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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2003 Lexus ES300 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
27about this part
Share
23%of 116 total for the year
Median mileage
3,724miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Lexus ES300, 23% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 3,724 miles. 2 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.

“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

“I was driving slowly, less than 10 MPH, approaching a red light behind another vehicle. Suddenly, my car accelerated forward and could not be stopped by braking. I collided with the rear end of the car in front of me. There were no injuries, but both cars had significant damage.”

NHTSA complaint #10306870, filed 2010-02, 25,000 miles

“From the day I got the car the automatic transmission has been in trouble. The problem is the shift from 1st to 2nd. Under light throttle there is free wheeling and engine run-up and it bumps into second. I know it will eventually fail. Lexus has played with the computer control but can't correct this. They tell me this normal, but I know it is not normal for any non- Lexus transmission.”

NHTSA complaint #10112598, filed 2005-03, 1 miles

“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

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
20032723%
20025234%
2001517%
20001018%
1999311%
199812%
199724%
199525%
199438%
199325%
1992924%

Other parts of the 2003 Lexus ES300

Vehicle speed control
48 complaintsAir bags
13 complaintsEngine cooling
11 complaintsElectrical system
10 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsSteering
2 complaintsTires
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Lexus ES300

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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