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LEXUS · vehicle model

LEXUS ES300

862 NHTSA complaints and 2 safety recalls across model years 1992–2013.

Complaints
862
Recalls
2
Model years
15

The LEXUSES300 appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 862 consumer safety complaints and 2 recall campaigns across 15 model years (1992–2013). That averages roughly 57 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 3 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20138
20064
20051
2003147
2002194
200136
200078
199935
199861
199750
199644
199555
199450
199353
199246

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

18
’95
19
’96
23
’97
19
’98
49
’99
55
’00
42
’01
93
’02
85
’03
158
’04
33
’05
20
’06
9
’07
22
’08
18
’09
87
’10
28
’11
10
’12
13
’13
18
’14
14
’15
11
’16
3
’17
7
’18
8
’19

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare LEXUSES300 to Similar Vehicles

LEXUSES300 vs SCIONTC → LEXUSES300 vs PLYMOUTHBREEZE → LEXUSES300 vs PONTIACSOLSTICE → LEXUSES300 vs LEXUSRX300 →

NHTSA Investigations

DP09001Defect PetitionClosed2009-04-08

UNWANTED AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION

DP03003Defect PetitionClosed2003-07-17

UNINTENDED ENGINE SPEED INCREASE/SA

DP02001Defect PetitionClosed2002-02-15

LEXUS LINK COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the LEXUS ES300?▼
The LEXUS ES300 has received 862 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 1992 to 2013, with 2 recalls. That averages about 57 complaints per model year.
What years of LEXUS ES300 are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the LEXUS ES300 from 1992 to 2013 (15 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the LEXUS ES300 have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many LEXUS ES300 model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common LEXUS ES300 complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the LEXUS ES300 are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my LEXUS ES300 has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. LEXUS ES300 totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.