Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Lexus IS300 problems

Owners filed 29 complaints about the 2004 Lexus IS300 with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Sep 2018. The most-cited component is structure (7).

Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure7
  2. Air bags6
  3. Vehicle speed control4
  4. Engine2
  5. Tires2
  6. Wheels2
  7. Electrical system1
  8. Visibility1
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  10. Suspension1
  11. Other / unknown8

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
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
20052
20061
20070
20084
20090
20102
20110
20121
20131
20144
20159
20162
20171
20182

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

Structure

7 reports
“DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME STICKY AND RUBS OFF ON CLOTHING. THIS INCLUDES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SURFACE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN THE SUN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2016Air bags, StructureODI 10909787

Air bags

6 reports2 crashes
“STICKY RESIDUE DUE TO THE MELTING MATERIAL ON THE DASHBOARD CAUSES FUMES. FUMES ARE TOXIC AND IS GETTING IN THE AC AND VENTILATION. MELTING DASHBOARD. STICKY RESIDUE. CLOTHES WILL STICK TO IT. MELTS WHEN IT GETS HOT IN THE CAR. CURRENTLY LIVING IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT IS SUMMER WEATHER 9 OUT OF THE 12 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2017Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 10965795

Vehicle speed control

4 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2004 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE STEPS ON A RAILING OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT SHE DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES EXPENSE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,527. UPDATED 06/03/10.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2010Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10326417

Engine

2 reports
“ENGINE QUIT ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH COASTED OF SHOULDER OF ROAD. WRECKER DROPPED AT DEALER. THEY MIS DIAGNOSED A BAD COIL. APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LATER THE CAR QUIT IN SAME WAY AGAIN. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN IGNITOR CONTROL MODULE. THE ORIGINAL REPAIR CO.COMMUNITY TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNSAFE CONDITION THEY PUT ME IN. TOYOTA COMPANY SAYS THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OR SAY IN SERVICE PROBLEMS CREATED BY DEALERS. THE FIRST QUESTION THE 2ND REPAIR SERVICE ASK WAS THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. I SAID NO IT JUST QUIT. THIS QUESTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASK BY THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT DID THE FIRST REPAIR. COMMUNITY TOYOTA, BAYTOWN TEXAS. I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO GET THE DEALER AND TOYOTA CO. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SO THEY WILL NOT DO UNSAFE WORK IN THE FUTURE. I BELIEVE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY SOME ONE SHOULD SEE THAT THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER WERE PROPERLY TRAINED. SO THEY DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE IN THE FUTURE AND PUT DRIVERS THEIR PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES AT RISK. I SENT CERTIFIED LETTERS TO DEALER AND TOYOTA CO. DEALER DID NOT RESPOND TOYOTA CO. SAID THEY DID NOT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 22, 2018EngineODI 11097278

Tires

2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS IS-300 EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N-5000 TIRES (N.A), LINE SIZE 215/45/17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED LARGE CIRCULAR CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 91,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 15,000. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2013TiresODI 10521519

Wheels

2 reports
“THERE IS A DANGEROUS POTHOLE EASTBOUND ON LIE NEAR FRESH MEADOWS EXIT. DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE POTHOLE WAS UNAVOIDABLE AS WE WERE LESS THAN 20 FEET BETWEEN THE CAR AHEAD OF US. THE POTHOLE WAS ON THE MIDDLE LANE. IT RESULTED IN A FLAT, A TOW, AND A BRAND NEW TIRE REPLACEMENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2012WheelsODI 10458729
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.