2003 LEXUS ES300 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

147

Owner Complaints

52 Crashes 6 Fires 2 Deaths

0

Recalls

NO ACTIVE RECALLS

7

Service Bulletins

2

Investigations

Overview of the 2003 LEXUS ES300

The 2003 LEXUS ES300 has received a total of 147 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 7 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Vehicle Speed Control (43 complaints), Power Trainautomatic Transmission (19 complaints), and Air Bags (9 complaints).

Recalls for the 2003 LEXUS ES300

There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2003 LEXUS ES300. No Active Recalls

Owner Complaints for the 2003 LEXUS ES300

147 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 LEXUS ES300. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 43 26 Crashes 11 Injuries
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
Complaints: 19 1 Crash 1 Injury
Air Bags
Complaints: 9 5 Crashes 3 Injuries 2 Deaths
Power Train
Complaints: 7 1 Crash
Electrical System
Complaints: 6 1 Fire
Vehicle Speed Controlaccelerator Pedal
Complaints: 6 3 Crashes
Engine
Complaints: 5 3 Fires
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 5 1 Crash
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 4 1 Crash
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 4 2 Crashes
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 4
Air Bagsfrontal
Complaints: 3 3 Crashes 2 Injuries
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
Complaints: 3 1 Crash 1 Fire
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 3
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
Complaints: 2
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
Complaints: 2 2 Crashes
Structure
Complaints: 2 1 Crash
Tirestreadbelt
Complaints: 2
Traction Control System
Complaints: 2 1 Crash 1 Injury
Air Bagssidewindow
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Electrical Systemignitionswitch
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System
Complaints: 1 1 Fire
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
Complaints: 1
Equipment
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Exterior Lightingheadlights
Complaints: 1
Exterior Lightingturn Signal
Complaints: 1
Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System
Complaints: 1 1 Crash 1 Injury
Latcheslockslinkages
Complaints: 1
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
Complaints: 1
Seats
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
Complaints: 1
Steering
Complaints: 1
Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System
Complaints: 1 1 Crash
Structureframe And Membersunderbody Shields
Complaints: 1
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemrear Window
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

#11223156 | ENGINE | | 90,284 miles Fire
SIR/MADAM, I AM TRYING TO HELP MY FRIENDS (XXXX) AND (XXXXX), LONG TIME RESIDENTS OF HUNTINGTON BEACH AND A VERY SWEET COUPLE. PEGGY WAS DRIVING HER HUSBAND TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT AND DUE TO A FAULT IN THE ENGINE (THERE IS A RECALL AND THEY WERE NOT INFORMED), THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE DRIVER BEHIND THEM WHO RAN TO THEM AND GOT THEM QUICKLY OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED THEM TO SAFETY, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BLEAK. THEY ARE AN ELDERLY COUPLE AND THE HUSBAND, (XXXXX), HAS GREAT DIFFICULTY WALKING AND THE CAR BURNED VERY QUICKLY. THEY, THANK GOD, MADE IT TO SAFETY IN TIME ONLY TO WATCH THEIR CAR BURN. THEY INFORMED TOYOTA AND SINCE THEY ARE ON FIXED INCOME ASKED TOYOTA FOR HELP WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANOTHER USED RELIABLE CAR (THE LEXUS THEY WERE DRIVING WAS 15 YEARS OLD BUT IN GOOD CONDITION AND MORE THAN ENOUGH CAR FOR THEIR TRIPS TO LOCAL STORES OR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS. SURPRISINGLY, TOYOTA ONLY RESPONDED WITH ONE LETTER FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE. (XXXX)'S FOLLOW UP CALLS AND LETTERS TO CUSTOMER SERVICE, ECO MARK TEMPLIN WERE NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED OR ANSWERED. PLEASE HELP THIS COUPLE BELIEVE IN HUMANITY AGAIN. TOYOTA IS A REPUTABLE COMPANY AND TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN WITHOUT SO MUCH AS A PHONE CALL FROM THE COMPANY IS SURPRISING TO ALL THAT KNOW OF THIS CASE. I AM ATTACHING ALL THE EVIDENCE: PICTURES, COPIES OF LETTERS FOR YOUR REFERENCE. PLEASE PROVIDE CASE NUMBER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. (XXXXX) FOR (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
#11222432 | ENGINE | | 110,000 miles Fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE IGNITING FROM THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER LEXUS USA LOCATED AT 6565 HEADQUARTERS DR, PLANO, TX 75024, (800) 255-3987, AND WHERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. *AS *TR
#11218107 | AIR BAGS | | 80,000 miles
VIN: (XXXXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 (XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 AIRBAG IS BULGING -SEE PICTURES ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY OFF AND ON SINCE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
#11218107 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | 80,000 miles
VIN: (XXXXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 (XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 AIRBAG IS BULGING -SEE PICTURES ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY OFF AND ON SINCE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
#11208366 | AIR BAGS | | 97,000 miles
(XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES3 PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

View all Vehicle Speed Control complaints →

Safety Rating for the 2003 LEXUS ES300

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 LEXUS ES300 in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 LEXUS ES300

Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 7 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 LEXUS ES300. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

00504 — STRUCTURE:BODY

RATTLE/SQUEAK NOISE CAUSED BY MOON ROOF WEATHERSTRIP STICKING TO THE BODY. *TT

00304 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE PROPER IDENTIFICATION OF THE 7 SOLENOIDS USED IN THE U150E/U151E/U151F TRANSMISSIONS. *TT

00303 — SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER ARM INSTALLATION TORQUE. *TT

TC00403 — POWER TRAIN

ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) CALIBRATION - SHIFTING ENHANCEMENT. *TT

3LF — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN 3LF TO INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. AN ELECTRICAL CONTACT IN THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) TO ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) TO STORE A TROUBLE CODE AND PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO A...

EG00203 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0031, P0051, P2238 OR P2241. *TT

00302 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

REAR INTERIOR DOOR TRIM PANEL RATTLE. *TT22

NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 LEXUS ES300

NHTSA has opened 2 investigations into potential safety defects in the 2003 LEXUS ES300.

Investigation DP09001 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Closed

Opened:

UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION

Investigation DP04003 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Closed

Opened:

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM

Other Model Years of the LEXUS ES300

View all LEXUS ES300 model years →

Other LEXUS Models

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