RoadVitals

2001 Lexus IS 300

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Jan 18, 2019
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
11
11 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Lexus IS 300, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 70 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Driver assistance517.2%
  • Engine413.8%
  • Suspension413.8%
  • Visibility26.9%
  • Brakes26.9%
  • Fuel system26.9%
  • Powertrain (other)26.9%
  • Tires & wheels26.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jan 18, 2019

ENGINE CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11170880
Incident
Jan 14, 2019
Mileage
295,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Mar 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND IT FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GLASS PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000. ...UPDATED 09/19/16 *BF

NHTSA ID
10839934
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
154,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Nov 8, 2011

AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS MAKE/MODEL I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT GOES THROUGH TIRES LIKE NOT OTHER CALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN. I AM LUCKY TO GET 10-12K MILES FROM A SET OF TIRES. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE MULTIPLE TIRE SETS AS WELL AS A LIFETIME ALIGNMENT DUET TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES, THIS WEAR IS ON THE INNER PORTION OF THE FRONT TIRES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE CAMBER PORTION OF THE SUSPENSION THAT CAUSES THIS. I AM A MODEL DRIVER WHO TAKES ALL PRECAUTIONS IN THE CARE OF MY VEHICLE. WITH THIS BEING SAID THERE ARE TIMES THAT A NEW TIRE CAN GO FROM GOOD TO TOTALLY BAD IN MONTHS. FOR EXAMPLE THIS PAST JULY 2011 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TIRES AND ALIGNMENT BY OCT 2011 MY FRONT TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE PORTION. CONSUMER CAN SUPPLY PROOF. I HAVE SEEN BLOG POST ON THE NET WITH VARIOUS OTHER IS 300 OWNERS STATING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE EXACT TIRE WEAR I AM SEEING. IT IS THE SAFETY FACTOR THAT CONCERNS ME. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHECK BEFORE I GET ON A LONG TRIP IS MY TIRES HAVE WORN OUT FOR FEAR OF HAVING A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10434917
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Suspension
Filed Mar 15, 2011

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM A DEALER IN MALDEN I HEARD A SOUND THAT WAS NOT FAMILIAR TO ME AND REQUESTED THE DEALER CHECK IT AS I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER WAS WITH A CUSTOMER OR BUSY. ON MARCH 1, 2011 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET INSPECTED IN STOUGHTON AND RECEIVED A REPORT WITH A PASSING GRADE. REGARDLESS I STILL HEARD THE SOUND AND ELECTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 2, 2011. THE DEALER WAS TOO BUSY THAT DAY AND IT WAS ARRANGED FOR ME TO RETURN ON MARCH 9 OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS ON THE NIGHT BEFORE (8TH) AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK AT 5PM THE 9TH. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND WAS GIVEN MY KEYS BACK. I LEFT FOR HOME AND A SHORT TIME LATER THE BALL JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT LET GO CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND WHEEL.. THE STATE POLICE HAD ME TOWED AND THE FOLLOWING DAY A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND RIGHT BALL JOINT WERE "JUNK". I CALLED THE DEALER AND MY FATHER SPOKE TO HIM. HE SAID HE WOULD STAND BEHIND WHAT HE SOLD BUT QUESTIONED THE INSPECTION. WE WENT TO THE INSPECTION STATION AND THE OWNER WOULD NOT PROVIDE HIS NAME OR THE NAME OF HIS INSURANCE CARRIER. HE SAID IF WE WANTED TO GET THIS RESOLVED WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING HIM TO COURT. I HAVE GOTTEN THE ESTIMATES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LEVEL AND THE COST WILL BE $1745.07 INCLUDING MY TOW CHARGES. I REALIZE THE DEALER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT HOWEVER THE INSPECTION FACILITY RISKED MY LIFE AND HAVE SHOWN NO INTENTION ON WORKING THIS OUT AMICABLY. I AM REQUESTING THE SERVICE STATION LOSE THEIR LICENSE TO INSPECT VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHERS THAT THIS STATION DOES NOT CONDUCT COMPLETE INSPECTIONS AND I QUESTION IF THE TECHNICIAN THAT LOOKED AT MY CAR WAS CERTIFIED AS IT WAS NOT THE OWNER WE SPOKE TO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10390253
Incident
Mar 9, 2011
Mileage
118,426 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD, SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR AND A CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRACK WAS CONFIRMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

NHTSA ID
10360998
Incident
Oct 8, 2010
Mileage
114,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 10, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A SERVICE ROAD ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY THE CONTACT HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN THE CONTACT SLOWLY REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS AN EXTREME INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS. THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDLY AND IT ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACKWARDS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED INTO THE HIGHWAY SHE MADE THE DECISION TO CRASH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED FOR FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF INTERFERENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 5/17/2010 * CN UPDATED 05/20/10.*JB

NHTSA ID
10318416
Incident
Jan 12, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Sep 15, 2009

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW GLASS BOLTS LOOSE. GLASS SEPARATES FROM REGULATOR. GLASS DOESN'T FIT INTO WINDOW FRAME CAUSI NG CRACKING SOUND AND ACTIVATING THE CHILD SAFETY FEATURE AUTOMATICALLY REVERSING CLOSURE. GLASS CAN BREAK PRESENTING SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM CONTINUOUS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10283994
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
65,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 6, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING BELT. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL BUILD-UP INSIDE THE ENGINE. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. AS OF JUNE 6, 2007, THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID
10192559
Incident
Apr 1, 2006
Mileage
70,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Safety Recall 22

EQUIPMENT

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

Lexus PRO19-02 -

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Lexus.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

L-SB-0002-20 Rev

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.

L-SB-0002-20 Rev

ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.

Lexus Safety Re

EQUIPMENT

Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

L-SB-0179-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus IS 300 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024000
2023000
2022100
2021100
2020200
2019720
2018611
2017201
2016301
2015000
2014000
2013000
2012000
2011000
2010000
2009000
2008000
2007000
2006100
2005400
2004190038.1
2003210041.7
2002280036.4
2001Viewing271049.7
2000000
1999000
1998000

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.