NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–2013

Lexus ES 300 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 562 owner complaints for the Lexus ES 300, covering model years 1995 to 2013. The 2002 model year drew the most complaints (153), and Vehicle Speed Control is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Lexus ES 300 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

4 recall campaigns on file
562 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
12 model years with data (1995–2013)

most complaints: 2002 (153 for that model year)
top component: Vehicle Speed Control (141 complaints)
latest recall 01V372000 (reported Dec 11, 2001)

150 complaints reporting a crash (26.7%)
19 complaints reporting a fire (3.4%)
68 complaints reporting an injury (12.1%)
5 complaints reporting a death (0.9%)

Lexus ES 300 complaints by model year

12 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2002 model year has the most complaints: 153 of 562, or 27.2%. Next come 2003 (116) and 2000 (56). The fewest are for 2005, with 1 complaint.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Lexus ES 300 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Lexus ES 300 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury	Reporting a death
1995	38	6	2	3	0
1996	37	9	3	6	3
1997	45	6	2	7	1
1998	52	13	1	8	0
1999	27	4	0	3	0
2000	56	17	1	4	0
2001	29	11	1	4	0
2002	153	37	5	16	0
2003	116	43	4	16	1
2005	1	1	0	0	0
2006	3	1	0	0	0
2013	5	2	0	1	0
All model years	562	150	19	68	5

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Lexus ES 300 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Vehicle Speed Control is the component named most often, in 141 complaints (25.1% of all 562), followed by Power Train (102) and Engine and Engine Cooling (59).

Components named most often in Lexus ES 300 complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Lexus ES 300 complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Vehicle Speed Control	141	25.1%
Power Train	102	18.1%
Engine and Engine Cooling	59	10.5%
Air Bags	55	9.8%
Electrical System	54	9.6%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	46	8.2%
Visibility	23	4.1%
Seat Belts	22	3.9%
Unknown or Other	22	3.9%
Tires	21	3.7%
Fuel System, Gasoline	18	3.2%
Steering	18	3.2%
Suspension	15	2.7%
Engine	14	2.5%
Exterior Lighting	11	2.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Lexus ES 300 recalls

4 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name ES 300, newest first. The 4 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 2002. The 1997 and 2002 model years appear in the most campaigns (2 each).

4 recall campaigns

Lexus ES 300 recall campaigns covering each model year
Decade	Years ending in 0	Years ending in 1	Years ending in 2	Years ending in 3	Years ending in 4	Years ending in 5	Years ending in 6	Years ending in 7	Years ending in 8	Years ending in 9
1990s						1995: 1 campaign	1996: 1 campaign	1997: 2 campaigns	1998: 1 campaign	1999: no campaigns
2000s	2000: no campaigns	2001: no campaigns	2002: 2 campaigns

Highlighted: the model years with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 01V372000
Reported Dec 11, 2001
Air Bags › Frontal
Model year 2002
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a three-spoke style steering wheel. During air bag deployment, it is possible that the bottom seam of the front driver's side air bag module cover (horn pad) could be torn away allowing the bottom portion of the cover to completely detach from the air bag module.
Consequence:
If this should occur, there is a possibility that the detached bottom portion may strike the driver causing personal injury.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag module. Owner notification began December 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or Lexus at 1-888-333-9376.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 01V371000
Reported Dec 11, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Model year 2002
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The left front brake tube may have been deformed prior to vehicle delivery due to improper installation of a coil spring spacer that was installed to prevent damage to the vehicle during transportation.
Consequence:
If the brake tube is deformed significantly, it could contact the inner fender panel, and eventually cause damage to the tube due to vibration during driving. Brake tube damage could also lead to brake fluid leakage after extended use of the vehicle.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the front brake line and, if necessary, replace the line. Owner notification began January 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Lexus at 1-888-333-9376.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 99V307000
Reported Nov 1, 1999
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Model years 1995–1998
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.
Consequence:
This can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Remedy:
Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
NHTSA campaign 97V156000
Reported Sep 17, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist
Model year 1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan,Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, noth dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. A condition can occur where accumulated moisture can temporarily freeze in the brake vacuum hose if the vehicle is used in extremely cold climates for an extended period of time.
Consequence:
This can result in the elimination of vacuum assist to the brakes that can increase stopping distances and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will install a new design brake vacuum hose.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Lexus ES 300 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Lexus ES 300 have?

NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns for the Lexus ES 300, covering model years 1995 to 2013. The most recent, 01V372000, was reported on December 11, 2001 and is filed under “Air bags”. The 1997 and 2002 model years are covered by the most campaigns (2 each).

Which Lexus ES 300 model year has the most complaints?

The 2002 model year, with 153 of the 562 complaints in NHTSA’s file (27.2%). The next are 2003 (116) and 2000 (56). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Lexus ES 300 complaint?

Vehicle Speed Control is the component named most often: 141 complaints, or 25.1% of all 562. Power Train (102) and Engine and Engine Cooling (59) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Lexus ES 300?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Lexus dealer.

How many Lexus ES 300 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 562 complaints, 150 report a crash, 19 a fire, 68 at least one injury and 5 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Lexus models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Lexus VIN decoder with every Lexus model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Lexus ES 350 2007–2023 · 11 recalls · 1,451 complaints
Lexus RX 1999–2026 · 10 recalls · 947 complaints
Lexus RX 350 2004–2023 · 13 recalls · 838 complaints
Lexus RX 300 1998–2003 · 2 recalls · 722 complaints
Lexus IS 250 2006–2016 · 8 recalls · 719 complaints
Lexus ES 1996–2025 · 4 recalls · 666 complaints
Lexus IS 1999–2026 · 8 recalls · 595 complaints
Lexus RX 330 2004–2011 · 5 recalls · 526 complaints

All Lexus models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.