← New search

2002 Lexus Es

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Es years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports5 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
Clear category filter
58,920 miles · Aug 7, 2013
Power TrainStructureCrash

MY WIFE, WHO DRIVES THE LEXUS ALL THE TIME, WAS PREPARING TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN. SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AS IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION TO REVERSE). THE MOMENT IT WAS ENGAGED THE CAR LEAPED BACKWARD, LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT OF THE GARAGE AND ALSO THE DRIVEWAY ITSELF. H…

Read full complaint

MY WIFE, WHO DRIVES THE LEXUS ALL THE TIME, WAS PREPARING TO DRIVE THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE TO DRIVE DOWNTOWN. SHE HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL (AS IS NECESSARY TO MOVE THE TRANSMISSION TO REVERSE). THE MOMENT IT WAS ENGAGED THE CAR LEAPED BACKWARD, LEAVING TIRE MARKS ON THE CEMENT OF THE GARAGE AND ALSO THE DRIVEWAY ITSELF. HER EFFORTS TO STOP THE CAR BY STOMPING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD NO EFFECT. SHE GRAZED THE HOUSE, MOVED THROUGH A FLOWER BED, LEAVING A TIRE MARK THE WHOLE DISTANCE, STRUCK THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE AND CONTINUED UP A SMALL INCLINE IN THE NEIGHBOR'S YARD, LUCKILY MISSING A LARGE TREE THERE AND CAME TO A STOP. THE CORNER OF THE HOUSE REMOVED WAS ABOUT 3-4 FEET ON EACH SIDE OF THE CORNER JUNCTURE ITSELF. THERE WERE TWO WITNESSES ACROSS THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, BOTH OF WHOM IMMEDIATELY CAME TO HER AID AND VOICED THE OPINION THAT THE CAR WAS TRULY MOVING AT A HIGH SPEED. MY WIFE HAD NO INJURIES OTHER THAN BEING VERY SHOOK-UP AND THANKFUL THAT NEITHER SHE OR OTHERS WERE INJURED. OF COURSE, THE CAR IS A MESS: BRICKS FROM THE HOUSE IMPACT FELL ON THE HOOD, TOP, AND TRUNK LID. A THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR IS SCRAPED, ONE REAR WINDOW IS BROKEN, THE LARGE REAR WINDOW IS GONE, THE TRUNK LID IS IN BAD SHAPE AS IS THE REAR BUMPER. THE TOP HAS SEVERAL DENTS AND WINDOW TRIM ALSO. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS WHETHER OR NOT THE CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE AFTER THE EXTERNAL REPAIRS ARE MADE. I BELIEVE ONLY LEXUS CAN TELL ME, IF THEY WILL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534175

Mileage unknown · Oct 21, 2006
Power Train

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY AND SOMETIMES ABRUPTLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. THE DOWNSHIFT AT TIMES IS VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO SURGE FORWARD AT TIMES OR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AFTER THE ACCELERATOR IS DEPRESSED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171497

56,000 miles · Aug 30, 2006
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE CAUSING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING. ONE NEVER KNOWS HOW IT WILL REACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE LEXUS USER GROUP HAS MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. …

Read full complaint

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND SURGE CAUSING ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. THIS BEHAVIOR IS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING. ONE NEVER KNOWS HOW IT WILL REACT. I WOULD LIKE THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE LEXUS USER GROUP HAS MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MAY GET SOMEONE INJURED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167071

28,900 miles · Jun 8, 2006
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN DRIVE GEAR FROM REVERSE GEAR, FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE AND TAP THE GAS PEDAL, MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF IT IS IN FULL THROTTLE. AS RESULT, MY VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND IMPACTED A BRICK WALL. I SUFFERED A BLOODY NOSE AND A CUT ON MY HAND. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND IS U…

Read full complaint

WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN DRIVE GEAR FROM REVERSE GEAR, FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE AND TAP THE GAS PEDAL, MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF IT IS IN FULL THROTTLE. AS RESULT, MY VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND IMPACTED A BRICK WALL. I SUFFERED A BLOODY NOSE AND A CUT ON MY HAND. THE VEHICLE SUFFERED FRONTAL DAMAGE AND IS UNDRIVEABLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE AUTO MANUFACTURER. THEY WILL TOW AND INSPECT IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10159293

34,000 miles · Apr 10, 2006
Power Train

THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POW…

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY LOST POWER, AND HAD TO BE TOWED. THE DEALER HAS DENIED THAT THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, AND THAT I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10154949

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.