2002 Lexus ES300 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AT 45 MPH BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS COLLAPSED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR PASSENGERS SUSTAINED TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT*JB

NHTSA ID

11122195

Incident

Sep 25, 2016

Mileage

155,000 mi

I REPLACED THE BATTERY ON MY LEXUS AND IT WOULD NO LONGER IDLE YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE DIES.. THE COMPUTER LOST THE IDLE PARAMETERS THIS IS DANGEROUS AS I TURNED LEFT OFF ONE ROAD TO ANOTHER TOOK MY FOOT FROM ACCELARATOR TO BRAKE ENGINE DIED AND I LOST POWER STEERING ALMOST WRECKED MOST MECHANICS ARE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT LEXUS REFUSED TO ADMIT IT GOOGLE IT ALL OVER INTERNET

NHTSA ID

11055236

Incident

Dec 8, 2017

Mileage

100,000 mi

2002 LEXUS EXCELERATED ON IT'S OWN.I WAS GETTING ON FREEWAY I STEPPED ON GAS TO GO WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC , THEN TRAFFIC STARTED BACKING UP SO I WENT TO USE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN BUT CAR KEPT EXCELERATING. I HAD TO USE BOTH FEET TO TRY TO STOP ,THEN I FELT A POP FROM GAS PEDAL AT THAT TIME IT STOPPED EXCELLERATING

NHTSA ID

10984541

Incident

May 6, 2017

WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY THE CAR MADE A SUDDEN & BRIEF SHUTTER IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF RESPONSE BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO MOVE OFF THE FREEWAY KNOWING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. UPON GETTING O THE OFF RAMP I SAW FLAMES COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. WITHIN A VERY FEW MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. PASSERS BY WHO STOPPED TO ASSIST ME INDICATED THAT THEY SAW FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE CAR AS I WAS PULLING OFF THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FIRE (EITHER FLAMES, SMOKE OR GAUGE INDICATIONS) FOR ME S THE DRIVER UNTIL I HAD EXITED TO THE OFF RAMP. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS WITH CAUSE LISTED AS " UNDETERMINED" BY THE INSURANCE CO.

NHTSA ID

10881603

Incident

Jun 13, 2016

Mileage

236,400 mi

SIDE AIRBAGS NEAR WINDSHIELD ARE LEAKING WHEN IT RAINS. AT FIRST IT WAS A SLOW LEAK, BUT REALLY POURS IN NOW

NHTSA ID

10871321

Incident

Jan 7, 2016

LARGE CLOUD OF WHITE/GRAY SMOKE WHEN CAR SITS OVERNIGHT FROM PREVIOUS NIGHT DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED BECAUSE OF THIS. WHY NOT A RECALL????

NHTSA ID

10864819

Incident

Sep 2, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WERE FLAMES AND A BLACK SUBSTANCE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR CENTER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10822093

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10676182

Incident

Jan 8, 2015

Mileage

180,000 mi

DEALER AND FINANCE COMPANY CLAIM CLEAN TITLE BUT DOCUMENTS REFLECT OTHERWISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609464

Incident

Oct 25, 2013

Mileage

156,342 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10593191

Incident

May 1, 2002

Mileage

1,000 mi

SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN...CAR SURGES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503225

Incident

Jul 12, 2011

Mileage

83,207 mi

MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 HAS BEEN JERKING AND SHIFTING VERY HARD ON ACCELERATION. IT SEEMS TO HAVE MORE OF A PROBLEM WHEN I ACCELERATE SLOWLY IN THE LOWER GEARS. IT JERKS VERY NOTICEABLY. I WAS TOLD IT WAS JUST THE NATURE OF THE CAR, BUT IT HAS BEEN GETTING MUCH WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. IT ALSO HESITATES WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS AFTER DECELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10489419

Incident

Dec 19, 2012

Mileage

150,001 mi

MY 2002 LEXUS ES 200 WAS DYING OR NOT STARTING AT ALL. SUDDENLY, IT WAS WORKING FINE. 2 DAYS LATER, WHILE IDLING OR WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, IT WOULD LURCH FORWARD AND START ACCELERATING AT SOMETIMES 40MPH. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, THEN EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP, THEN AFTER I TURNED IT OFF, IT WOULD SHAKE FORWARD. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419895

Incident

Aug 16, 2011

Mileage

139,450 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STAND STILL AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED PAIN ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER, CHEST AND UPPER ARM. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS CRASHED INTO WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE SHE EXPERIENCED BACK PAIN. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. UPDATED 08/30/11 THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. UPDATED 11/30/11

NHTSA ID

10418506

Incident

Aug 4, 2011

Mileage

74,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE NECK, SPINE AND SHOULDER. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000.

NHTSA ID

10410546

Incident

Jun 11, 2011

Mileage

92,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 FT. BEHIND A UTILITY TRUCK. SUDDENLY THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AND HIT THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ID

10401859

Incident

May 10, 2011

Mileage

95,000 mi

2002 LEXUS ES200. ATTORNEY WRITES ON BEHALF OF CLIENT IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE ATTORNEY STATED HIS CLIENT WAS INJURED WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO WALL AND METAL FENCE, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10391935

Incident

Dec 14, 2009

LEXUS (2002 ES) HAS DRAMATIC TRANSMISSION STUTTER AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS, JERKING OCCUPANTS AND MAKING QUICK STARTS (TURNING ACROSS LANES) VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353695

Incident

Aug 28, 2010

Mileage

20,000 mi

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR ACCELERATION WAS LIMITED. ERROR CODES P2121 AND P2128 INDICATED FAULTY "THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR" THE PART RETAILS FOR AROUND $100. LEXUS INSISTED THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPLETE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WITH A NEW THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. LEXUS CHARGED ME $764 TO REPLACE BOTH ASSEMBLIES. I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD HAVE COVERED THE COST OF ALL OF THE COST OF REPLACING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346158

Incident

Jul 22, 2010

Mileage

102,542 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHEN HE DROVE OUT OF THE PARKING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE BEGAN TO PANIC AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE AND A FENCE. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN HE CRASHED INTO A TREE AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF. HE RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT AN ENGINEER WILL EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10344702

Incident

Jul 21, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE TURN SIGNAL VOLUME WAS VERY LOW AND COULD NOT BE HEARD WHEN IT WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82000.

NHTSA ID

10340938

Incident

Jun 22, 2006

Mileage

3,000 mi

2002 LEXUS ES300, CAR LUNGES AND JERKS DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. CAR DROVE FINE UNTIL LEXUS UPGRADED SOFTWARE, AND THEN 100% NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN PERFORMANCE. CAR WAS BROUGHT TO JM LEXUS APPROX 4-5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM, AND ONCE TO PALM BEACH LEXUS. CAR JERKED DURING TEST DRIVE WITH MECHANIC. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A "CHARACTERISTIC" OF THE CAR, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE TO FIX IT. MECHANIC STATED HE HAS SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER CARS. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332251

Incident

Apr 29, 2010

I HAVE A 2002 LEXUS ES300. MY CAR AT SLOWER SPEEDS HAS BEEN JERKING/SURGING AT LOWER SPEEDS AND LURCHES FORWARD WITHOUT NOTICE. IT IS A NIGHTMARE TO DRIVE THIS CAR IN TRAFFIC. I KEEP BEING TOLD ITS NORMAL, IT SEEMS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED, BUT I'M NOT GETTING ANYWHERE. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP DID A SOFTWARE UPGRADE RECENTLY, IT ONLY MADE THE MATTER WORSE. I HATE DRIVING THIS CAR, EVERYONE IN MY FAMILY AVOIDS DRIVING IT, AS WE JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THE WAY IT ACCELERATES AND SHIFTS GEARS. ITS A 2002 MODEL, WITH 49K MILES. I AVG 25K MILES A YEAR DRIVING, DO THE MATH, THIS CAR SUCKS, AND I AVOID USING IT OUT OF FEAR/ANNOYANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331886

Incident

Feb 13, 2010

Mileage

48,800 mi

I OWNED A 2002 LEXUS ES 300 WHICH IN JANUARY 2010 BEFORE THE CRAZE OF THE ACCELERATION BECAME POPULAR, IT TOOK OFF, WITHOUT PROVOCATION, SHIFT LOCKED, ACCELERATION LOCKED, AND BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I FILED A BBB.ORG COMPLAINT, I FAXED, EMAILED, FACEBOOKED, AND TWITTERED TOYOTA LEXUS CONCERNING MY CONCERNS, AND THE FACT THAT AS A DISABLED VET, WHO SPENT HIS ENTIRE EARNINGS ON A CAR FOR HIS FAMILY, AND THAT VEHICLE CRASHED WITHOUT PROVOCATION, AND ASKED FOR THEIR HELP. THEY NEVER ANSWERED THE BBB COMPLAINTS WITH THE USA LOCATION OR NORTH AMERICAN, FROM FACEBOOK, THEY SAID TO CONTACT THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DEPARTMENT, WHICH I DID. WHEN CONTACTING THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION DEPARTMENT, THEIR JOBS ARE TO ATTEMPT TO TALK FAST, IN THE ATTEMPT TO SAY IT WAS DRIVERS ERROR. I TOLD THEM THAT I WASN'T INTERESTING IN SUING, WASN'T INTERESTED IN PLACING BLAME, JUST INTERESTED IN THEIR HELP IN ASSISTING ME IN REPAIRING MY GARAGE, AND THEIR ASSISTANCE IN ME GETTING A NEW USED VEHICLE, THAT'S ALL. I INFORMED THEM THAT WHILE HURT BY THE ACCIDENT, I WASN'T NOR DIDN'T SEEK A ATTORNEY, OR LEGAL REPRESENTATION, AND THAT I WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD WANT TO ASSIST THIS VETERAN AS A ACT OF KINDNESS. I ONLY ASKED THAT THEY ASSIST IN MY HOME REPAIRS, AND GETTING ANOTHER SAME LIKE VEHICLE, IN ALTERNATE, HELPING ME WITH MY HOME REPAIRS DEDUCTIBLE AND ASSISTING ME IN GETTING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND AS A LAST ALTERNATIVE, I ASKED THEM IF THEY WOULD ISSUE A NON-QUALIFYING CERTIFICATE SO OTHER THAN INCOME, I COULD PURCHASE A VEHICLE FROM THEM, TO ACCOMODATE MY FAMILIES NEEDS, THEY JUST IGNORED ME, NOW I WANT JUSTICE, BECAUSE MY REQUEST WERE NOT OUTRAGEOUS. IF THEY WOULD HELP ME GET ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR MY FAMILIES NEEDS, I WOULD BE TOTALLY SATISFIED, I DON'T BELIEVE IN ALWAYS GOING THROUGH THE COURTS WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10325256

Incident

Jan 27, 2010

I HAD JUST LEFT MY DOCTOR'S OFFICE AND GONE TO A PARKING STRUCTURE WHERE I HAD PARKED MY CAR FOR THE VISIT. I PAID THE PARKING CHARGE, GOT BACK MY VALIDATED TICKET, AND INSERTED THE TICKET IN THE GATE-ARM MACHINE. THE GATE LIFTED, AND I PUT MY FOOT LIGHTLY ON THE ACCELERATOR TO EXIT FROM THE PARKING STRUCTURE INTO THE STREET. THE CAR THEN PICKED UP SPEED, WELL PAST WHAT IT SHOULD HAVE PICKED UP BASED ON THE LIGHT PRESSURE I HAD PUT ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE BRAKES HAD NO EFFECT. THE CAR WENT FASTER AND FASTER, CROSSED A STREET, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. ON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED SERIOUS BACK PAIN, AND MY WIFE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THREE NIGHTS WITH TWO BROKEN RIBS. THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319254

Incident

Aug 13, 2009

Mileage

60,000 mi