Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Lexus ES300 problems

Owners filed 38 complaints about the 2001 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA between Feb 2001 and Dec 2019. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (9).

Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control9
  2. Power train7
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  4. Tires5
  5. Air bags4
  6. Exterior lighting2
  7. Electrical system2
  8. Equipment adaptive/mobility1
  9. Seat belts1
  10. Equipment1
  11. Structure1
  12. Wheels1
  13. Fuel system, gasoline1
  14. Other / unknown3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200111
20027
20035
20043
20051
20061
20072
20081
20091
20103
20111
20121
20130
20140
20150
20160
20170
20180
20191

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

9 reports3 crashes
“2001 LEXUS ES 300. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FULL RPM, PROBABLY AROUND 6,000 PLUS. HER FEET WERE FLAT ON THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NOT PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, NOR HAD SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN THE RPMS BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY A COMPUTER FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE RPM TO INSTANTLY INCREASE IN THAT MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WENT TO THE GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEHAVED IN A NORMAL MANNER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 28, 2010Vehicle speed controlODI 10327463

Power train

7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL FILLINGS WERE FOUND INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2012Power trainODI 10456444

Service brakes, hydraulic

6 reports4 crashes
“I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS 300. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT-EXCEPT FOR 12-18 MONTHS AGO- MY MAT GOT STUCK. AS I DROVE IT KEEP AT HIGH SPEED AND KEPT GOING FASTER- THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AS I PUSHED DOWN. I PIT MY HEAD DOWN AND PULLED AT THE MATT & UNHOOKED THE FRONT HOOK UNDER THE SEAT . I THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY MAT- AS OF THAT DAY-I REMOVED MY MAT & HAVE RUINED MY CARPET, BUT THAT IS FINE. I AM SURPRISED THIS RECALL IS NOT FOR MY MAKE & MODEL- WHEN I HEARD THE ISSUES WITH THE PEDAL...IT BROUGHT BACK THAT DAY- IF I WAS UNABLE TO FREE THE PEDAL, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED- I WOULD NEVER HAD THOUGHT TO HIT THE E BRAKE OR SHUT CAR DOWN- AND I PUT ALL MY POWER ON THE BRAKE & IT WOULD NOT WORK. ALL IN ALL IT IS AN EXCELLENT CAR! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, Equipment adaptive/mobilityODI 10306712

Tires

5 reports
“I WAS DRIVING FOR 2.5 HOURS FROM VIRGINIA TO WEST VIRGINIA AND 3 OF MY 4 BRAND NEW TIRES WENT FLAT AT THE SAME TIME ON I81 NORTH. THEY WERE INSTALLED THE PRIOR SATURDAY AND I DROVE ON THE NEXT TUESDAY. THE TIRES ARE GOODYEAR ASSURANCE MAXLIFE, AND THEY WERE PROPERLY INFLATED. THE GOODYEAR TIRE SERVICE WHERE I WAS TOWED FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES SAID THERE ARE NO PUNCTURES ON THE TIRES, WHICH I STILL HAVE. I DO NOT RECALL HITTING ANYTHING,”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2019Tires, Unknown or otherODI 11286479

Air bags

4 reports4 crashes
“WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO MY HEAD AND EYE. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH BEFORE BREAKING AND CONTACT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2011Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10390319

Exterior lighting

2 reports
“VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LIGHT DECEPTION. LIGHT VISIBILITY IS ONLY 15 TO 20 FEET AHEAD. DRIVER MUST USE HIGH BEAMS TO GET DISTANCE VISION. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 13, 2004Exterior lightingODI 10073618
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.