There are no safety recalls for the 2003 Lexus ES300, but owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA.
2003 Lexus ES300 problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 49 | |
| Power Train | 27 | |
| Air Bags | 13 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | |
| Electrical System | 10 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | |
| Engine | 5 | |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | |
| Structure | 3 | |
| Steering | 2 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | |
Most reported parts
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 19
- Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 6
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 4
- Air Bags › Frontal — 3
- Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 3
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline — 2
- Tires › Tread/Belt — 2
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 35,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2003 Lexus ES300 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Air Bags · at 80,000 miles · reported Jun 5, 2019
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).
Air Bags · at 97,000 miles · reported May 17, 2019
(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).
Engine · at 156,000 miles · reported Apr 16, 2018
The contact owns a 2003 lexus es300. While driving at an unknown speed, smoke was noticed coming from the engine compartment. The contact managed to pull the vehicle over as it was stalling. The contact exited the vehicle, lifted the hood, and noticed flames coming from the battery. The contact called the fire department who extinguished the fire. The contact mentioned that the fire department cut the battery cord and informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. An…
Unknown or Other · at 80,900 miles · reported Aug 3, 2016
Unwanted acceleration while applying the break while slowing down the RPM gauge pins itself to about 3000. The car will not down shift until it jolts forward just a little and the you can feel the lower gears engage. I bought it as a used vehical about 3 weeks ago with 80,336 miles . I see lots of complaints for the same thing on many other vehicals of the same make model and year. I'm assuming it's a bad speed sensor . Why is this not a recall? This started happening after we took a ride on the highway. And it only appears to happen while the car is in motion. Sometimes the car will not…
Power Train · at 177,500 miles · reported May 22, 2015
I purchased a used 2003 lexus es30from used car dealer. After a couple days of driving it I noticed it was shifting gears innormally. It would surge up to 4000rmp before shifting to 2nd gear and at one point wasn't moving while I hit the gas the acceleration very fast out of nowhere. My mother also had this same year make and model vehicle a few years back and it had the same problem before the transmission went out. I did some research online and found many other lexus customers experienced the same problem. I found a web site that claimed that there was a TSB put out for this vehicle and…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Lexus ES300 have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2003 Lexus ES300 as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Lexus ES300?
Owners report vehicle speed control problems most often (49 reports), followed by power train (27). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 35,000 miles.
Are Lexus recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Lexus dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.