2003 Lexus ES300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
34,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 82 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 116 complaints (37.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 28 | 24.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 25 | 21.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 43 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Power Train | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 43; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Air Bags: 9; Power Train: 7; Electrical System: 6; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 6; Engine: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 34 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 39 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
2002: 1; 2003: 15; 2004: 39; 2005: 9; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 8; 2009: 1; 2010: 20; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 4; 2016: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 5
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 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 10061725 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
WHILE PARKING CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING A BUILDING. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061753 · 2004-03-10 (March 10, 2004)
WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER TAPPED THE BRAKES, AND SPEED INCREASED EVEN MORE. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND HIT A WALL. *AK SEE VOQ 10062702 *DSY UPDATED 7/3/12 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061753 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016689 · 2003-04-29 (April 29, 2003)
WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF A SLOW TURN(USUALLY A U-TURN) THE CAR WILL DELAY APPROX 1 SECOND BEFORE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES. WHEN SLOWING TO STOP BUT NOT COMPLETELY STOPPING THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019094 · 2003-05-22 (May 22, 2003)
THE NEW 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION ON MY '03 LEXUS SEEMS A LITTLE STRANGE. IF I DRIVE ABOUT 35 MPH AND THEN SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MPH AND THAN TRY TO ACCELERATE THERE IS A HESITATION. IT'S AS IF THE TRANSMISSION CAN NOT DECIDE ON WHAT GEAR TO GO INTO. WHEN IT FINALLY DOES THERE'S A SLIGHT LURCH FORWARD. THIS SITUATION IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067151 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
UPON STOPPING, AND WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ONCE, RESULTING IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE POLE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. ALSO, STARTING AT 5000 MILES BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT DIED. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127072 · 2005-06-29 (June 29, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT AT NIGHT THERE WAS A TIME DELAY IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN BEING SHUT OFF. IF THE TRUNK WAS PROPPED OPEN ONLY 1/8 OF AN INCH THE LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL THE BATTERY IWASDEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY UNHOOKED THE TIME DELAY. THE BATTERY DIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ONLY IN THE NIGHTTIME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10127072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10312992 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
RE: 2003 LEXUS ES300. THE CAR BEGAN TO STALL WHEN I STOPPED THE VEHICLE. MY MECHANIC CONDUCTED COMPUTER TESTS. NO ERRORS REGISTERED. MECHANIC STATED HE THOUGHT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE THE MEDIA BLITZ OF TOYOTA'S ELECTRONICS. MECHANIC TOOK SOME OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM APART CLEANING THE PARTS WITH AN AIRHOSE. CONSEQUENTLY THE STALLING STOPPED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE AND "REPAIR." *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 105,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10312992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088394 · 2018-04-16 (April 16, 2018)
TL* 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 156,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103434 · 2004-12-09 (December 9, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES FROM HITTING HIS HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121756 · 2005-05-20 (May 20, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES FROM MY HOME. UPON ENTERING THE PARKING LOT, I HAD TO YEILD TO A SCHOOL BUS AND STOP. AFTER THE STOP I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH TO PARK THE CAR. I TURNED FOUR TIMES TO GET TO THE PARKING SPACE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK OR JUST COASTING. AS I TURNED INTO THE PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES PRESSED. THE CAR ACCERALATED AND WENT OVER THE CURB AND PROCEEDED ON THE GRASS. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THIS WHOLE INCIDENT. I TRIED TO STOP THE CAR BY PUSHING THE BRAKES DOWN …
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121756 at NHTSA ↗