Major Problems with Lexus ES 300 Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Lexus ES 300 to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Lexus ES 300

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Lexus ES 300.

Model Year	Complaints
2003 ES 300	63
2002 ES 300	84
2001 ES 300	17
2000 ES 300	32
1999 ES 300	17

Worst 3 Lexus ES 300 complaints

2001 Lexus ES 300 FRONT Victims: 3 Mileage: 60000 miles

2003 Lexus ES 300 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Victims: 3

2002 Lexus ES 300 SEATS Victims: 3 Mileage: 155000 miles

Browse Lexus ES 300 complaints by category

Problems with VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and ACCELERATOR PEDAL are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Lexus ES 300 owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL due to the design of the speedometer consumer cannot read the gauge during the bright daylight hours. the pointer is...	40 ~ 71830 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN when accelerating out of a slow turn(usually a u-turn) the car will delay approx 1 second before transmission engages. when	35 ~ 16033 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ongoing and worsening lack of accelleration predictability. car will hesitate especially when power is required (such as merging traffic left	14 ~ 20371 miles
POWER TRAIN i purchased my vehicle from carmax about 2.5 months ago with an extended warranty. after driving my vehicle daily back...	13 ~ 132906 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER when driving during daylight hours we cannot see the red dial on the speedometer even though the instrument panel light...	12 ~ 157581 miles
ENGINE after the vehicle has been running from a light or stop there is hesitation when trying to accelerate. i have...	9 ~ 150073 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2003 lexus es 300 with brake failure. consumer states that the brake failure had occurred a few weeks after having...	9 ~ 56860 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS when pulling into a parking spot driver depressed the brake pedal and vehicle suddenly accelerated. vehicle went over the curb...	9 ~ 62722 miles
AIR BAGS while driving the air bag light illuminated on the dashboard. the was dealer notified. *ak the dealership returned the vehicle...	9 ~ 102200 miles
TIRES while driving 50 mph rear passenger's side tire blew out. *ak...	6 ~ 17667 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while shifting gears vehicle jerked and hesitated to move. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and mechanic...	6 ~ 57334 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING there is a pronounced hesitation when the accelerator is floored. this lack of responsiveness leaves the vehicle and the driver...	6 ~ 10 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING the vehicle had problems picking up speed when the accelerator was pressed the vehicle did not respond it sounded as...	6 ~ 54757 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING there is a delay after sitting at a stop light and then at take off. the dealer could duplicate the...	5 ~ 46335 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES dear sir my complaint is about toyo tires. i have a leased lexus es300. the lease started in december of...	4 ~ 17523 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS 1. while pulling into a parking space at 2-4 mph with my foot on the brake the car suddenly accelerated...	4 ~ 2506 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING my 2002 lexus es 300 when driven at highway speed at night time the headlights (hid's) keep coming closer and...	4 ~ 27000 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while parking consumer depressed the brake pedal and vehicle lurched forward hitting a building. the front of the vehicle was	4 ~ 20 miles
STEERING hesitation upon acceleration. i notice the vehicle lacks the ability to pick up speed from a slow down or dead...	4 ~ 71816 miles
INTERIOR/UNDER DASH > WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM optitron instrumentation: not easy to read in broad daylight. when driving it's important to keep your eyes on the road....	4
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2003 lexus es300. while driving at an unknown speed smoke was noticed coming from the...	3 ~ 108000 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM several times when i accelerate from a stop sign...car surges. *tr...	3 ~ 143869 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN 2002 lexus es300 car lunges and jerks during acceleration and deceleration. car drove fine until lexus upgraded software and then...	3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE on june 12 my wife was entering a parking spot with her foot on the brake pedal when the 2003...	3 ~ 64774 miles
CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM) > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN since my acquisiton of a 2003 lexus es-300 the vehicle has displayed very uneven shifting and hestitation as the transmission...	3 ~ 9667 miles
SUSPENSION while driving at 55 mph or above vehicle will strongly pull to the left. dealer changes wheels/tires and done an	3 ~ 175000 miles
STRUCTURE the consumer complained about the design of the windshield. the consumer stated that it was difficult to see through the	3
SEAT BELTS i have owned my 2000 es 300 lexus for 10 years never any concerns or problems . it had 93	2
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM i had a total loss car crash a lexus es 300 on my way to college my neck and back...	2 ~ 97000 miles
EQUIPMENT 2003 lexus es 300 with brake failure. consumer states that the brake failure had occurred a few weeks after having...	2 ~ 10000 miles
CATALYTIC CONVERTOR > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM strong sulfur smell inside car when stopping after brisk acceleration. a/c in normal setting. lexus aware of this problem and...	2 ~ 22500 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION vehicle rolls backward when placed in the drive position acting like it's in the neutral position. *slc...	2
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY when windshield wipers were in use at fast speed vehicle would shake. vehicle would hesitate before accelerating. been in contact...	2
TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING problems with vehicle's turn signals.*mr the consumer wanted the dealership to increase the sound of the turning signals when activated...	2 ~ 3000 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE takata recall the back suspension on the car feels like is you have no control she you hit a bump...	1 ~ 175000 miles
SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2002 lexus es300. while the contact was stopped in traffic the vehicle was rear ended...	1 ~ 155000 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL my 2000 lexus es300 was having issues with the rpm ramping up high when the engine is warm up especially...	1 ~ 173000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC car surged out of control-stopped by a fire hydrant and lawn bushes =car was totaled- bags did not open-problem with	1 ~ 92000 miles
EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING had to replace evap charcoal canister on my lexus es300 my co-worker also had to replace this on his rx300	1 ~ 108920 miles
RIM > WHEELS issue involve 1999 lexus es300 chrome wheels (rims). failures to maintain air pressure. numerous owners are experiencing this lexus known	1
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the passive restraint system light on the dash illuminated. the vehicle was taken to the dealer	1 ~ 117000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS front end collision resulting in head injury of restrained front seat passenger. injury resulted from impact with radio. seat belts	1 ~ 60000 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS i was in a auto accident and was hit on the left front of my 2003 lexus and the air...	1 ~ 37000 miles
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING while driving 65 mph driver was making a right turn lost control of the vehicle and hit a concrete barrier....	1
RACK AND PINION > STEERING 1. while pulling into a parking space at 2-4 mph with my foot on the brake the car suddenly accelerated...	1 ~ 12 miles
DRUM > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS rear brakes wore out prematurely. manufacturer was contacted but this complaint has as of yet not been resolved. *ak...	1 ~ 50000 miles
SWITCH > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ignition key can be removed when in neutral and engine is off permitting car to roll.*ak...	1 ~ 12600 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL was driving to california in my 2002 lexus es300 last september and was adjusting the cruise control when suddenly it...	1 ~ 19500 miles
PADS > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS problems with 2002 lexus es300 sedan. *mr the brake problem seemed to be corrected. (due to vibration when the brakes...	1
INTERIOR LIGHTING on a sunny day and while in motion consumer states the dashboard cannot be read even with sunshades on. dealer	1 ~ 15000 miles
WHEELS the wheels on this vehicle break under normal driving conditions--if you hit the slightest uneven road they will bend break	1
PEDALS AND LINKAGES > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC the vehicle was moving 2-3mph pulling into a parking space when the accelerator pedal dropped to the floor causing sudden...	1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER in day light hours when sun is out consumer can't see dials on speedometer unable to tell how fast vehicle...	1
STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE gas cap is very hard to twist off. consumer developed a sprang wrist trying to twist is off. spring clip	1
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM vehicle fails to start. engine warning lights go on and off. dealer unsure of problem with car. replaced sensors but	1
MODULE > IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM faulty computer and transmission causes the vehicle to downshift from 4th to 1st gear while in heavy traffic starts jerking	1
EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING at start up and acceleration blue smoke comes from tail pipe.also there is excessive use of oil and pcv valve...	1
GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) > EMISSION CONTROL > EXHAUST SYSTEM at start up and acceleration blue smoke comes from tail pipe.also there is excessive use of oil and pcv valve...	1
WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY when windshield wipers were in use at fast speed vehicle would shake. vehicle would hesitate before accelerating. been in contact...	1
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE while riding on the highway a piece of metal or steel punctured the gas tank. according to consumer there was	1
VISIBILITY dashboard has been redesigned and it is extremely difficult to see various needle gauges while driving during the day. at...	1
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC front brakes wore prematurely at 12 000 miles. the manufacturer was contacted and to this date the complaint has not	1
INTERIOR > REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES > VISIBILITY rearview mirror does not move resulting in poor visibility. the driver is not able to see out of 25% of	1
PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN consumer stated that he used the remote starter to warm up the vehicle and the key was in the house...	1

FAQ

What year Lexus ES 300 is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 5 years, Lexus ES 300 models of 2001, 1999, 2000 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Lexus ES 300?

Lexus ES 300 models of 2002 and 2003 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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