2002 Lexus ES300 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 50about this part
- Share
- 33%of 153 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,002miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 50 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Lexus ES300, 33% of the 153 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,002 miles. 29 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2002 Lexus es 200 was dying or not starting at all. Suddenly, it was working fine. 2 days later, while idling or when my foot was on the brake, it would lurch forward and start accelerating at sometimes 40mph. I had to slam on the brakes, then emergency brake to stop, then after I turned it off, it would shake forward.”
NHTSA complaint #10419895, filed 2011-08, 139,450 miles“My experience happened on july 14, 2009. I was easing into my parking place at the college where I teach, going about zero miles per hour, when all of a sudden I was plummeted into a tree less that five feet in front of me so hard that it totaled my 2002 Lexus. The forward movement felt like an airplane in takeoff mode.”
NHTSA complaint #10297240, filed 2009-12, 96,000 miles“I was driving my 2002 Lexus e300 on rte95 in providence r.I. I was in the middle lane traveling at the speed of the traffic--65mph. Suddenly t check engine warning light came on and without warning when I stepped on the gas pedal there was no response. I was in the midst of heavy traffic losing speed rapidly. Fortunately I was able to coast to the edge of the road . The chip which feeds gas to the engine failed.”
NHTSA complaint #10308747, filed 2010-02, 73,000 miles“I had pulled into my garage. I had my foot on the brake and lifted it a little to inch forward to my mark ( to allow for the garage door to close) when the car just surged forward! Fortunately I applied the brake hard, since my foot was by the brake, but I banged into the garage wall and did damage to the car and the wall.”
NHTSA complaint #10132725, filed 2005-08, 74,500 miles“Was driving to california in my 2002 Lexus ES300 last september and was adjusting the cruise control when suddenly it accelerated as if I had floored the gas pedal. Incident did not result in an accident. No problems since then but decided to report it as I read an article in the newspaper today that you were investigating unexpected accelerations for this car.”
NHTSA complaint #10060813, filed 2004-03, 19,500 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 20% |
| 2003 | 48 | 41% |
| 2002 | 50 | 33% |
| 2001 | 8 | 28% |
| 2000 | 9 | 16% |
| 1999 | 2 | 7% |
| 1998 | 5 | 10% |
| 1997 | 8 | 18% |
| 1996 | 2 | 5% |
| 1995 | 6 | 16% |
| 1994 | 4 | 10% |
| 1993 | 2 | 5% |
| 1992 | 2 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2002 Lexus ES300
52 complaintsBrakes
14 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsOther or unknown
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsTires
7 complaintsEngine
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Lexus ES300
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology