2002 Lexus IS 300 Problems

BRAKE,TRAC OFF,VSC,ABS LIGHT ARE ON

ACCELERATOR FAILURE: TWICE THAT I CAN CLEARLY REMEMBER. FIRST TIME HAPPENED IN 2003 AFTER GENTLE DEPRESSION OF THE GAS PEDAL, IT SEEMED TO PUSH ITSELF FURTHER AND WAS STUCK INTO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN UNCONTROLLED, MAX ACCELERATION...THIS WAS MENTIONED TO THE DEALER WHEN I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE (RAY CATENA LEXUS, LARCHMONT, NY). AFTER THAT, IT DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL THE SPRING OF 2008 WHERE I WAS ON THE I95 ON MY WAY TO WORK, IN RUSH HOUR WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM ABOUT 40MPH TO 70 OR 80. I MANAGED TO WEAVE AROUND TRAFFIC AND DROVE ON THE SHOULDER WHILE PRESSING FULL FORCE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, PULLED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN PARK. AFTER THAT OCCURRED, I WAS FOLLOWED OFF HE HIGHWAY BY THE HELP TRUCK, TOOK MY CAR TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND NOTHING WAS FOUND...I IMMEDIATELY MADE AN APPT WITH THE DEALER BUT HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY FOR SERVICE. IN THE MEANTIME, IT HAPPENED TWICE MORE ON THE HIGHWAY BUT I WAS CAUTIOUS AND STAYED AWAY FROM CARS AND CLOSE TO THE SHOULDER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS CHARGED $100 TO LOOK AT IT (LEXUS OF GREENWICH, CT), WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE FLOOR MAT. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THIS HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN AND I STILL HAVE THE CAR BUT I AM VERY WORRIED THAT IT MIGHT. *TR

TRANSMISSIONG WAS REPLACED AND CLUTCH. NEW CLUTCH WORE IN IN 24,000 MILES. CLAIMED IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR. NEVER HAD A CLUTCH GO OUT THAT EARLY EVER!

I OWN A 5-SPEED MANUAL 2002 LEXUS IS300. CURRENTLY, MY CAR HAS 40,000 MILES. EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE IS STOCK, NO MODIFIED PARTS AND ACCESORIES. I DRIVE THIS CAR NORMAL LIKE ANY OTHER MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS. I REV MATCH WHEN I DOWNSHIFT, NEVER RIDE THE CLUTCH ETC...I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MANUAL CARS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. A FEW DAYS AGO, I NOTICED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CLUTCHED BEGAN TO SLIP AS I WAS ACCELERATING ON-RAMP ONTO FREEWAY. THE CAR IS DRIVABLE BUT I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ACCELERATING AND PASSING OR ELSE, THE CLUTCH SLIPS AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE. BECAUSE OF THIS PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, I CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AS IT WAS INTENDED TO BE. I DRIVE IT REALLY SLOW. PAINFULLY SLOW. I CAN'T BELIEVE LEXUS (TOYOTA) WON'T WARRANTY THIS ITEM. MOST MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS' CLUTCHES HAVE A LIFETIME OF AT LEAST 100,000 MILES. AS AN ENGINEER, I SEE THIS AS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, I WILL NEVER EVER PERSUADE POTENTIAL LEXUS BUYERS IN BUYING LEXUS VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A GLARE APPEARED ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT AFFECTED THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND A STICKY RESIDUE COVERED ITS SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,500.

LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY. DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP. I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND I HEARD AND FELT THE BACK END HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR CATAPULTED OVER A 8 FT. FENCE THAT SEPARATES THE ACCESS ROAD. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! IMPACT CRUSHED THE ROOF INTO THE GROUND I WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN BY MY SEAT BELT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I ATTEMPTED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT, IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS. I COULD NOT FIND A DOOR HANDLE, OR WINDOW TO GET OUT. I TRIED FORCING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. IT WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN VEHICLE. IN A PANIC, I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SPILL GASOLINE AND CATCH FIRE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I THEN REALIZED NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP...I FORCED MY BODY TO HIT THE DOOR OVER AND OVER, TO BREAK IT OPEN. I GOT THE SIDE MIRROR TO BREAK ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN A FEW INCHES...JUST ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT. I WENT BACK IN TO FIND MY PHONE AND CALL 911. AT THAT TIME A PERSON PULLED OVER. I FOUND MY PHONE AND FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE. I CAPTURED THE BROKEN WHEEL IN THE PICTURE. POLICE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, I SAID OVER AND OVER "IT LOCKED UP"...MY PHONE BATTERY DIED RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE. I DIDN'T HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR EMERGENCY, SO I DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE COP SAID, "PEOPLE DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT" HE ADVISED I GO WITH THE AMBULANCE, HOWEVER I COULDN'T AFFORD THE COST. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS INJURED, UNTIL LATER. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A WHEEL DO THAT. *TR

BRAKE,TRAC OFF,VSC,ABS LIGHT ARE ON

I PUT $3000 ON 2002 LEXUS AND HAD IT FOR THREE DAYS WHEN MY 6 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND MYSELF WAS HEADING ONTO COMMERCIAL TURNPIKE SOUTH. I WAS APPROACHING LIGHT ON CORNER OF 441 AND COMMERCIAL WHEN MY BRAKES JUST GAVE OUT ON ME COMPLETELY AND I QUICKLY RESPONDED AND PULLED UP EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED INTO GAS STATION TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MECHANIC AND WHICH IT WAS PUT ON MACHINE AND DETAILED EVERYTHING THAT WAS WRONG WITH CAR INCLUDING THE MALFUNCTION ON THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH CONTROLS BRAKES AND STEERING. I WAS SAVED BY NOT GETTING ONTO TURNPIKE AND MY QUICK MANEUVERING TO EMERGENCY BRAKES WHICH HELPED VERY LITTLE. MY PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I CALLED AND TOLD MOSCHE WHICH WAS THE GUY I SIGNED CONTRACT WITH AND TOLD HIM TO COME AND GET THIS CAR AND I WANT MY MONEY BACK. HE TOLD ME NO REFUNDS AND I FOUND OUT WITHIN THREE DAYS I SHOULD OF GOTTEN MY REFUND BACK. THEY TOOK MY CAR BACK AFTER I FIXED IT AND PAID OVER $500 FOR AND WILL NOT GIVE ME ANOTHER CAR NOR MY MONEY BACK.. THEY ROBBED AND LIE AND SHOULD NOT BE SELLING DANGEROUS CARS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF NO BRAKES. I WAS TOLD TO COME GET THE CAR A WEEK AFTER BECAUSE OF THEM PUTTING BRAKES ON THEM SO THEY HAD KNOWLEDGE OF SOMETHING WRONG WITH BRAKE SYSTEM AND FAILED TO TELL ME.. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS IS300 MODELS 2001-2005. THERE IS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE FRAME OR FRONT ARM BUSHINGS THAT CAUSE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT INNER TIRES. DESPITE THE CAR BEING REGULARLY ALIGNED, UNEVEN AND EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR CONTINUES TO OCCUR. TIRES WILL SOMETIMES LAST LESS THAN 8,000 MILES AND CAN WEAR DOWN TO THE STEEL IN THE INNER SIDES. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND COMPLAINT AMONG IS 300 OWNERS. AS FAR AS I KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NO FIX FROM LEXUS AND CAN LEAD TO POTENTIAL BLOWOUTS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO TIRE FAILURES. PLEASE ALSO SEE THIS MESSAGE THREAD DOCUMENTING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS: HTTP://MY.IS/FORUMS/F89/ALIGNMENT-WOES-STOCK-SUSPENSION-NEED-INPUT-390629/. *JB

TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS ON 2002 LEXUS IS300. *BF THE FRONT END MADE A LOUD SOUND OF ROLLING MARBLES. THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL SOUND AND THE FACT THAT THE BRAKES HAD SETTLED THE NOISE WOULD BE HEARD. *SC *JB

THE VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN THE GROUND WAS WET AND ALSO WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE VEHICLE SKIDDED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE GROUND WAS WET. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

THE SUNROOF/MOONROOF CREAKS AND CRACKLES. THIS IS NOT THE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE NOISE STARTED AFTER 5000 MILES ON THE CAR. LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHERE I WENT FOR SERVICE HAD DELAY THIS BACK AND BACK. THEY ONCE ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT BUT MADE IT WORSE. THERE ARE MANY USERS (WWW.IS300.NET) WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS SO ANNOYING THAT IT'S LIKE BUYING A TOYOTA COROLLA. THE SAME SOUND APPLIES TO THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE; I WONDER IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *LA

PREMATURE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE. *AK

LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY. DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP. I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND I HEARD AND FELT THE BACK END HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR CATAPULTED OVER A 8 FT. FENCE THAT SEPARATES THE ACCESS ROAD. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! IMPACT CRUSHED THE ROOF INTO THE GROUND I WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN BY MY SEAT BELT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I ATTEMPTED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT, IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS. I COULD NOT FIND A DOOR HANDLE, OR WINDOW TO GET OUT. I TRIED FORCING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. IT WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN VEHICLE. IN A PANIC, I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SPILL GASOLINE AND CATCH FIRE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I THEN REALIZED NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP...I FORCED MY BODY TO HIT THE DOOR OVER AND OVER, TO BREAK IT OPEN. I GOT THE SIDE MIRROR TO BREAK ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN A FEW INCHES...JUST ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT. I WENT BACK IN TO FIND MY PHONE AND CALL 911. AT THAT TIME A PERSON PULLED OVER. I FOUND MY PHONE AND FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE. I CAPTURED THE BROKEN WHEEL IN THE PICTURE. POLICE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, I SAID OVER AND OVER "IT LOCKED UP"...MY PHONE BATTERY DIED RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE. I DIDN'T HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR EMERGENCY, SO I DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE COP SAID, "PEOPLE DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT" HE ADVISED I GO WITH THE AMBULANCE, HOWEVER I COULDN'T AFFORD THE COST. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS INJURED, UNTIL LATER. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A WHEEL DO THAT. *TR

LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY. DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP. I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND I HEARD AND FELT THE BACK END HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR CATAPULTED OVER A 8 FT. FENCE THAT SEPARATES THE ACCESS ROAD. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! IMPACT CRUSHED THE ROOF INTO THE GROUND I WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN BY MY SEAT BELT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I ATTEMPTED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT, IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS. I COULD NOT FIND A DOOR HANDLE, OR WINDOW TO GET OUT. I TRIED FORCING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. IT WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN VEHICLE. IN A PANIC, I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SPILL GASOLINE AND CATCH FIRE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I THEN REALIZED NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP...I FORCED MY BODY TO HIT THE DOOR OVER AND OVER, TO BREAK IT OPEN. I GOT THE SIDE MIRROR TO BREAK ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN A FEW INCHES...JUST ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT. I WENT BACK IN TO FIND MY PHONE AND CALL 911. AT THAT TIME A PERSON PULLED OVER. I FOUND MY PHONE AND FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE. I CAPTURED THE BROKEN WHEEL IN THE PICTURE. POLICE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, I SAID OVER AND OVER "IT LOCKED UP"...MY PHONE BATTERY DIED RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE. I DIDN'T HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR EMERGENCY, SO I DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE COP SAID, "PEOPLE DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT" HE ADVISED I GO WITH THE AMBULANCE, HOWEVER I COULDN'T AFFORD THE COST. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS INJURED, UNTIL LATER. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A WHEEL DO THAT. *TR

LEXUS IS300 2002 VEHICLE ROLLOVER ON FREEWAY. DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO ROLL WAS FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL/RIM BROKE IN HALF WHILE DRIVING. I WAS MERGING AND HEARD SOMETHING BREAK UNDER THE CAR. MY STEERING WHEEL TURNED A HARD RIGHT FORCEFUL AND WITHOUT MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL OUT FROM THIS INVOLUNTARY HARSH DIRECTION OF VEHICLE, IT WAS LOCKED UP. I TURNED COMPLETELY AROUND FACING TRAFFIC. ALL ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DO SO (COMPLETELY LOCKED POSITION). THE VEHICLE SPUN AND I HEARD AND FELT THE BACK END HIT SOMETHING. THE CAR CATAPULTED OVER A 8 FT. FENCE THAT SEPARATES THE ACCESS ROAD. THE CAR LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED! IMPACT CRUSHED THE ROOF INTO THE GROUND I WAS SUSPENDED UPSIDE DOWN BY MY SEAT BELT. THE CAR ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I ATTEMPTED TO UNLATCH MY SEAT BELT, IT TOOK A FEW ATTEMPTS. I COULD NOT FIND A DOOR HANDLE, OR WINDOW TO GET OUT. I TRIED FORCING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN. IT WOULD NOT MOVE, I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE UPSIDE DOWN VEHICLE. IN A PANIC, I FEARED THE CAR WOULD SPILL GASOLINE AND CATCH FIRE. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. I THEN REALIZED NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP...I FORCED MY BODY TO HIT THE DOOR OVER AND OVER, TO BREAK IT OPEN. I GOT THE SIDE MIRROR TO BREAK ALLOWING THE DOOR TO OPEN A FEW INCHES...JUST ENOUGH TO CRAWL OUT. I WENT BACK IN TO FIND MY PHONE AND CALL 911. AT THAT TIME A PERSON PULLED OVER. I FOUND MY PHONE AND FOR SOME REASON I DECIDED TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE. I CAPTURED THE BROKEN WHEEL IN THE PICTURE. POLICE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, I SAID OVER AND OVER "IT LOCKED UP"...MY PHONE BATTERY DIED RIGHT AFTER I TOOK THE PICTURE. I DIDN'T HAVE MEDICAL COVERAGE FOR EMERGENCY, SO I DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL. THE COP SAID, "PEOPLE DON'T WALK AWAY FROM THIS KIND OF ACCIDENT" HE ADVISED I GO WITH THE AMBULANCE, HOWEVER I COULDN'T AFFORD THE COST. I DIDN'T REALIZE I WAS INJURED, UNTIL LATER. NO ONE HAS EVER SEEN A WHEEL DO THAT. *TR