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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Lexus ES300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

153 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

30,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 153 complaints (24.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior4428.8%
Transmission and shifting3019.6%
Engine operation85.2%
Steering behavior53.3%
Electrical and battery issues10.7%
Fuel system concerns10.7%

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
37
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
36
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
13
Power Train
12
Unknown Or Other
8
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
6
Tires
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control37
Power Train:Automatic Transmission36
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal13
Power Train12
Unknown Or Other8
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash6
Engine And Engine Cooling6
Tires6

Vehicle Speed Control: 37; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 36; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 13; Power Train: 12; Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Tires: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
40
25,000 to 49,999
15
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
5
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00040
25,000 to 49,99915
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above5

Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (40). 67 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.

2001
1
2002
30
2003
20
2004
37
2005
13
2006
3
2007
1
2008
1
2009
6
2010
24
2011
5
2012
1
2013
1
2014
2
2015
1
2016
4
2017
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20011
200230
200320
200437
200513
20063
20071
20081
20096
201024
20115
20121
20131
20142
20151
20164
20172
20181

2001: 1; 2002: 30; 2003: 20; 2004: 37; 2005: 13; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 6; 2010: 24; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 44 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 30 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10016699 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)

1. SHUDDERING TRANSMISSION IN STOP/GO TRAFFIC. 2. WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP, CAR NUDGES FORWARD EVEN WHEN BRAKES ARE FULLY DEPRESSED. NOTIFIED DEALER AS WELL AS LEXUS CORP AND WAS TOLD NO FIX IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016699 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10019711 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)

THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE WORN WHICH CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019711 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000029 · 2002-12-13 (December 13, 2002)

TRANSMISSION GETS CONFUSED WHEN SHIFTING INTO AND OUT OF THE LOWER GEARS, THEN SPENDS TOO LONG TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT GEAR TO BE IN. THIS CAUSES DANGEROUS DELAYS IN ACCELERATION, THE EFFECT IS THE SAME AS A MOMENTARY ENGINE STALL. WE HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, FREEWAY RAMP ENTRANCES ARE CERTAINLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SHIFTING DELAYS BUT THEY SAY NO FIX IS AVAILABLE. THIS IS OUR THIRD ES300, THE PREVIOUS MODELS USED A CABLE BETWEEN THE GA…

Owner-reported narrative. 228 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000029 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004854 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)

THE TRANSMISSION HAD A JERK IN THE TRANSMISSION, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER IT WAS THE DESIGN THE OF THE VEHICLE. *TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004854 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001095 · 2002-12-17 (December 17, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, THE ENGINE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. TS WHEN ACCELERATING TO CHANGE LANE OR ENTER THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED AND OR DECELERATED. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001095 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10034592 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)

PROBLEMS WITH 2002 LEXUS ES 300 STEERING WHEEL VIBRATING WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED.*MR THE ROTORS WARPED*TS *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034592 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10072722 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)

THERE WERE TWO SUCH INCIDENTS. UPON COMING BACK AT LUNCH TIME TO WORK, I TURNED TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE. THE ANGLE OF THE CAR NECESSITATED ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL VERY TIGHT TO THE RIGHT. WITH THE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE RELEASED BUT WITH FOOT IN BRAKE POSITION THE CAR SURGED ALMOST HITTING THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. IT DEFINITELY A SURGE, A PERSON CAN FEEL THE SUDDEN ENERGY. IN BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE CAR AFTER I HAD AN ACCIDENT DOING THIS SAME TYPE OF MANEVEUR, THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO MANEVEUR THE CAR F…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072722 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11055236 · 2017-12-18 (December 18, 2017)

I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY LEXUS AND IT WOULD NO LONGER IDLE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DIES.. THE COMPUTER LOST THE IDLE PARAMETERS THIS IS DANGEROUS AS I TURNED LEFT OFF ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER TOOK MY FOOT FROM ACCELARATOR TO BRAKE ENGINE DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING ALMOST WRECKED MOST MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT LEXUS REFUSED TO ADMIT IT GOOGLE IT ALL OVER INTERNET

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11055236 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 8007051 · 2002-04-08 (April 8, 2002)

UPON PURCHASING VEHICLE THERE WAS A DESIGN DEFECT IN FUEL TANK. CANNOT GET GAS CAP OFF VEHICLE TO PUT GASOLINE IN IT. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE FILLER CAP WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW VERSION BUT IT REQUIRED A TOOL TO REMOVE IT AND DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *YH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8007051 at NHTSA ↗