Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 21 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Lexus IS 300. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–21 of 21
VEHICLE WAS CAUGHT ON A FLASH FLOOD JULY 2015. WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF SAN DIEGO IN SEPT ON CLAIM AS FRONT RIGHT SIDE SQUEALING/SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING RIGHT. LEXUS OF SAN DIEGO KEPT VEHICLE FOR 30DAYS WITH NO OUTCOME INSPECTION WRITE TO INSURANCE COMPANY. BRUSHED OFF COMPMAINT. WHOKE DRIVING VEHICLE IN JAN 2016 CONTOL ARM SNAPPED.
THE BRAKES FAILED AT 143,840 MILES. THE BRAKES FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY CITY STREET. AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE AUTO CARE..IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NOTICEABLE INTERNAL LEAK WAS COMING FROM POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND POWER BRAKE BOOSTER MUST BE REPLACED.
DASH IS MELTING AND IS STICKING TO ANYTHING THAT IS RUB UP AGAINST IT. BODY PARTS, CAR WASH TOWEL, GROCERY. I SEEL RECALL ON ALL OTHER MODEL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. EXCEPT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL 2003 LEXUS IS300. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD EXTEND TO THIS YEAR AND MODEL AS WELL. NO DASH SHOULD BE MELTING AWAY WITH HEAT!
DASH IS MELTING AND IS STICKING TO ANYTHING THAT IS RUB UP AGAINST IT. BODY PARTS, CAR WASH TOWEL, GROCERY. I SEEL RECALL ON ALL OTHER MODEL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. EXCEPT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL 2003 LEXUS IS300. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD EXTEND TO THIS YEAR AND MODEL AS WELL. NO DASH SHOULD BE MELTING AWAY WITH HEAT! AND OWNER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POORLY BUILT PARTS!!!!
DASH IS PEELING ALONG WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS ALSO START TO DISCOLOR AND PEEL. THE PEELING IS MORE LIKE STARTING TO GUM UP OR BECOME STICKY.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE WERE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 4/6/15*CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS LEAKING DUE TO A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. UPDATED 04/28/15*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
THE DASHBOARD IS IN VERY POOR CONDITION WITH A STICKY AND MELTING APPEARANCE. I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS OF TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER TO REPLACE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSIDERING THAT I DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO REPLACE THIS WITH MY OWN FUNDS, I DID NOT PURSUE IT. *JS
I SPECIAL ORDERED A 2003 LEXUS IS 300 IN 2002 IN WHICH WAITED 2 MONTHS FOR ITS ARRIVAL. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS WITH COMPONENTS ON MY CAR BUT LEXUS SELECTED JUST A FEW TO SEND LETTERS TO. INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD WAS MANUFACTURE WITH DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND LEXUS CORPORATION REFUSED TO TAKE CARE OF IT. I AM STILL WORKING ON THIS ISSUE THEN THERE IS THE SENSOR2 BANK1 WHICH MY TRAC OFF BLINKING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE SCARY THINGS IS WITH THE SENSOR ISSUE THE CAR WILL STOP RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 60 MILES PER HOUR MY MOTOR STOP RUNNING WHICH CAUSED ANOTHER DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER TRIED TO AVOID HITTING ME AND HE TOTALED HIS CAR. LEXUS SENT OUT LIMITED RECALL LETTERS THEREFORE I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND COULD HAVE COST MY OR THE DRIVER LIFE. NOW LEXUS WILL NOT CORRECT THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THE RECALL. I CALLED LEXUS AND WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T A NEED TO SEND ME LETTER BECAUSE MY VIN # WASN'T ON THE LIST. I ASKED HOW COULD SEND THE LETTERS TO A FEW WHEN MOST OF THE IS 300 HAS THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
THE DASHBOARD ON THIS CAR HAS BEEN MELTING OVER THE YEARS. IT IS GARAGED ALL THE TIME BUT IF I PUT IT IN THE SUN FOR EVEN 30 MINUTES, IT BECOMES STICKY AND CHEMICALS START TO LEACH INTO THE CAR AND IT SMELLS HORRIBLE. IF I TOUCH THE DASHBOARD, BLACK PAINT COMES OFF ONTO MY FINGERS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD SEEN IT BEFORE AND I COMPLAINED TO LEXUS. BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL, THEY SAY AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE, THEY WILL COVER 50% TO REPAIR. THAT IS RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE FOR SOMETHING THAT IS PROBABLY CAUSING CANCER, IT IS ALL OVER THE LEXUS BOARDS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS IF THERE IS A RECALL!
IN EARLY DECEMBER 2010 ON MY WAY TO DROP OFF AN PASSENGER AT THE ONTARIO AIRPORT, ONTARIO, CA MY LEFT FRONT END FELT LIKE IT FELL IN A POT HOLE. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AS THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED COMPLETELY INWARD AND CAUSED DAMAGE ON THE LEFT FENDER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOME AS IT WAS LATE IN THE EVENING AROUND 11PM. I CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY THE NEXT MORNING TO FILE A COMPREHENSIVE CLAIM, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP, VEHICLE 2003 LEXUS IS 300 WHICH FOUND OUT THAT THE LEFT SIDE BALL JOINT BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT TIRE TO TURN COMPLETELY INWARD AND CAUSE DAMAGE ON LEFT FENDER OVER TIRE AND DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT DOOR. THE BODY SHOP HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINT AND CASING, NEW TIRE AND FIX DAMAGE TO LEFT FENDER AND LEFT DOOR. I CHECKED FOR ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT FOUND ANY. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS HAPPEN, AS I HAD JUST EXITED A FREEWAY GOING THE MAXIMUM SPEED OF 65MPH AND DRIVEN TO SAN DIEGO EARLIER THAT DAY. I HAVE HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE CHECKS UP TO 120,000 MILES I ALSO CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ON 8/11/11 REGARDING THE INCIDENT AND THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY INCIDENT REPORTS. IM WRITING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE NOTICE A COUPLE OF OTHER LEXUS IS 300 ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY WITH THE TIRE THE SAME WAY, WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THE DASHBOARD COVERING WAS DETERIORATING DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE DASHBOARD COVER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. UPDATED 08/31/11 *BF UPDATED 12/13/11
I WAS SITTING IN MY 2003 LEXUS IS 300 4 DOOR IT WAS A RAINY AND UNUSUALLY COOL DAY SO I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN AND WITH THE CAR IDLING I LISTENED TO SOME MUSIC AND CONTEMPLATED WHERE TO EAT DINNER IT BEING AROUND 5.30 PM. SUDDENLY THE THROTTLE OPENED UP AND THE CAR SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET OVER THE CURBING THROUGH SOME BUSHES AND INTO A POND MAYBE 15 FEET AWAY THE CAR WAS MOVING SO FAST THAT AS IT WAS SINKING IT MOVED OUT ABOUT 20 FEET. IT WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED AND I WAS LUCKY TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT AND CLIMB OUT THE OPEN WINDOW AND SWIM TO SHORE THE ONLY INJURY A SPRAINED ANKLE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AMAZINGLY I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR WRECKLESS DRIVING THAT WAS DISMISSED AS THERE WERE NO WITNESSES THE POLICE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSISTED THAT CARS DON'T SURGE LIKE THAT ON THEIR OWN WE KNOW BETTER I WAS TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL INSTEAD OF SYMPATHIZED WITH FOR ALMOST DROWNING. IT WAS NOT THE MAT OR A STICKY ACCELERATOR BUT I FEEL AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DUE TO MOISTURE THAT MADE THE THROTTLE OPEN UP THE THING WAS ALSO THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK! OF COURSE NO LAWYERS WOULD TOUCH IT I DIDN'T GET HURT BAD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NEVER ANY SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION AGAINST THE MANUFACTURERS FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION IRREGARDLESS OF CAUSE. I JUST FEEL I NEED TO TELL MY STORY AND HOPE THAT IT HELPS I HAVE THE VIN # AND ALL THAT IF NEEDED TO TRACK THE FACTORY MADE AND MAYBE THIS WILL HELP SUBSTANTIATE A CLAIM BY SOMEONE WHO WAS HURT OR HELP THE FAMILY OF SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED. THESE COMPANIES CARE ABOUT PROFITS NOT PEOPLE AND THIS CULTURE MUCH CHANGE. THE OTHER SAD PART WAS THE POLICE WHO ASSUMED I DID THIS ON PURPOSE I AM NOT INSANE ONLY AN INSANE PERSON WOULD DRIVE A CAR INTO A LAKE WITH THEM INSIDE. THAT'S THE BOYNTON BEACH POLICE FOR YOU...NICE HUH ALSO I LOST MY JOB AS A SALESMAN AS THIS TOOK 3 MONTHS FOR ME TO GET PAID AND I HAD NO TRANSPORTATION! DO YOU THINK TOYOTA WILL PAY ME FOR THAT? *TR
WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE WHEN CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FULL THROTTLE. CAR WAS CARRIED OVER PARKING BUMPER INTO BUSHES BEYOND, WITH DAMAGES TO BODY AND UNDERCARRIAGE OVER SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR
EASY SPIN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS 300. THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT REMAIN OPEN AND NEEDS TO BE HELD UP. IF THE CONTACT REACHES IN TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE TRUNK AND FAILS TO HOLD THE TRUNK DOOR, IT WILL FALL AND STRIKE HIS HEAD. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A COMMON FAILURE IN THAT MODEL AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE AT 23,400 MILES. *JB
TIRE BLOW OUT(FRONT DRIVERS SIDE) OCCURRING AT HIGH SPEED . TIRES BF GOODRICH - 17 INCH POTENZA, ONLY 19,000 MILES. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED. THE SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STRUCK A BOAT THAT BROKE FREE FROM A TOWING VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE BEING USED AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT, BUT NONE OF THE SIX AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE POLICE DID ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. *AK *SCC *JB
HIGH WIND NOISE AND FLAPPING NOISE FROM THE DRIVER DOOR; IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND UNCONVERTIBLE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF THE NOISES PRODUCED BY THIS PROBLEM. LEXUS CLAIMS THEIR CARS AS LUXURY CARS, BUT ALSO CLAIMS THAT A WIND NOISE AND A FLAPPING NOISE ARE NORMAL FOR $34K LUXURY CARS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY EVEN DID NOT WANT TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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