1
000
Engine1
000
Air Bags1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Jul 8, 2019214,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GS300. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE MADE AN UNUSUAL REVVING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THREE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND DID NOT TURN OFF. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PEDAL STIFFENED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Dec 2, 201580,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GS300. WHILE THE HOOD WAS OPEN, IT SUDDENLY FELL DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 3, 2014FL

LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2003 GS300 LEXUS AIRBAG. *SMD THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS WERE SAFE. *JB

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashFire
Filed Jul 17, 201389,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AS A MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Apr 28, 201058,000 milesDC

DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE MAKING THE DOOR NOT LOCK AND/OR NOT OPEN. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 25, 201028,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, CRASHED INTO A PARKING SIGN AND A FIRE HYDRANT. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WHEN IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. HE SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO HIS RIGHT SHOULDER AND KNEE. THE BOYNTON BEACH SHERIFF REPORT 09802709 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000. UPDATED 3/30/10 *CN UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 4, 201080,000 milesAZ

WHILE STOPPING THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES THE BRAKE DISTANCE IS EXTENDED AS THE CAR IS SLOW TO STOP. ON A REGULAR BASES THE VEHICLE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, I THEN HAVE TO PULL THE PEDAL UP WITH MY LEFT FOOT TO BEGIN ACCELERATION. WHEN APPROACHING SLOWER TRAFFIC AS THE TRAFFIC RESUMES AT REGULAR SPEEDS THE BRAKE PEDAL STICKS AND CONTINUES STOPPING THE CAR. *TR

Tires
Filed Mar 19, 200970,000 milesFL

DOT PJ8N GRAND SPIRIT TOURING HR 225X55X16 TIRES [4] FAILED ON THE INSIDE WALL TWO INCHES FROM THE RIM. LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. PROBLEM FROM INJECTION MOLDING OF TIRE AT FACTORY. HAVE PICTURES TO SHOW IF NEEDED. NO RECALL YET! TWO THOUSAND MILES ON TIRES. BRAND NEW CONDITION. INSIDE WALLS CRUMBLED, AND LOST AIR PRESSER. NO WARRANTY IMPLIED. HAD TO BUY 4 NEW TIRES. VERY UPSET! *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 12, 20044,000 milesAL

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB

Tires
Filed Sep 24, 200413,270 milesVA

PASSENGER SIDE BACK TIRE BLEW UP ON PA81 AT SPEED OF 60 MPH.*AK

Tires
Filed Sep 21, 200413,000 milesVA

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE TIRE BLEWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 10, 2004CA

UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PRIMARILY WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, MY VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO RECORD OF A PROBLEM OF THIS NATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I SAW A ARTICLE ON THE INTERNET THAT THE NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER TOYOTA PRODUCTS. *AK

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20190200Routine
20180100Routine
20141000Routine
20131000Routine
20070100Routine
2006124210Routine
20052000Routine
20046000Routine
2003 — this page12010Routine
200213001Fatalities reported
200117000Routine
200035020Routine
199938000Routine
199860110Routine
19970100Routine
19962100Routine
19959100Routine
19946100Routine
19937100Routine

Compare every GS300 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.