2001 LEXUS ES300 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL FILL...
Mileage: 110,000
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO MY HEAD AND EYE. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH BEFORE BREAKING AND CONTACT. *TR
Mileage: 195,000
2001 LEXUS ES 300. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FULL RPM, PROBABLY AROUND 6,000 PLUS. HER FEET WERE FLAT ON THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NOT PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, NOR HAD SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELER...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A JERSEY WALL CAUSING DAMAGE T...
Mileage: 41,014
I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS 300. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT-EXCEPT FOR 12-18 MONTHS AGO- MY MAT GOT STUCK. AS I DROVE IT KEEP AT HIGH SPEED AND KEPT GOING FASTER- THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AS I PUSHED DOWN. I PIT MY HEAD DOWN AND PULLED AT THE MATT & UNHOOKED THE FRONT HOOK UNDER THE SEAT . ...
Mileage: 70,000
I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS 300. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT-EXCEPT FOR 12-18 MONTHS AGO- MY MAT GOT STUCK. AS I DROVE IT KEEP AT HIGH SPEED AND KEPT GOING FASTER- THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AS I PUSHED DOWN. I PIT MY HEAD DOWN AND PULLED AT THE MATT & UNHOOKED THE FRONT HOOK UNDER THE SEAT . ...
Mileage: 70,000
TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AT 92,00 MILES AND FAILED, MADE REPAIR $560. NOW AT 104,000 TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY FAILED. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH. THE FIRST VEHICLE SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AND CAUSED THE SECOND VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE BUMPER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE SEC...
Mileage: 99,000
ON 2 RECENT OCCASIONS (NOV 13, 2006 AND MAY 5, 2007) MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND SLAMMED INTO A WALL. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT SHEET METAL (ABOUT $9,000 ON EACH INCI...
Mileage: 82,000
FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN HEAD INJURY OF RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. INJURY RESULTED FROM IMPACT WITH RADIO. SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTED AFTER ACCIDENT. *NM
Mileage: 60,000
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP ON OWN WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FOUND MY CAR GOING FROM 40 TO 60. IN PARK POSITION THE CAR WILL REV TO HIGH RPM BUT IF I AM IN DRIVE MODE IT WILL JUST ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TO LEXUS AND THE TECHNICIAN SAYS THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS NOT WORKING...
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF GRINDING BRAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH "UPDATED" VERSIONS AND REPLACED BRAKE FLUID. WHEN FIRST DRIVEN AFTER "UPDATE" BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. PEDAL SOON BECAME LESS SPONGY, BUT REQUIRED MORE PRESSUR...
Mileage: 31,500
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF GRINDING BRAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH "UPDATED" VERSIONS AND REPLACED BRAKE FLUID. WHEN FIRST DRIVEN AFTER "UPDATE" BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. PEDAL SOON BECAME LESS SPONGY, BUT REQUIRED MORE PRESSUR...
Mileage: 31,500
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF GRINDING BRAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH "UPDATED" VERSIONS AND REPLACED BRAKE FLUID. WHEN FIRST DRIVEN AFTER "UPDATE" BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. PEDAL SOON BECAME LESS SPONGY, BUT REQUIRED MORE PRESSUR...
Mileage: 31,500
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF GRINDING BRAKE NOISE WHEN STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH "UPDATED" VERSIONS AND REPLACED BRAKE FLUID. WHEN FIRST DRIVEN AFTER "UPDATE" BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR AND CAR BECAME DIFFICULT TO STOP. PEDAL SOON BECAME LESS SPONGY, BUT REQUIRED MORE PRESSUR...
Mileage: 31,500
VEHICLE IS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH LIGHT DECEPTION. LIGHT VISIBILITY IS ONLY 15 TO 20 FEET AHEAD. DRIVER MUST USE HIGH BEAMS TO GET DISTANCE VISION. *AK
Mileage: 27,000
ACCERATOR STICKING
Mileage: 23,000
2001 LEXUS ES 300 BRAKE PROBLEMS CAUSING SO FAR 4 ACCIDENTS- FAILURE TO STOP. SPONGY-LIKE BRAKES. DEALER SERVICED AND MADE AWARE. THESE HAVE BEEN COLLISIONS WHILE TRYING TO STOP AND OTHER VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THE LATEST ACCIDENT ON OCTOBER 1O, 2003 HIT A GROUP OF PUBLIC SUPERMARKET SHOPPI...
Mileage: 29,298
ON JANUARY , MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR TWO CHILDREN TO AN APPOINTMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 0845 HRS. WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEEDS ON A TWO LANE ROAD, SHE STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THEN, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND STEERING CONTROL WAS NOT POSSIBLE. THE CAR DID A 540 (A COMPLETE 360 AND...
Mileage: 22,000
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEM WITH OUR RANGE OF FORWARD VISION WHILE USING HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS IN LOW BEAM AT NIGHT. THE FIRST 60 TO 80 FEET BEYOND THE HEADLIGHTS ARE WELL LIGHTED, BUT WE CAN NOT SEE ADEQUATELY BEYOND THE LIGHTED AREA. WE HAVE CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM BY HAVING OTHER FRIENDS MA...
CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO SEE DIGITAL DASH INDICATOR LIGHTS IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT.*AK *JB
BATTERY HAS DIED OUT SEVERAL TIMES SINCE APRIL OF THIS YEAR. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO BUT KEEP REPLACING THE BATTERY.*AK *YH
THE WHEELS ON THIS VEHICLE BREAK UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS--IF YOU HIT THE SLIGHTEST UNEVEN ROAD, THEY WILL BEND, BREAK, OR CRACK, CAUSING THE TIRE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. *AK
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING ACCIDENT OF FRONTAL DAMAGE AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED OUT BY INSURANCE COMPANY AND WIFE CHEST WAS BRUISED BY STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE AIRBAGS DID NOT COME OUT.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE USED THE REMOTE STARTER TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY WAS IN THE HOUSE, THE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR SEAT, WHEN HIS WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AS IT SHOULD, WIFE GOT OUT OF THE CAR LEAVING ...
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE USED THE REMOTE STARTER TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY WAS IN THE HOUSE, THE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR SEAT, WHEN HIS WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AS IT SHOULD, WIFE GOT OUT OF THE CAR LEAVING ...
VEHICLE STARTED UP WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION, AND WHILE IN PARK, VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE INTO THE STREET. DEALER IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.*AK. DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE REMOTE STARTER ITS NOT A LEXUS ISSUE. *YD
VEHICLE STARTED UP WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION, AND WHILE IN PARK, VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE INTO THE STREET. DEALER IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.*AK. DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE REMOTE STARTER ITS NOT A LEXUS ISSUE. *YD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVER VEHICLE. *AK
ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2001 I EXPERIENCED A TERRIFYING AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENT WITH MY CAR. ON THAT EVENING, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULDNT STOP AND INSTEAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FORCED ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INT...
ON NOVEMBER 11TH, 2001 I EXPERIENCED A TERRIFYING AND POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING INCIDENT WITH MY CAR. ON THAT EVENING, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION, AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE THE CAR WOULDNT STOP AND INSTEAD A SUDDEN ACCELERATION FORCED ME INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE INT...
TEN MINUTES AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF A FIRE DEVELOPED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. A FIRE INVESTIGATOR WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, AN INSPECTOR FROM INSURANCE COMPANY CONCLUDED FUEL LEAKED FROM A RUBBER HOSE COMING OFF FUEL FILTER THAT LEAKED ONTO A HOT ENGINE WHICH IGNITED T...
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH DECELERATION AND HESITATION WHEN APPLYING ACCELERATOR PEDAL. VEHICLE AT DEALER SHOP WAITING ON A COMPUTER REPLACEMENT ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNNING THIS MATTER. *AK
TIRE HAD A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL AFTER DRIVING ONLY 1500 MILES. BRIDGESTONE SAY'S IT'S DUE TO ROADHAZARD. I DON'T RECALL HITTING ANYTHING, BUT I CAN'T RULE IT OUT. BRIDGESTONE HAS NEVER ACTUALLY INSPECTED THE TIRE. LEXUS REPLACED THE TIRE AT A COST OF $285. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT LEXUS, MIKE JA...
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL IS THAT IT ENGAGES MUCH TOO EASILY AND FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ENGAGING UNDER EXCELLENT CONDITIONS WHERE THE PAVEMENT IS DRY AND THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED LESS THAN HALF. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING READ-ENDED A FEW TIMES DUE TO ...
STICKING ACCELERATOR. *AK