2003 Lexus ES300: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 10019235 · 2003-05-24 (May 24, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION OF THE LEXUS 2003 ES300 IS SUBJECT TO MAJOR HESITATION, PARTICULARLY IN CROWDED INTERSECTIONS AND WITH LACK OF ACCELERATION. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 27 MPH, AND THEN NEEDING TO MOVE, THERE IS MAJOR DELAY IN THE SIGNAL TELLING THE ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION TO WORK TOGETHER, AND MOVE THE CAR. THIS VEHICLE IS NEW WITH ABOUT 1000 MILES. IT CANNOT MAKE UP ITS MIND TO UPSHIFT OR DOWNSHIFT AND THIS DELAY WILL MEAN A MAJOR CRASH SOMEDAY. AROUND 40 MPH IT WANTS TO UPSHIFT TO THE 5TH GEAR, AND JUST BELOW THAT HUNTS TO GO B…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019684 · 2003-05-12 (May 12, 2003)
THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS PICKING UP SPEED, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS TICKING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURE AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS CALLED " THE HAZARD COMPUTER MODULE CONTROL" BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR IT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019684 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020250 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE DESIGN OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING. ON ONE OCCASION THIS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK *CB *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020250 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020695 · 2003-05-29 (May 29, 2003)
HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. I NOTICE THE VEHICLE LACKS THE ABILITY TO PICK UP SPEED FROM A SLOW DOWN OR DEAD STOP. I FEEL THIS IN 1ST-3RD GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DECELERATION SPEED OR STOP. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND IS CAUSE FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH A CLICKING, WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR MAKING SLOW TURNS.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020695 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032267 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE WAS DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAD TO WAIT FOR A REPLACEMENT DASH TO ARRIVE. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038360 · 2003-09-05 (September 5, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S TURN SIGNALS.*MR THE CONSUMER WANTED THE DEALERSHIP TO INCREASE THE SOUND OF THE TURNING SIGNALS WHEN ACTIVATED, AND THE SIGNALS TURNING OFF ONCE THE TURN WAS COMPLETED. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE TURN SIGNALS. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038360 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.