EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2001 Lexus IS 300
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2001 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Aug 2002 | 2 | 4 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 6 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 7 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 8 |
| Jul 2003 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 11 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 12 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 13 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 14 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 15 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 16 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 17 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 19 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 21 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 22 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 23 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 24 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 25 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 26 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 27 |
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.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
ENGINE CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART WHILE DRIVING.
- NHTSA ID
- 11170880
- Incident
- Jan 14, 2019
- Mileage
- 295,000 mi
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
EQUIPMENT
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
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.
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.
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.
EQUIPMENT
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 6 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 38.1 |
| 2003 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 41.7 |
| 2002 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 36.4 |
| 2001Viewing | 27 | 1 | 0 | 49.7 |
| 2000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.