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.
2003 Lexus GS300
Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body › Hood | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsTL* 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.
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
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.
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE MAKING THE DOOR NOT LOCK AND/OR NOT OPEN. *TR
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
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
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
WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *JB
PASSENGER SIDE BACK TIRE BLEW UP ON PA81 AT SPEED OF 60 MPH.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. NO IMPACT REPORTED. *AK THE TIRE BLEWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY. *TC *JB
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| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Deaths | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2018 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2007 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2006 | 124 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2004 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2003 — this page | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Fatalities reported |
| 2001 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 2000 | 35 | 0 | 2 | 0 | Routine |
| 1999 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1998 | 60 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Routine |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1996 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1995 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1994 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
| 1993 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Routine |
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.