2000 Lexus ES300

I HAVE OWNED MY 2000 ES 300 LEXUS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER ANY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS . IT HAD 93,204 WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT NOW HAS 238,452. *TR

NHTSA ID

11243949

Incident

Aug 14, 2019

TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK

NHTSA ID

11102935

Incident

May 23, 2018

Mileage

175,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE DID SHUT OFF SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL , FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. TRIED START ENGINE AGAIN AND IT SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW OIL LIGHT. INSPECTED ENGINE OIL WITH DIP STICK AND SHOWED GOOD LEVEL. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND BEEN TOLD THE SLUDGE FORMATION CAUSED ENGINE SEIZE . REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE IS THE ONLY OPTION. FOUND A TSB ON NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 628655 BULLETIN DATE: 20-JAN-2002 ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO HELP ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BY MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ID

10904803

Incident

Aug 31, 2016

Mileage

77,000 mi

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID ENGINE SEIZED. HE SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE ENGINE WITH A NEWER ONE QUOTED 7500$ +LABOR. IT HAS ONLY 77000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10902968

Incident

Aug 30, 2016

I JUST PAID $3,600 TO HAVE THE KNOCK SENSORS AND CONNECTING HARNESS REPLACED, AND A TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD, IN THIS CAR BECAUSE THE KNOCK SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP WORKING ("TRAC OFF" LIGHT, NO OVERRIDE) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IT IS ALSO WHAT CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO NEED RE-BUILDING BECAUSE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THIS DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER REPLACING AND REPAIRING THESE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. AFTER TO SPEAKING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE PROBLEM RECURRED, I WAS TOLD, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THAT 1998-2002 LEXUS ES300S AND TOYOTA CAMRYS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE HAVE THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY AND OWNERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO SOLVE IT WITH NO LUCK. ONE TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME, OFF THE RECORD OF COURSE, THAT THE SENSORS IN THESE YEARS HAD SENSITIVITY ISSUES THAT WERE CORRECTED STARTING IN 2003. OF COURSE, DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, AND WANT TO CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES TO TELL YOU IT WILL COST THOUSANDS TO FIX, AND THEN THE PROBLEM RECURS. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS WITH A NEW SET THAT NO LONGER HAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR SITTING AT AN IDLE. TO ME, THE FACT THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM QUITS WORKING IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN A CAR THAT THE DRIVER IS USED TO DRIVING WITH THAT FEATURE. SEARCH "ES300 KNOCK SENSORS" ON THE WEB AND YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS BY FRUSTRATED OWNERS.

NHTSA ID

10836458

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

175,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BABY TREND HYBRID 3-IN-1 BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: FB48079. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 29, 2015 AND BEING UTILIZED IN A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRAP THE CHILD INTO THE SAFETY SEAT, THE HARNESS BUCKLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SEAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10762283

Incident

Sep 7, 2015

I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THEN JOLT INCREASING AND DECREASING IN ACCELERATION BY ITSELF I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND REBUILT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10689755

Incident

Feb 21, 2015

Mileage

278,958 mi

MY FATHER WAS DISORIENTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE JUST KEPT DRIVING, HOPING TO FIGURE IT OUT. HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A VERY DEEP RAVINE. THE CAR SUSTAINED OVER $17000 IN DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. HE HAS 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 6 DAYS NOW. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. HE BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP, PERFORMANCE LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THEY WORKED ON HIS CAR IN MAY...TOTAL WAS OVER $2000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10606660

Incident

Jun 23, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. •The entire bulletin has been updated.

Lexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow the Removal Procedure in this bulletin to remove the RapgardTM protective film within 90 days from initial application. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin No. L-PG004-94. •The entire bulletin has been updated.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. While the quality and durability of paint on Lexus vehicles is continuously being improved, it remains the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.

Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surface. These particles are often difficult to see on dark color paints but can be easily felt when brushing a hand across horizontal body surfaces such as the hood, roof, or deck lid. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to clean vehicles that may have been subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles such as rail dust during rail transportation or extended storage near industrial areas.

Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfaces can occur. Acid rain damage can typically be identified on vehicles by the presence of stains on the paint surface that resemble hard water spots. Unlike water spots however, acid rain damage cannot be removed by regular washing procedures. Also, because acid rain can etch and soften the paint, normal buffing or polishing repair procedures should not be attempted. This can cause further damage and result in visible depressions in the paint surface. The following are the three major categories of acid rain damage: •Minor damage: requires only buffing to repair. •Moderate damage: usually requires neutralizing, color sanding, and buffing. •Severe damage: extending beyond 1/2 mil of clearcoat on a pearl, metallic, or solid color, requires neutralization, sanding, and repainting. In cases where acid rain damage is minor, neutralization and buffing with a liquid-type paint finessing product may provide an adequate repair. Only specially formulated products outlined in this bulletin should be used for that purpose. Unfortunately, other than minor damage, there is no simple method of determining the actual extent (depth) of acid penetration other than color sanding a representative affected area until there is no visible etching or depressions, followed by measuring the amount of paint removed with either a magnetic or digital-type film thickness gauge. The procedures in this bulletin are intended for use by qualified body/paint technicians and should not be attempted by inexperienced personnel. While the quality and durability of paint on Lexus vehicles is continuously being improved, it remains the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. Perform frequent vehicle washing, as often as daily, during high heat and humidity periods to minimize the potential for paint damage due to acid rain exposure. This is especially important in geographical areas known for high frequency and concentration of acid rain and industrial fallout.