Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Lexus ES300 problems
Owners filed 185 complaints about the 2002 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA between Nov 2001 and Jan 2026. The most-cited component is power train (57).
Complaints
185
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
45
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train57
- Vehicle speed control55
- Electrical system16
- Air bags12
- Service brakes, hydraulic12
- Engine11
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Exterior lighting8
- Structure7
- Tires7
- Steering5
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Suspension4
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 Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
33
21
37
13
9
4
1
6
24
6
1
2
6
2
5
3
1
1
6
0
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 33 |
| 2003 | 21 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 24 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
57 reports3 crashes
“WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS AT A SLOW STEADY SPEED(APPROX 20MPH) THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY VIOLENTLY JERK. MY CAR HAS 75000 MILES AND HAS DONE IT SINCE DAY ONE. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
55 reports34 crashes
“The contact owns a 2002 Lexus ES 300. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH in the driveway and turning into the garage, the vehicle unintentionally accelerated, hit a beam, drove through the garage wall, and into the dining area of the residence, crashed into the furniture, and stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The contact noticed sparks and smoke coming from the dashboard after the impact. There was no injury sustained. There was property damage. The contact stated that she had previously filed a complaint regarding the vehicle's sudden and unintended acceleration. A report police was filed with the police. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and was later towed back to the residence. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.”
Electrical system
16 reports1 crash2 fires
“I TRIED TO START MY CAR OUT OF NO WHERE IT WOULDN'T START NO WARNING OR ANYTHING I CHECKED THE STARTER THAT WASN'T IT I'M NOT SURE OFF IT'S THE ENGINE OR AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM”
Air bags
12 reports11 crashes1 related recall
“TAKATA RECALL, MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT @35MPH IN WHICH HER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I AM CONCERNED THAT SINCE THE SENSORS WERE KNOCKED OFF DURING THE IMPACT, WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO PREVENT THE AIRBOYS FROM DEPLOYING? SHE WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN SHE RAN A RED LIGHT AND T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE SHE HIT WAS A JEEP WRANGLER WITH A STEEL SIDE BUMPER ON ALL SIDES. SO THERE WAY MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE JEEP.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
12 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“THE BRAKES WILL FADE/RELEASE AFTER BEING STOPPED FOR 1-2 MINUTES WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT APPEARS THAT THIS HAPPENS AS THE ENGINE RPM DECREASES ABOUT 100-200 AND THE BRAKE PRESSURE EBBS. THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES MOVE FORWARD ABOUT 1-2 FEET BEFORE IT STOPS AGAIN. *NM”
Engine
11 reports5 fires
“During a trip on the highway the accelerator was to low and take harder to accelerate the car. When we arrived home close to parking end the car suddenly accelerated while I was using the brakes pedal. I was lucky to stop on time. Thanks for your attention.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.