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Lexus ES300Model year report

2003 Lexus ES300 Problems

Complaints
116filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
34,950miles, 82 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 27 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Lexus ES300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: sudden, unintended acceleration (usually at low speed while parking, pulling out, or with the brake applied) and a transmission/engine calibration that hesitates or surges when accelerating from low speeds. Many complaints are filed at very low mileage, and several describe dealers saying the behavior was normal or that a software reflash was the only available step.

  1. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden unintended acceleration at low speed

    • 48 complaints (41%)
    • median 37,547 mi at 5.4 yrs old (35 state mileage)
    • 30 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2018

    Complaints describe the car lurching or surging forward while parking, pulling out of a spot, or coasting toward an intersection, sometimes with the brake applied. Several owners report the vehicle striking poles, curbs, other cars, or buildings after the surge, and say the brake pedal did not stop it. Complaints state that dealers inspected the vehicle and found nothing wrong, or attributed the event to floor mats or pedal error. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand to over 100,000 miles, frequently during low-speed parking-lot maneuvers.

    What to check: Drive the car in a parking lot at walking speed and try gentle brake applications from a crawl; ask the seller whether any throttle or pedal-related repairs or software updates were done. Confirm the floor mat is the correct one and properly secured.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On march 26, 2010 my husband and I were stopped at a traffic signal, (with my foot on the brake as you would expect), when the car suddenly accelerated at full throttle. In the brief but terrifying moments that the car was out of control I unfortunately collided with another vehicle as I threw the gear selector into neutral.”

    NHTSA complaint #10324941, filed 2010-04, 41,237 miles

    “Pulling into parking spot on left ,about stopped and the car accelerater very fast for about 30 feet. Beening the second time this has happened, I was aware of where my foot was, on the brake. Last oct. Pulling into parking spot to left the same thing happened. Just felt like a nut. This time I am sure it was the car. The contact wanted to add that the drivers floor mat was in the trunk.”

    NHTSA complaint #10220108, filed 2008-03, 44,785 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Hesitation and surging from a stop or low speed

    • 26 complaints (22%)
    • median 3,724 mi at 1.7 yrs old (22 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2015

    Owners describe a delay of one to two seconds when accelerating from a stop or after slowing to low speed, followed by a lurch or surge; some say the engine revs without the car moving, and others report harsh or delayed shifts. Complaints frequently mention dealer attempts with a computer reflash, after which the behavior often returned, and owners being told the car operated as designed. Often noted early in ownership, many reports under 10,000 miles, and typically at speeds below about 40 mph when accelerating after a slowdown.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive from repeated stops and rolling slowdowns, watching for a delayed or jerky engagement. Ask whether any transmission control software updates were performed and whether fluid leaks or seeps were inspected; a service bulletin covers ECU flash reprogramming and another explains leak-versus-seep diagnosis.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10019094, filed 2003-05, 20 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10020695, filed 2003-05, 2,449 miles
  3. Air bags

    Airbags not deploying in a crash

    • 11 complaints (9%)
    • median 45,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2004–2019

    Complaints describe frontal and side impacts where airbags or side curtains did not deploy, in some cases with occupants injured. Some owners also describe an airbag sensor fault code and difficulty getting a firm diagnosis, with differing explanations from one contact to the next. A few reports mention the passenger-side airbag cover bulging through the dash. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 140,000 miles, in crashes at moderate road speeds.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for any airbag or SRS service history and whether the airbag warning light has been on; have a pre-purchase inspection check for stored SRS codes and inspect the dash for bulging or cracks. Service bulletins describe inspection procedures for SRS and seat belt pretensioner concerns.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was in a auto accident and was hit on the left front of my 2003 Lexus and the air curtain did not activate. I hit my head on the drivers door window. Damage was estimated over $3000.00 on my vehicle. I tried to get answers from the dealer but they did not know where the sensor was located and why it did not deploy.”

    NHTSA complaint #10093831, filed 2004-10, 37,000 miles

    “2003 es 300 - air bag sensor issues: this issue is ongoing as of nov 2011 and started back in 2005. Why doesn't Lexus offer a way for consumers to fix error codes on their own vehicles? I know what my error code is - b1186 - though, Lexus wouldn't tell me this. I had to find out by doing my own diagnostic testing. Depending on who I spoke with, they told me different things from needing a driver sensor replaced, to the passenger sensor, to the center sensor, to the driver airbag, to needing all of it replaced. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10437720, filed 2011-11, 40,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake pedal going to the floor / weak braking

    Mentioned in 5 of 80 sampled complaints

    Complaints describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor and the car not slowing as expected, sometimes with a rubbing noise or a knock when shifting into reverse. Some owners report this happening repeatedly in wet conditions, and one mentions the brakes being changed without resolving it. Reported around 70,000 to 105,000 miles, with several accounts noting wet or rainy conditions.

    What to check: Have a mechanic check pedal firmness, brake fluid condition, and lines for leaks; test braking firmly from moderate speed on a wet road if it is safe to do so.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I noticed when I would pull out of my driveway I would hear a knock when I put the car in reverse also; I was driving home from work one evening and it was raining I was on a busy freeway, I was beginning to slow down and the brakes went all the way to the floor and a loud rubbing noise occurred I slid for about a min. Thank god I was able to pull off the freeway ,this has occurred several times, I prepare for it now by being very careful. This is my only means of transportation. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10361473, filed 2010-10, 73,000 miles

    “My 17 year old daughter was driving my 2003 Lexus in town. We have never had any previous similar incidents, and have not experienced the same thing since. She had stopped at a stop light, but was too far back, so she wanted to pull up a little. She took her foot off the brake, and the car moved forward. She repeatedly pushed the brake, but they did not work. The car stopped when she hit the car in front of her. I had the car checked after the accident, but they couldn't find anything obvious. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10291080, filed 2009-11, 105,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Engine compartment and battery fires

    • 6 complaints (5%)
    • median 54,642 mi at 11.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2003–2019

    A small group of complaints describes smoke and flames from the engine bay or battery area, sometimes shortly after parking and sometimes while driving. Owners report the vehicle being destroyed or towed, and in one case an independent mechanic identified a battery replacement as the needed repair. Reported from about 19,000 to 156,000 miles, with no single condition common to all reports.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Inspect the battery, its cables, and engine-bay wiring for corrosion or chafing, and ask about any prior electrical repairs. Service bulletins caution that certain cleaners and lubricants can damage interior electrical switches and connectors.

    An excerpt from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Our 2003 Lexus es 300 engine area caught in fire when my wife parked in the parking lot. According to the witness, parking lot security, he saw the smoke came out from the engine area for about a minute and then fire. He said it looks like something is short in the electrical/engine and caught the fire. When the fire department arrived to put out the fire which damaged and burned half of the car, a lead fire man commented that he has seen several incidents that the Lexus sedans were suddenly caught in fire while parking. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10308741, filed 2010-02, 19,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws a large share of complaints about low-speed unintended acceleration and hesitant transmission behavior, so a thorough test drive in stop-and-go and parking situations matters more than cosmetics. Ask for service records covering transmission software updates, brake work, and any airbag or electrical repairs, and have a pre-purchase inspection done.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 80 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 116 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus ES300. 82 of the complaints include a mileage, and 65% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 34,950 miles. Of all complaints, 43 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 18 an injury, 2 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 54 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Exterior lighting (2), Steering (2), Tires (2), Equipment (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “On january 13, 2010 while my wife was driving our Lexus es 300, the car accelerated as she was entering a parking space, causing the car to collide with a pole in the parking lot. The dealer where we purchased the vehicle (Lexus of louisville) would not repair the vehicle because it claimed the car was not one of the models recalled. We repaired damage to the body at a cost of $2500, but are now concerned that the vehicle is not safe to drive.”

NHTSA complaint #10310738, filed 2010-02, 77,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I purchased my vehicle from carmax about 2.5 months ago with an extended warranty. After driving my vehicle daily back and forth to work, I noticed the hesitation while coming to complete stop or a traffic light. The RPM would increase while the transmission would hesitate when I pushed the accelerator between the speeds of 10 - 35 MPH. At first sign, it appeared the transmission was defected, so I decided to take it to carmax service center. …”

NHTSA complaint #10552312, filed 2013-11, 86,541 miles

Air bags: “While waiting in heavy traffic at an intersection and without warning vehicle suddenly accelerated. This caused the driver to rear end the vehicle in front. Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The insurance company totaled the vehicle. The dealership insisted that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. The consumer contacted the manufacturer and was told that nothing could be done.”

NHTSA complaint #10062896, filed 2004-05, 2,200 miles

Engine cooling: “2003 es 300 - transmission issues: I have been experiencing hesitation upon acceleration almost every time, along with hard shifting 50% of the time. The acceleration hesitation can be scary if I'm trying to enter the highway, or turning left. The hard shifting feels like I got hit from behind. Both problems have been going ongoing for years and Lexus dealer has never been any help. I read many of the online forums and found that both of these problems are very common as are their results for getting these issues fixed - not much luck from the dealer - it works as it is designed . Really? …”

NHTSA complaint #10437715, filed 2011-11, 40,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

65% of the 82 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,850 and 78,800 miles.

29%0–1013%10–2522%25–507%50–7515%75–10010%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (82 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 34,950 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’0339’06’09’12’15’19
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Lexus ES300. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
ES300 · sedan not rated5 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Lexus ES300 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
ES 300 FWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed automatic182721$3,200

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Lexus ES300 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.

NHTSA investigations

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. 54 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 54 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201353,50005——Not enough data
200311634,9500—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200215330,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20012960,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20005677,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19992788,0000—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19985278,5641—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199745100,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199637109,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199538103,2831—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199439110,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19934396,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199237141,8181—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lexus ES300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Lexus ES300?

Owners of this model year most often describe two things: sudden, unintended acceleration (usually at low speed while parking, pulling out, or with the brake applied) and a transmission/engine calibration that hesitates or surges when accelerating from low speeds. The issues reported most often: Sudden unintended acceleration at low speed; Hesitation and surging from a stop or low speed; Airbags not deploying in a crash.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Lexus ES300 have?

NHTSA recorded 116 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus ES300 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Lexus ES300 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 48 complaints (41% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 27.

Has the 2003 Lexus ES300 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.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Lexus ES300 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Lexus ES300 (ES 300, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 27 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Lexus ES300 reported?

Among the 82 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 34,950 miles and the middle half falls between 2,850 and 78,800 miles; 65% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

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.