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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Lexus IS 300: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

21 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

50,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Structure:Body is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 21 complaints (19.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior14.8%
Electrical and battery issues14.8%
Steering behavior14.8%

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.

Structure:Body
4
Unknown Or Other
3
Structure
2
Suspension
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
Electrical System
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Structure:Body4
Unknown Or Other3
Structure2
Suspension2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags1
Air Bags:Side/Window1
Electrical System1

Structure:Body: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Structure: 2; Suspension: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
2
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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.

2003
2
2004
1
2006
2
2008
2
2009
1
2010
1
2011
1
2013
3
2014
2
2015
5
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20032
20041
20062
20082
20091
20101
20111
20133
20142
20155
20161

2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Structure:Body leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10033746 · 2003-12-05 (December 5, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BOAT THAT BROKE FREE FROM A TOWING VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING USED AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT, BUT NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. *AK *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033746 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045378 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

HIGH WIND NOISE AND FLAPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER DOOR; IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND UNCONVERTIBLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE NOISES PRODUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. LEXUS CLAIMS THEIR CARS AS LUXURY CARS, BUT ALSO CLAIMS THAT A WIND NOISE AND A FLAPPING NOISE ARE NORMAL FOR $34K LUXURY CARS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY EVEN DID NOT WANT TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045378 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10057389 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM *SC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057389 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10149794 · 2006-02-08 (February 8, 2006)

TIRE BLOW OUT(FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) OCCURRING AT HIGH SPEED . TIRES BF GOODRICH - 17 INCH POTENZA, ONLY 19,000 MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149794 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10175825 · 2006-12-11 (December 11, 2006)

COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE AT 23,400 MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10175825 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10219697 · 2008-02-29 (February 29, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS 300. THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REMAIN OPEN AND NEEDS TO BE HELD UP. IF THE CONTACT REACHES IN TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK AND FAILS TO HOLD THE TRUNK DOOR, IT WILL FALL AND STRIKE HIS HEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THAT MODEL AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10236954 · 2008-08-04 (August 4, 2008)

EASY SPIN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236954 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10292738 · 2009-11-18 (November 18, 2009)

WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE. CAR WAS CARRIED OVER PARKING BUMPER INTO BUSHES BEYOND, WITH DAMAGES TO BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE OVER SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10292738 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.