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Lexus ESModel year report

2003 Lexus ES Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
68,000miles, 17 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Lexus ES (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus ES. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 6 complaints (26% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (5) and brakes (4). 17 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 68,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 24 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “I was reversing and trying to turn when my car Lexus ES 300 suddenly picked up high speed acceleration by it self and went forward and hit a fence in front. The vehicle picked up unintentional high speed (full throttle). It was beyond my control. My body went forward and backward violently. For few days I have experienced muscle stiffness, pain and poor night sleep.”

NHTSA complaint #10627242, filed 2014-08, 135,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “1. The vehicle hesitates with initial acceleration (slow or quick acceleration). 2. The automatic transmission also hesitates. I suspect that ounce the acceleration problem is fixed that the transmission problem would be fixed. 3. I have gone to the Lexus dealer to update the computer with a new chip to help resolve the problems with no success. 4. I have discovered on the internet that hundreds of Lexus owners have the same complaint. In some cases the dealers have the audacity to suggest thats the way the car was designed! Why isn't Lexus listening to all the complaints? Thanks”

NHTSA complaint #10460217, filed 2012-06, 125,000 miles

Brakes: “I was driving in residential doing speed limit 30. The car started to exhilarate right before my turn on the my street. The brakes wouldn't work because the car just kept going faster the stearing wheel locked up. I couldn't stop and ran start into a tree and spun out, resulting in serious injuries”

NHTSA complaint #11256773, filed 2019-09, 260,000 miles

Air bags: “A disabled vehicle in front of mine was hovering over narrow express lane shoulder and right lane. I slowed and put my signal on preparing to merge into the left lane, but the vehicle behind me did not react similarly and consequently rear-ended me at full speed (+). The force of this impact pushed my car into the disabled car in front of me. No airbags deployed on either impact, and the seat belt failed to protect me from a serious spinal fracture.”

NHTSA complaint #10173303, filed 2006-11

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 17 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 43,000 and 126,000 miles.

6%0–106%10–2518%25–5024%50–756%75–10024%100–15018%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (17 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 68,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20064420102012201420192026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Lexus ES in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 24 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 24 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20255—1525—Too new
2024910,1002526—Too new
20231050,0902544—Too new
2022116,8320528—Not enough data
20212838,000152848 · TypicalRising
20201827,6901544—Rising
20193411,0001544100 · MoreFalling
201852000—40—Not enough data
20169115,5000—40—Not enough data
20155115,0000—40—Not enough data
20133445,0000—4054 · TypicalStable
20123166,3160——36 · TypicalStable
20114647,0000——82 · MoreRising
20104170,0000——11 · FewerStable
20092879,0000——36 · TypicalRising
20086862,0000——52 · TypicalRising
200712580,1230——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200612115,0000———Not enough data
2005598,8500——Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20041689,0000———Falling
20032368,0000———Rising
20022796,1500——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20006140,0000———Not enough data
1999885,0000———Not enough data

All Lexus ES model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Lexus ES have?

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus ES as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Lexus ES is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 6 complaints (26% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 5.

Has the 2003 Lexus ES been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Lexus ES reported?

Among the 17 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 68,000 miles and the middle half falls between 43,000 and 126,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.