2001 Lexus ES300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 29 complaints (13.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 34.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 10.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.4% |
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 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch: 2; Electrical System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2001: 7; 2002: 7; 2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10016136 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
ON JANUARY , MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO CHILDREN TO AN APPOINTMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 HRS. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A TWO LANE ROAD, SHE STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THEN, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND STEERING CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE CAR DID A 540 (A COMPLETE 360 AND A 180) AND ENDED UP OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 0 F. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY SEVERED FROM THE FRAME. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS. THE CAR WAS SERVICED IN 2002 DUE TO COMP…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016136 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041687 · 2003-10-13 (October 13, 2003)
2001 LEXUS ES 300 BRAKE PROBLEMS CAUSING SO FAR 4 ACCIDENTS- FAILURE TO STOP. SPONGY-LIKE BRAKES. DEALER SERVICED AND MADE AWARE. THESE HAVE BEEN COLLISIONS WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THE LATEST ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 1O, 2003 HIT A GROUP OF PUBLIC SUPERMARKET SHOPPING CARTS DAMAGING THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND EMBLEM FRONT PLASTIC COVER. THE CAR JUST DOES NOT STOP WELL WHEN ASKED TO. THE SERVICE DEALERSHIP JUST COMPLETED THE 30000 MILE CHECK UP AND SPECIFICALLY WAS TOLD ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT A F…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062245 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
ACCERATOR STICKING
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073618 · 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LIGHT DECEPTION. LIGHT VISIBILITY IS ONLY 15 TO 20 FEET AHEAD. DRIVER MUST USE HIGH BEAMS TO GET DISTANCE VISION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104611 · 2004-12-27 (December 27, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF GRINDING BRAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH "UPDATED" VERSIONS AND REPLACED BRAKE FLUID. WHEN FIRST DRIVEN AFTER "UPDATE" BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. PEDAL SOON BECAME LESS SPONGY, BUT REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE AND MORE PEDAL TRAVEL TO STOP CAR THAN IN THE PAST. DEALER SERVICE WRITER SAID PEDAL FELT NORMAL. AFTER TWO OR THREE CLOSE CALLS CONSUMER FIN REAR ENDED ANOTHER STOPPING CAR, CAUSING OVER $12,000 IN DAMAGE TO SUBJECT CAR AND CAR THAT IT HIT. NO …
Owner-reported narrative. 31,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138278 · 2005-09-30 (September 30, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP ON OWN WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FOUND MY CAR GOING FROM 40 TO 60. IN PARK POSITION THE CAR WILL REV TO HIGH RPM BUT IF I AM IN DRIVE MODE IT WILL JUST ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TO LEXUS AND THE TECHNICIAN SAYS THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS NOT WORKING AND THE REPAIR WORK WOULD BE $500. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10155274 · 2006-04-13 (April 13, 2006)
FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN HEAD INJURY OF RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. INJURY RESULTED FROM IMPACT WITH RADIO. SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTED AFTER ACCIDENT. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193988 · 2007-06-22 (June 22, 2007)
ON 2 RECENT OCCASIONS (NOV 13, 2006 AND MAY 5, 2007) MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND SLAMMED INTO A WALL. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT SHEET METAL (ABOUT $9,000 ON EACH INCIDENT). IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE BUT SHE SWEARS THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. ALSO, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THIS HAVE HAPPENED TWICE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193988 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.