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U.S. public vehicle records

2000 Lexus ES300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

55 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

77,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 55 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1120.0%
Transmission and shifting916.4%
Engine operation712.7%
Electrical and battery issues35.5%
Steering behavior11.8%

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
8
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
5
Air Bags
4
Engine
4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
Electrical System
3
Power Train
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control8
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly8
Power Train:Automatic Transmission5
Air Bags4
Engine4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Electrical System3
Power Train3

Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
1
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
10
75,000 to 99,999
7
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
4
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,99910
75,000 to 99,9997
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above4

Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 4

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 22 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.

2000
5
2001
3
2002
6
2003
12
2004
5
2005
1
2006
2
2008
3
2009
1
2010
5
2011
3
2012
1
2014
1
2015
2
2016
3
2018
1
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20005
20013
20026
200312
20045
20051
20062
20083
20091
20105
20113
20121
20141
20152
20163
20181
20191

2000: 5; 2001: 3; 2002: 6; 2003: 12; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 3; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 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 10012387 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM A RESTAURANT VEHICLE TOOK A DIFFERENT COURSE. IT LOCKED UP , BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE AND IT COLLIDED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO NECK AND BACK. MR...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012387 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046324 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

REAR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THIS COMPLAINT HAS AS OF YET NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148630 · 2006-01-10 (January 10, 2006)

2000 LEXUS ES300 ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH. *TS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION BUT THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING WILDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY WHO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221661 · 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE GAINED NORMAL SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARRANTY AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEA…

Owner-reported narrative. 146,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221661 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10250697 · 2008-12-04 (December 4, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, BUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY FAILED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THERE WERE NO FAILURES PRIOR TO THE TRANSMISSION STALLING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $3,700. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. UPDATED 1/6/09 *CN UPDATED 01/14…

Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10310671 · 2010-02-15 (February 15, 2010)

I HAVE A 2000 LEXUS ES300 WITH ABOUT 100,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY AND CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. JUST READ THE EDMUNDS FORUM AND THERE ARE 1,384 POSTINGS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON LEXUS. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE AND NEEDS ATTENTION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310671 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10160399 · 2006-06-21 (June 21, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEEKED RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS IN APRIL OF 2006 HOWEVER THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN WORN BY 70% WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD REALIGNMENT WORK PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 BATTERIES INCLUDING THE ONE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH. THE DO…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160399 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10356834 · 2010-09-21 (September 21, 2010)

HAVE A 2000 ES300. RECENTLY, THE CHECK ENGINE/TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER A QUICK SCAN CODE PO446 WAS DISCOVERED. I STARTED BY TIGHTENING THE GAS CAP AND DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY; THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER A WEEK. I HAVE TAKEN A LOOK AT THE VACUUM LINES AT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND UP UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE COVER. EVERYTHING LOOKS OK. I DO ALL MY OWN WORK, AND I HATE BEING A 'PARTS REPLACER'. I'D RATHER SOURCE THE EXACT PROBLEM AND FIX JUST THAT PARTICULAR PART. HAVING SAID THIS, MY RESEARCH ON THIS SITE HAS INDICATED THAT THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356834 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 9005719 · 2002-01-17 (January 17, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING 25-30MPH, SLOWED DOWN FOR THE CURVE AND THERE WAS A WET AREA ACROSS THE ROAD, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, BRAKING DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLABLE STEERING.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9005719 at NHTSA ↗