2002 Lexus ES: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
96,150 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 27 complaints (29.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 29.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 18.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.4% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 8 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Engine: 8; Electrical System: 5; Structure:Body: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Air Bags: 3; Wheels: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 7
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 6; 2022: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10153318 · 2006-03-21 (March 21, 2006)
THE PLASTIC KEY TO MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 CRACKED DUE TO FAULTY PRODUCT DESIGN AND THE MICROCHIP THAT CONTROLS THE CAR FELL OUT. I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAD HAPPENED AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. I WAS STRANDED IN A RAIN STORM AND HAD TO CALL LEXUS FOR HELP. SUBSEQUENTLY I USED AN EMERGENCY KEY WHICH WAS IN MY PURSE. EVEN THOUGH THE BREAK OCCURRED BECAUSE OF FAULTY DESIGN, I HAD TO ORDER AND PAY FOR A NEW KEY ($206) BECAUSE MY CAR WAS BEYOND WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THESE KEYS BREAK "MORE OFTEN THAN WE WOULD L…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154949 · 2006-04-10 (April 10, 2006)
THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER HAS DENIED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, AND THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10159293 · 2006-06-08 (June 8, 2006)
WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN DRIVE GEAR FROM REVERSE GEAR, FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE AND TAP THE GAS PEDAL, MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF IT IS IN FULL THROTTLE. AS RESULT, MY VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND IMPACTED A BRICK WALL. I SUFFERED A BLOODY NOSE AND A CUT ON MY HAND. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND IS UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. THEY WILL TOW AND INSPECT IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 28,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167071 · 2006-08-30 (August 30, 2006)
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE CAUSING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING. ONE NEVER KNOWS HOW IT WILL REACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE LEXUS USER GROUP HAS MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MAY GET SOMEONE INJURED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171497 · 2006-10-21 (October 21, 2006)
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT AT TIMES IS VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD AT TIMES OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10171497 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10171499 · 2006-10-21 (October 21, 2006)
THE BRAKES WILL FADE/RELEASE AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR 1-2 MINUTES WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAPPENS AS THE ENGINE RPM DECREASES ABOUT 100-200 AND THE BRAKE PRESSURE EBBS. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES MOVE FORWARD ABOUT 1-2 FEET BEFORE IT STOPS AGAIN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178957 · 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)
ON MANY OCCASIONS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON IN MY 2002 LEXUS ES300. I INFORMED THE DEALER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO UNSCREW THE GAS CAP AND RE-SCREW IT AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO REPLACE AN OXYGEN SENSOR AFTER THE DEALERS INSPECTION AND FINDING A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE. THE CAR HAD THE PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND I WAS NOT INFORMED THAT IT WOULD BE A COSTLY PROBLEM LATER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10178957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198246 · 2007-08-02 (August 2, 2007)
CARS PULLS TO THE LEFT WHEN ON FREEWAY. LEXUS DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT CAR HAS DETERMINED THAT BECAUSE I'M OVER WEIGHT IT PULLS TO THE LEFT. THEY DETERMINED THAT ALMOST 2 YEARS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. EVERY TIME I BROUGHT IT IN THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. THE TOLD ME THE CASTER WAS OFF AND WAS GOING TO FIX IT THEN THEY SAID THE CASTER WAS FINE AND IT WAS ME BEING OVER WEIGHT I'M ABOUT 350LBS. MY CAR STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT AND THEY MISALIGNED MY CAR TELLING ME IT WAS GOING TO FIX IT. LEFT IS AT 1.8 RIGHT IS AT 1.5. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198246 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.