IllustrationMileage unknown · May 3, 2023
Engine
UNKNOWN
NHTSA ODI #11520317
2003 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
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
Limited mileage data: 17 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 6 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 →
- Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
Engine complaints
3 reportsUNKNOWN
I WAS REVERSING AND TRYING TO TURN WHEN MY CAR LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION BY IT SELF AND WENT FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP UNINTENTIONAL HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE). IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR FEW DAYS I HAVE EXPERIENCED MUSC…
Read full complaint
I WAS REVERSING AND TRYING TO TURN WHEN MY CAR LEXUS ES 300 SUDDENLY PICKED UP HIGH SPEED ACCELERATION BY IT SELF AND WENT FORWARD AND HIT A FENCE IN FRONT. THE VEHICLE PICKED UP UNINTENTIONAL HIGH SPEED (FULL THROTTLE). IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. MY BODY WENT FORWARD AND BACKWARD VIOLENTLY. FOR FEW DAYS I HAVE EXPERIENCED MUSCLE STIFFNESS, PAIN AND POOR NIGHT SLEEP. *TR
1. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITH INITIAL ACCELERATION (SLOW OR QUICK ACCELERATION). 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES. I SUSPECT THAT OUNCE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS FIXED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. 3. I HAVE GONE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER WITH A NEW CHIP TO HELP …
Read full complaint
1. THE VEHICLE HESITATES WITH INITIAL ACCELERATION (SLOW OR QUICK ACCELERATION). 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES. I SUSPECT THAT OUNCE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM IS FIXED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WOULD BE FIXED. 3. I HAVE GONE TO THE LEXUS DEALER TO UPDATE THE COMPUTER WITH A NEW CHIP TO HELP RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH NO SUCCESS. 4. I HAVE DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT HUNDREDS OF LEXUS OWNERS HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT. IN SOME CASES THE DEALERS HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SUGGEST THATS THE WAY THE CAR WAS DESIGNED! WHY ISN'T LEXUS LISTENING TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS? THANKS *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.