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U.S. public vehicle records

2002 Lexus IS 300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

28 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

30,710 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 28 complaints (17.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior828.6%
Transmission and shifting517.9%
Steering behavior27.1%
Engine operation13.6%
Electrical and battery issues13.6%

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
5
Unknown Or Other
4
Power Train:Clutch Assembly
3
Tires
3
Service Brakes
2
Structure
2
Suspension
2
Air Bags
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control5
Unknown Or Other4
Power Train:Clutch Assembly3
Tires3
Service Brakes2
Structure2
Suspension2
Air Bags1

Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 3; Tires: 3; Service Brakes: 2; Structure: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
2
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00010
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 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.

2002
1
2003
5
2004
6
2005
5
2006
1
2009
1
2010
3
2014
2
2015
1
2016
2
2019
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20021
20035
20046
20055
20061
20091
20103
20142
20151
20162
20191

2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2019: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10065012 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED IT STICKS. WHEN THIS OCCURS VEHICLE ACCELERATES AT A HIGH SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAILS TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALERSHIP, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10095086 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)

TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS ON 2002 LEXUS IS300. *BF THE FRONT END MADE A LOUD SOUND OF ROLLING MARBLES. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL SOUND AND THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES HAD SETTLED THE NOISE WOULD BE HEARD. *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095086 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10096229 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)

LOUD THUMPING NOISE FROM REAR OF TRUNK, ON MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST, 2ND, AND 3RD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10096229 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112285 · 2005-02-28 (February 28, 2005)

I OWN A 5-SPEED MANUAL 2002 LEXUS IS300. CURRENTLY, MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES. EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE IS STOCK, NO MODIFIED PARTS AND ACCESORIES. I DRIVE THIS CAR NORMAL LIKE ANY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. I REV MATCH WHEN I DOWNSHIFT, NEVER RIDE THE CLUTCH ETC...I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL CARS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. A FEW DAYS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHED BEGAN TO SLIP AS I WAS ACCELERATING ON-RAMP ONTO FREEWAY. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE BUT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ACCELERATING AND PASSING OR ELSE, THE CLUTCH SLIPS AND CAR WO…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10296922 · 2009-12-24 (December 24, 2009)

LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY. DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP. I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 100,474 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296922 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10593815 · 2014-05-24 (May 24, 2014)

I PUT $3000 ON 2002 LEXUS AND HAD IT FOR THREE DAYS WHEN MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WAS HEADING ONTO COMMERCIAL TURNPIKE SOUTH. I WAS APPROACHING LIGHT ON CORNER OF 441 AND COMMERCIAL WHEN MY BRAKES JUST GAVE OUT ON ME COMPLETELY AND I QUICKLY RESPONDED AND PULLED UP EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED INTO GAS STATION TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WHICH IT WAS PUT ON MACHINE AND DETAILED EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH CAR INCLUDING THE MALFUNCTION ON THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS BRAKES AND STEERING. I WAS SAVED BY NOT GETTING ONTO TURNPIKE…

Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593815 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10136215 · 2005-09-12 (September 12, 2005)

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATES THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON EITHER ON THE HIGHWAY OR ON OFF ROADS. THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AT DECELERATING OR ACCELERATING. THE ONLY WARNING PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON. THIS OCCURS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE ENGINE WILL RESTART USUALLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. IT HAPPENED ABOUT 100-150 TIMES. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 10 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10136215 at NHTSA ↗