2001 Lexus IS 300 Owner Complaints

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JERKED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE PULLING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE COTTER PIN CAME OUT OF THE CV BALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10147450

Incident

Jan 7, 2006

Mileage

67,700 mi

FAILURE OF ABS FEATURE / MALFUNCTION OF BRAKES AROUND 07/14/05 WHEN MY WIFE BRAKED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR SKIDDED WITH THE REAR WHEELS PULLING OUT TOWARDS RIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AS SHE WAS EXITING AND WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED (<45 MPH) ON 7/23/05 WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, TO AVOID A CAR THAT WAS GETTING IN MY LANE (THE LEFT MOST LANE) I BRAKED HARD. THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS ABOUT 65 MPH. THE BRAKES JUST LOCKED EVEN AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR SKIDDED WITH THE REAR WHEELS PULLING OUT TOWARDS RIGHT. I WENT THROUGH TWO LANES OF THE HIGWAY, CRASHED THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE FENCE, THE CAR FLIPPED IN AIR AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DITCH (ABOUT 15 FEET DEEP). ALL THE WHILE DURING THE SKID THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED AND I COULD DO NOTHING TO UNLOCK THEM OR TAKE CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I AND MY WIFE SURVIVED WITH MINOR INJURIES BUT WE ARE BOTH TRAUMATIZED BY THE EVENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE CO. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 51K MILES ON IT AND IT HAS ABS. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL THE SERVICES DONE AT THE DEALER SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE BRAKES LOCKED OR WHY THE ABS FAILED. IN ADDITION TO ABS THE CAR ALSO HAS TRACTION CONTROL, LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY ETC BUT NOTHING HELPED GETTING CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10131171

Incident

Jul 23, 2005

Mileage

51,200 mi

SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS, WHICH BOTH OCCURED RANDOMLY WITH NO PRIOR ENGINE PROBLEMS OR INDICATIONS OF ISSUES WITH THE CAR, IN WHICH AS I WAS ACCELERATING, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS DOWN AND PIN ITSELF TO THE FLOOR. BOTH TIMES, THE GAS PEDAL WAS LITERALLY STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND NOT ABLE TO BE LOOSENED. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURED, I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND JAMMED ON MY BRAKE PEDAL UNTIL THE GAS PEDAL POPPED BACK UP AFTER ABOUT A MINUTE PINNED TO THE GROUND. THE SECOND TIME, I LUCKILY HAD SOMEONE WITH ME WHO INSTRUCTED ME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND QUICKLY TURN OFF THE ENGINE ONE CLICK SO THAT I COULD BRAKE AND STEER MYSELF TO SAFETY. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THESE INCIDENTS, BUT BOTH OCCURENCES COULD HAVE BEEN HORRIBLE ACCIDENTS. THE CAR IS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. MILEAGE AT TIME OF INCIDENTS: 1ST INCIDENT-ABOUT 65-70,000 MILES 2ND INCIDENT-ABOUT 80-85,000 MILES. BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURED WITHIN ABOUT 2-4 MONTHS OF EACH OTHER AND THE LAST INCIDENT FROM TODAY WOULD HAVE OCCURED ABOUT 1 1/2-3 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE ONLY OWNED THE CAR SINCE OCTOBER 2003. I DO NOT KNOW THE PREVIOUS OWNER OR IF THERE WERE ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS REPORTED BEFORE MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PURCHASED FROM A LEXUS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE LOT. I DO HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER COMING UP THIS MONTH.

NHTSA ID

10119774

Incident

Mar 1, 2005

Mileage

65,000 mi

I WAS RECENTLY IN AN ACCIDENT AT WHICH THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MY FRIEND IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO HIS THE DASH, BREAKING HIS CHEEKBONE. AND I HIT MY CHEEK ON THE STEERING WHEEL, BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10112597

Incident

Feb 24, 2005

Mileage

62,745 mi

A NEAR HEAD-ON ACCIDENT INVOLVING A LEXUS IS300 AND AN SUV. THE IS300 WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 MPH AND THE OTHER VEHICLE, APPROX. 20 MPH. THE DAMAGE TO THE LEXUS IS EXTENSIVE (MORE THAN $9,000). THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CONTRIBUTED TO INJURIES OF THE DRIVER - BRUSING ON SHOULDER AND HIP FROM THE SET BELT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102544

Incident

Dec 3, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM MADE TAPPING SOUND. TOOK TO PARK PLACE LEXUS, PLANO TX - CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY REPLACED FOR FREE. THEY TOLD ME THAT A RUBBER GROMMET/GASKET WAS MISSING AND THAT METAL HAD RUBBED METAL UNTIL SEVERE RUST DEVELOPED. ONLY ABOUT 1 MONTHS LATER THE NOISE IS BACK AND EVEN MORE FREQUENT THAN BEFORE WITH ITS "PEK" "POP" "TIK" "TAP". ALSO THE SUSPENSION HAS A TREMENDOUS VIBRATION IN IT, WHENEVER I TRAVEL OVER THE SLIGHTEST CRACK IN THE PAVEMENT - IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS PARTIALLY ATTACHED AND SHACKING FROM THE CHANGE IN SURFACE. ITS A VERY HEAVY AND SUDDEN THUMPING. WHEN THIS OCCURS, EVEN THE STEERING WHEEL ADJITATES TO THE POINT IT CAN BE SEEN - ITS A TREMENDOUS FLEXING. PARK PLACE HAS TOLD ME BEFORE THAT I AM "WASTING" THEIR TIME AND I JUST EXPECT THEM TO "THROW PARTS." THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE CAR I'VE HAD, BUT THE MOST DISSAPPOINTING.. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100654

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL VIBRATED VIOLENTLY, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALER STATED THE BRAKE CALIPER BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079721

Incident

Jun 3, 2004

Mileage

33,790 mi

I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS IS300 WHICH HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MULITPLE TIMES FOR SELF FLOODING. THIS PAST WINTER THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO MY GARAGE. LEXUS CAME UP AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THAT IT CHECKED OUT FINE. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO CHECK THE ECM. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION INTO CERTAIN MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS CAR IS A HAZARD AND WE WERE LUCKY NOBODY WAS HURT.

NHTSA ID

10060817

Incident

Nov 24, 2003

Mileage

31,111 mi

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN PRIOR THREE MONTHS OF INCIDENT DATE, WHEN TAPPING ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR BRIEFLY (FRACTION OF A SECOND) AND THEN RELEASING, CARS THROTTLE REMAINED COMPLETELY OPEN (MAXIMUM RPMS) EVEN WITH FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CARS THROTTLE SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH "DRIVE BY WIRE" OR A WIRELESS COMPUTER CONTROLLED THROTTLE. ON PRIOR TWO OCCASIONS, VEHICLE'S IGNITION HAD TO BE SHUT OFF BY REMOVING KEYS FROM IGNITION WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. ON THIRD OCCASION, DUE TO TRYING TO AVOID OBSTACLES DRIVER HAD NO TIME TO SHUT CAR OFF. CAR STRUCK ROCKS AND VEERED OFF INTO LAKE. CAR TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10060036

Incident

Feb 27, 2004

Mileage

29,200 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR INNER TIRE SIDEWALL SEPARATED. THIS RESULTED IN A CRASH. BRIDGESTONE, POTENZA, 215/45ZR17, DOT EJOKJBJ360. *AK

NHTSA ID

10059525

Mileage

8,000 mi

THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD CAUSING A COLLISION. AFTER THE COLLISION A FUEL FED FIRE ENSUED WHICH RESULTED IN THE OCCUPANTS BEING BURNED. *MR *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID

10026726

Incident

Jan 5, 2001

CONSUMER HAD PURCHASED OVER 14 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024049

TOTAL FAILURE OF TIRE WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY - IN FACT TIRE CAME OFF THE RIM - TIRE WAS ONLY ABOUT 2 WEEKS OLD.BRIDGESTONE WITH UNI-T AQ/AQ 100528 POTENZA RE950 215/45R17 TLBL PS DOT # HYDKDFA2001

NHTSA ID

10005185

Incident

Jan 15, 2003

WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS COMPLETELY CLOSED, YOU CAN HEAR THE WIND BLOWING SOUND. IT USUALLY STARTS OFF AT 40 MILE/HR. AND GETS WORSE AS YOU DRIVE FASTER. IT'S VERY ANNOYING. TOOK THE CAR IN 3 TIMES, NO USE. DEALER SAID THAT IT'S THE WAY THE LEXUS IS BUILT??? ASKED TWO IS 300 OWNERS, THEY SAID THEY DON'T HAVE THAT PROBLEM. I WANT TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER, SINCE I PAID SO MUCH MONEY FOR THE CAR AND IT'S SO FRUSTRATING EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. THANK YOU. MR

NHTSA ID

768294

Incident

Mar 1, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019812

Incident

Sep 2, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015367

Incident

Sep 30, 2000

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THE PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015344

Incident

Sep 30, 2000