Total Complaints
78 filings
LEXUS ES300 · model year
78 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2000LEXUSES300 carries 78 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 1 fire, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2000 ES300 is vehicle speed control with 8 filings, followed by visibility:sun/moon roof assembly (8) and power train:automatic transmission (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2000 ES300. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
78 filings
Crashes Reported
23 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 8 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| ENGINE | 4 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
I HAVE OWNED MY 2000 ES 300 LEXUS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER ANY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS . IT HAD 93,204 WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT NOW HAS 238,452. *TR
I HAVE OWNED MY 2000 ES 300 LEXUS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER ANY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS . IT HAD 93,204 WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT NOW HAS 238,452. *TR
TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK
Mileage: 175,000
TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK
Mileage: 175,000
TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK
Mileage: 175,000
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE DID SHUT OFF SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL , FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. TRIED START ENGINE AGAIN AND IT SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW OIL LIGHT. INSPECTED ENGINE OIL WITH DIP STICK AND SHOWED GOOD LEVEL. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND BEEN TOLD THE SLUDGE FORMATION CAUSED ENGINE SEIZE . REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE IS THE ONLY OPTION. FOUND A TSB ON NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 628655 BULLETIN DATE: 20-JAN-2002 ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO HELP ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BY MANUFACTURER.
Mileage: 77,000
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID ENGINE SEIZED. HE SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE ENGINE WITH A NEWER ONE QUOTED 7500$ +LABOR. IT HAS ONLY 77000 MILES ON IT.
I JUST PAID $3,600 TO HAVE THE KNOCK SENSORS AND CONNECTING HARNESS REPLACED, AND A TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD, IN THIS CAR BECAUSE THE KNOCK SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP WORKING ("TRAC OFF" LIGHT, NO OVERRIDE) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IT IS ALSO WHAT CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO NEED RE-BUILDING BECAUSE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THIS DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER REPLACING AND REPAIRING THESE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. AFTER TO SPEAKING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE PROBLEM RECURRED, I WAS TOLD, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THAT 1998-2002 LEXUS ES300S AND TOYOTA CAMRYS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE HAVE THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY AND OWNERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO SOLVE IT WITH NO LUCK. ONE TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME, OFF THE RECORD OF COURSE, THAT THE SENSORS IN THESE YEARS HAD SENSITIVITY ISSUES THAT WERE CORRECTED STARTING
Mileage: 175,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BABY TREND HYBRID 3-IN-1 BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: FB48079. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 29, 2015 AND BEING UTILIZED IN A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRAP THE CHILD INTO THE SAFETY SEAT, THE HARNESS BUCKLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SEAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THEN JOLT INCREASING AND DECREASING IN ACCELERATION BY ITSELF I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND REBUILT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
Mileage: 278,958
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THEN JOLT INCREASING AND DECREASING IN ACCELERATION BY ITSELF I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND REBUILT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
Mileage: 278,958
MY FATHER WAS DISORIENTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE JUST KEPT DRIVING, HOPING TO FIGURE IT OUT. HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A VERY DEEP RAVINE. THE CAR SUSTAINED OVER $17000 IN DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. HE HAS 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 6 DAYS NOW. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. HE BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP, PERFORMANCE LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THEY WORKED ON HIS CAR IN MAY...TOTAL WAS OVER $2000.00. *TR
Mileage: 89,000
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATED I FELT FRICTION/VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATED I FELT FRICTION/VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, AND MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 RPM WENT DOWN TO 0 AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR PILEUP WITH INJURIES. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIIC CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER, GETTING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, IT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE AND A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL 2000 LEXUS ES300. THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT A FAULTY IAC VALVE CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO STALL ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. I AM THANKFUL NO ONE, AS WELL AS MYSELF WAS INJURED, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THIS MAY HAPPEN TO. THE PART COST ABOUT 200 DOLLARS AND THE LABOR IS APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS. THIS HAPPENED ON WED. 08/10/2011 AND THE PART HAS TO BE ORDERED DUE TO COST. AS A RESULT, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE OF EXPENSE. THERE SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL AND THIS A SAFETY HAZARD; ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER{S) BEHIND ME HAD BEEN SPEEDING OR NOT PAYI
Mileage: 135,000
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, AND MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 RPM WENT DOWN TO 0 AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR PILEUP WITH INJURIES. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIIC CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER, GETTING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, IT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE AND A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL 2000 LEXUS ES300. THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT A FAULTY IAC VALVE CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO STALL ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. I AM THANKFUL NO ONE, AS WELL AS MYSELF WAS INJURED, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THIS MAY HAPPEN TO. THE PART COST ABOUT 200 DOLLARS AND THE LABOR IS APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS. THIS HAPPENED ON WED. 08/10/2011 AND THE PART HAS TO BE ORDERED DUE TO COST. AS A RESULT, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE OF EXPENSE. THERE SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL AND THIS A SAFETY HAZARD; ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER{S) BEHIND ME HAD BEEN SPEEDING OR NOT PAYI
Mileage: 135,000
MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPM RAMPING UP HIGH WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM UP ESPECIALLY WHEN I ACCELERATE AT A DEAD STOP. AS OF TODAY THE ACCELERATOR STICK WHEN I WAS CRUISING 55 ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING MY CAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER INTO A GRAVEL ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE HARD AND PUTTING IT ON PARK. FINALLY MY CAR SKIDDED AND STOP. I'M AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO FORTUNATE TO STOP MY VEHICLE LIKE I DID TODAY. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO AS FOR MY VEHICLE GOES. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE MODEL OF MY CAR OR ANY LEXUS OR TOYOTAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE? IF THERE IS WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION I SHOULD DO TO GET MY VEHICLE FIX. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE RPM RAMPING UP HIGH WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM UP ESPECIALLY WHEN I ACCELERATE AT A DEAD STOP. AS OF TODAY THE ACCELERATOR STICK WHEN I WAS CRUISING 55 ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD A HARD TIME STOPPING MY CAR. I HAD TO PULL OVER INTO A GRAVEL ROAD WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE HARD AND PUTTING IT ON PARK. FINALLY MY CAR SKIDDED AND STOP. I'M AFRAID IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME I WON'T BE SO FORTUNATE TO STOP MY VEHICLE LIKE I DID TODAY. I JUST NEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO AS FOR MY VEHICLE GOES. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE MODEL OF MY CAR OR ANY LEXUS OR TOYOTAS WITH THE SAME ISSUE? IF THERE IS WHAT IS YOUR SUGGESTION I SHOULD DO TO GET MY VEHICLE FIX. *TR
Mileage: 173,000
TRAC OFF AND CK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE DURING DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL THEN OPERATE IN A ROUGH MANNER AND WILL NOT STEADILY IDLE, RPM'S DRASTICALLY DROP AND VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL OUT ON THE ROAD DURING OPERATION. ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEXUS OF WILMINGTON IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE: 8/25/04 - CODE 440 PO AND RESET LIGHTS (WARRANTY) NO REPAIRS; 11/03/2005 - CODES P0046, P0441 & P0440 CLAIMED LOOSE GAS CAP & DIDN'T MAKE ANY REPAIRS; 11/16/05 - CANISTER SWITCHING VALVE SHORTED OUT, REPLACED & CLEARED LIGHTS, CHARGE 45.00 FOR VALVE; 02/16/2006 NOW OUT OF WARRANTY; AGAIN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER SHORTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED $362.52; 08/30/2006 BANK 1 SENSOR 1 OXYGEN SENSOR SHORTED OUT, REPLACED SENSOR $280.56; 10/29/09 DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED CODE P0420 CATALYST SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD ON BANK 1, NEED TO REPLACE..$124.95 FOR DIAGNOSTICS CHECK; REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER 1,831.19; 05/13/10 CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION $43
Mileage: 37,209
TRAC OFF AND CK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE DURING DRIVING. VEHICLE WILL THEN OPERATE IN A ROUGH MANNER AND WILL NOT STEADILY IDLE, RPM'S DRASTICALLY DROP AND VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO STALL OUT ON THE ROAD DURING OPERATION. ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEXUS OF WILMINGTON IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE: 8/25/04 - CODE 440 PO AND RESET LIGHTS (WARRANTY) NO REPAIRS; 11/03/2005 - CODES P0046, P0441 & P0440 CLAIMED LOOSE GAS CAP & DIDN'T MAKE ANY REPAIRS; 11/16/05 - CANISTER SWITCHING VALVE SHORTED OUT, REPLACED & CLEARED LIGHTS, CHARGE 45.00 FOR VALVE; 02/16/2006 NOW OUT OF WARRANTY; AGAIN THE CHARCOAL CANISTER SHORTED OUT AND WAS REPLACED $362.52; 08/30/2006 BANK 1 SENSOR 1 OXYGEN SENSOR SHORTED OUT, REPLACED SENSOR $280.56; 10/29/09 DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED CODE P0420 CATALYST SYSTEM BELOW THRESHOLD ON BANK 1, NEED TO REPLACE..$124.95 FOR DIAGNOSTICS CHECK; REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTER 1,831.19; 05/13/10 CATALYTIC CONVERTER MALFUNCTION $43
Mileage: 37,209
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.