Model Year Problem Record

Lexus ES300 2003 - Problems, Recalls, and Investigations

The complete public record for the 2003 Lexus ES300: what owners reported, which systems drew recalls, and where complaints exist that no recall has ever covered.

116Distinct owner complaintsSource: NHTSA Complaints

0Recall campaignsSource: NHTSA Recalls

4Defect investigationsSource: NHTSA Investigations

58Complaints reporting a crash or fireOwner Reports, Unverified

Complaints by System

Distinct complaints naming each system, most reported first. Select a system for its own page.

Vehicle Speed Control49

Engine16

Fuel and Propulsion System6

Unknown Or Other4

Vehicle Structure3

Tires2

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems2

Latches, Locks and Linkages1

Did a Recall Cover It?

For each system: what owners reported, matched against the recalls on file for this model year. A gap does not prove a defect - it means owners reported the problem and no recall campaign covers that system on this model year.

Vehicle Speed Control49 complaints

49 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Power Train27 complaints

27 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Engine16 complaints

16 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Air Bags13 complaints

13 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Electrical System10 complaints

10 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Brakes7 complaints

7 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Fuel and Propulsion System6 complaints

6 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Unknown Or Other4 complaints

4 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Vehicle Structure3 complaints

3 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Tires2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Driver Assistance and Stability Systems2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Steering2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Lighting2 complaints

2 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Seats1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Visibility1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Equipment1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Latches, Locks and Linkages1 complaints

1 complaints; no recall campaign covers this system.

Recall Campaigns

Every campaign covering this model year, in our own words. The campaign number is the official reference.

No recall campaigns cover this model year.

Defect Investigations

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened these investigations touching this model year.

DP04003Opened February 17, 2004 - Closed March 5, 2004

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

DP05002Opened August 5, 2005 - Closed January 5, 2006

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

DP09001Opened April 8, 2009 - Closed October 29, 2009

UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

PE04021Opened March 3, 2004 - Closed July 22, 2004

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM. No recall campaign resulted from this investigation.

Complaints by Year Received

When this model year's complaints reached NHTSA - whether its problems surfaced early or late in its life.

20021

200315

200439

20059

20061

20071

20088

20091

201020

20114

20122

20132

20141

20154

20161

20182

20195

How to Read These Counts: complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not failure rates. Older and higher-volume vehicles accumulate more reports, and counts are not adjusted for vehicles sold - no per-sales rate or reliability ranking is shown, because the public data does not support one.

Data as of November 1, 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints, recalls, and investigations files (U.S. Government public domain). DefectRecord is not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer. For your specific vehicle, use NHTSA's VIN lookup. Report an error.