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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Lexus ES problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

23 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

68,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior626.1%
Transmission and shifting417.4%
Steering behavior28.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Vehicle Speed Control
6
Service Brakes
4
Engine
3
Steering
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Air Bags
2
Electrical System
2
Power Train
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control6
Service Brakes4
Engine3
Steering3
Unknown Or Other3
Air Bags2
Electrical System2
Power Train2

Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Engine: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2; Power Train: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
4
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9994
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
4
2007
4
2010
1
2011
1
2012
3
2013
1
2014
2
2015
2
2019
3
2023
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20064
20074
20101
20111
20123
20131
20142
20152
20193
20231
20261

2006: 4; 2007: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2019: 3; 2023: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10168601 · 2006-09-19 (September 19, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TURNING FROM A SIDE STREET ONTO A MAIN ROAD AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ENGINE REVVED. THEN, WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 3 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND OVER A SMALL EMBANKMENT. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV FOR A SHORT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER.

Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10168601 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10169607 · 2006-09-29 (September 29, 2006)

I OWN A LEXUS 2003 ES. THE TRANSMISSION IS PERFORMING UNSAFELY! 1. AT STOP LIGHTS, WHILE HOLDING THE CAR STOPPED WITH THE BRAKE, THE TRANS WANTS TO GO AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. 2. AT LOW SPEEDS (20 -30 MPH) THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THE TRANS WILL JUMP DOWN CAUSING THE RPMS TO SUDDENLY INCREASE THEN SLAM INTO THE NEXT GEAR LUNGING THE CAR FORWARD. 3. MY BIGGEST CONCERN DRIVING DOWNHILL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, THE TRANS JUMPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE INTO 4TH GEAR LUNGING THE CAR FORWARD! I AM AFRAID OF WHAT …

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169607 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10168102 · 2006-09-12 (September 12, 2006)

I HAVE A 2003 LEXUS ES300 WITH 41000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND ACTUALLY HESITATES THEN JERKS. I AM AFRAID THIS WILL LEAD TO A BREAK DOWN AT SOME POINT. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THERE ARE NO UPDATES AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS TRANSMISSION. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10168102 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10203696 · 2007-09-22 (September 22, 2007)

CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL; TOOK THE CAR TO WILKIE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN ARDMORE, PA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR NEEDS NEW STEERING SHAFT. CAR HAS 52000 MILES AND A PART LIKE THIS FAILING THIS EARLY IS NOT EXPLAINED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203696 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10319149 · 2010-03-12 (March 12, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LEXUS ES. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319149 at NHTSA ↗