Skip to content
Lexus ISModel year report

2003 Lexus IS Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,000miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

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

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus IS. The part named most often is air bags, with 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure (4) and engine (3). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 71% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 28 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Body and structure complaints overlap with 8 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.

Example complaints

Air bags: “Vehicle fishtailed at about 40 MPH due to rwd and about an inch or two inches of snow on the ground. Vehicle was uncontrollable and the brake was not applied. Seatbelt was being worn and vehicle slid onto oncoming traffic and hit an early 2000's f250 (I believe) rocker panel. The whole front end IS destroyed and I have pictures. My head hit the windshield and cracked it. I went to the hospital and had a ctscan and was ambulanced to a nearby hospital that had a neuro surgeon and kept overnight. I am now on necessary leave from work and in a great amount of pain due to a hemorrhage in my brain. …”

NHTSA complaint #10566913, filed 2014-03, 14,050 miles

Body and structure: “The dashboard on my Lexus IS 300 IS melting. It IS very sticky and as it heats up a chemical IS released and there IS an odor in the car. I called Lexus and they said that the recall does not effect the year of my vehicle, but it IS very clear that this car has a serious issue. All is300 regardless of year with this issue must be recalled.”

NHTSA complaint #10732766, filed 2015-07, 80,000 miles

Engine: “Brand new owner - first owner; Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life. This IS250 Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issues. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns related and has done nothing to compensate me for to date relating to multi-billion dollar law suits.”

NHTSA complaint #11604122, filed 2024-07

Brakes: “Brand new owner - first owner at time of lease/finance terms and conditions. Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life, placed us in harms way and accident occurred in California due to faulty emissions, acceleration out of control, and braking problems. This Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issue coupled with anxiety. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns reported to dealership and has done nothing to compensate me for their multibillion dollar settlement to date. …”

NHTSA complaint #11604124, filed 2024-07

Mileage when problems were reported

71% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 49,000 miles.

0%0–1029%10–2543%25–500%50–7514%75–10014%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2006201442015201620202024
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 IS 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. 28 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 28 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus IS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2023511,0000523—Too new
20206—0———Not enough data
20171196,0000———Not enough data
2015988,0000———Not enough data
201412—0———Not enough data
2013959,5940—24—Not enough data
20121823,0000—22—Falling
20111577,0000—22—Falling
20104167,0001—2146 · TypicalStable
20094036,7502——77 · MoreFalling
200810278,5003——50 · TypicalFalling
200712282,5003——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200614389,5007——Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20051247,0000———Not enough data
20041074,8380———Not enough data
20031248,0000———Not enough data
20021288,0000———Not enough data

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

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Lexus IS have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus IS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Air bags is named most often, in 4 complaints (33% of the total), followed by body and structure with 4.

Has the 2003 Lexus IS 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 IS reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 49,000 miles; 71% 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.