NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
56 reports146,000 miles · Mar 11, 2008
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE GAINED NORMAL SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE, BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACK LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN THE VEHICLE GAINED NORMAL SPEED, THE WARNING LIGHTS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO WARRANTY AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 146,000.
NHTSA ODI #10221661
60,000 miles · Jun 21, 2006
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEEKED RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS IN APRIL OF 2006 HOWEVER THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN WORN BY 70% WITH…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SQUEEKED RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ROTORS IN APRIL OF 2006 HOWEVER THERE WAS NO BRAKE FAILURE. THE BRAKE LIGHT DID ILLUMINATED. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKES HAD BEEN WORN BY 70% WITHIN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD REALIGNMENT WORK PERFORMED. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN THROUGH 2 BATTERIES INCLUDING THE ONE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH. THE DOME LIGHT INFREQUENLTY WORKS EVEN THOUGH THE BULB AND FUSE HAVE BEEN CHANGED. THERE WAS ALSO SOME TYPE OF A FUEL PROBLEM THAT COMBINED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED 6 TIMES WITHIN 5000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10160399
87,000 miles · Jan 10, 2006
Power Train
2000 LEXUS ES300 ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH. *TS WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION BUT THE TACHOMETER WAS SWINGING WILDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE FACILITY WHO INDICATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10148630
Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2005
Air BagsCrashInjury
2000 LEXUS ES300 INVOLVED IN 45 MPH FRONTAL CRASH AND DRIVER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10141172
Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2004
Air BagsCrash
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY LEXUS ES300 HAD A FRONTAL CRASH ON NOVEMBER 16, 2004 AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. FRONT METAL BUMPER BROKE, AND WAS PUSHED IN O THE RADIATOR. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENTS , AIRBAG EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONED BECAME CLEAR HERE. PLEASE REVIEW SOM…
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COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY LEXUS ES300 HAD A FRONTAL CRASH ON NOVEMBER 16, 2004 AND SEVERELY DAMAGED THE FRONT PART OF THE CAR. FRONT METAL BUMPER BROKE, AND WAS PUSHED IN O THE RADIATOR. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENTS , AIRBAG EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONED BECAME CLEAR HERE. PLEASE REVIEW SOME OF THE PHOTOS IN THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SEE THE FAILURE OF THE SAFETY AIRBAG SYSTEM OF LEXUS CAR.WWW.LEXUSAIRBAGSAFETY.COM I INFORMED THE LEXUS CUSTOMER SUPPORT OF THIS EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND EXPRESSED THE SAFETY CONCERN. LEXUS WAS CONDUCTING AN INSPECTION ON THIS CAR, BUT TOLD THAT IT MAY TAKE 6 WEEKS. THEY WERE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE PROCESS. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR NHTSA TO INVOLVE IN THIS ISSUE AND CONDUCT AN INSPECTION TO SAVE THE LIVES OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10101903
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO BRAKE AT ALL. RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATED OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10083299
41,446 miles · May 21, 2004
Tires
PROBLEMS WITH TIRES ON VEHICLE. *MR *SC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10074039
38,520 miles · Mar 10, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I OWN A LEXUS ES300 AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH I BELIEVED THAT THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCLERATED AND TOLD OTHERS THAT IS WHAT I BELIEIVED HAPPENED PRIOR TO READING TODAYS NEWS ON THE INTERNET. I HAD TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO BRING THE CAR TO A HALT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10061808
40,000 miles · Mar 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE AND TRAC LIGHT HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AROUND 40,OOO MI. HAS BEEN IN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASSIONS. BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, BUT COME BACK ON AND NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE SHOP RESETS THE LIGHT. NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THE O2 SENSORS NEED REPLACING SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I WANT T…
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ENGINE AND TRAC LIGHT HAS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY SINCE AROUND 40,OOO MI. HAS BEEN IN DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASSIONS. BOTH LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, BUT COME BACK ON AND NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE SHOP RESETS THE LIGHT. NOW THEY TELL ME THAT THE O2 SENSORS NEED REPLACING SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THAT THE CAR NEEDED EXPENSIVE REPAIRS BEFORE? IT HAS TAKEN TWO DAYS OF DIAGNOSTIC WORK TO COME UP WITH THE OXYGEN SENSOR DIAGNOSIS. HOW CAN I BE SURE THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM? I HAVE BEEN TOLD SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I QUESTION THE DIAGNOSIS AND DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR SINCE THIS AUTOMOBILE HAS BEEN IN SO MANY TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10060846
50,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THIS COMPLAINT HAS AS OF YET NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10046324