LEXUS IS 300 · model year

2004 LEXUS IS 300

23 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004LEXUSIS 300 carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 2004 IS 300 is vehicle speed control with 3 filings, followed by structure (3) and unknown or other (3). 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 2004 IS 300. 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.

23
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
STRUCTURE3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
TIRES2
AIR BAGS2
ENGINE2
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
WHEELS1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20180911ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE GAS PEDAL WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP WORKING. FORCING ONE TO PULL OVER, RESTART THE CAR, AND/OR HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR REPAIR.

Mileage: 253,000

20180522ENGINE

ENGINE QUIT ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH COASTED OF SHOULDER OF ROAD. WRECKER DROPPED AT DEALER. THEY MIS DIAGNOSED A BAD COIL. APPROXIMATELY 6 HOURS LATER THE CAR QUIT IN SAME WAY AGAIN. ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP PROPERLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN IGNITOR CONTROL MODULE. THE ORIGINAL REPAIR CO.COMMUNITY TOYOTA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNSAFE CONDITION THEY PUT ME IN. TOYOTA COMPANY SAYS THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OR SAY IN SERVICE PROBLEMS CREATED BY DEALERS. THE FIRST QUESTION THE 2ND REPAIR SERVICE ASK WAS THE CAR RUNNING ROUGH. I SAID NO IT JUST QUIT. THIS QUESTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN ASK BY THE TOYOTA DEALER THAT DID THE FIRST REPAIR. COMMUNITY TOYOTA, BAYTOWN TEXAS. I MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO GET THE DEALER AND TOYOTA CO. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION SO THEY WILL NOT DO UNSAFE WORK IN THE FUTURE. I BELIEVE IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC SAFETY SOME ONE SHOULD SEE THAT THE MECHANIC AND SERVICE MANAGER WERE PROPERLY TRAINED. SO THEY DO NOT MAKE THE SAME MIS

Mileage: 100,000

20170313AIR BAGS

STICKY RESIDUE DUE TO THE MELTING MATERIAL ON THE DASHBOARD CAUSES FUMES. FUMES ARE TOXIC AND IS GETTING IN THE AC AND VENTILATION. MELTING DASHBOARD. STICKY RESIDUE. CLOTHES WILL STICK TO IT. MELTS WHEN IT GETS HOT IN THE CAR. CURRENTLY LIVING IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT IS SUMMER WEATHER 9 OUT OF THE 12 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 50,000

20170313UNKNOWN OR OTHER

STICKY RESIDUE DUE TO THE MELTING MATERIAL ON THE DASHBOARD CAUSES FUMES. FUMES ARE TOXIC AND IS GETTING IN THE AC AND VENTILATION. MELTING DASHBOARD. STICKY RESIDUE. CLOTHES WILL STICK TO IT. MELTS WHEN IT GETS HOT IN THE CAR. CURRENTLY LIVING IN CALIFORNIA WHERE IT IS SUMMER WEATHER 9 OUT OF THE 12 MONTHS. PLEASE HELP.

Mileage: 50,000

20161107ENGINE

THE LEXUS IS300 HAVE THE WORST DASH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LEXUS DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL ON THEM AS THEY DID FOR THE IS250 OR THE IS350. GOD FORBIDS YOU PARK YOUR CAR AT WORK AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU GET IN YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU TOUCH THE DASH OR AROUND THE SHIFTER, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS MELTING. AND SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF FUME RADIATING FROM THE DASH ITSELF. #2. THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE-APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THE ISSUE, SOMETIMES IT TAKES OFF, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T PUSH AIR THROUGH AND THERE IS A 2-3 SECONDS DELAY WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE

Mileage: 130,000

20161107UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE LEXUS IS300 HAVE THE WORST DASH, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY LEXUS DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL ON THEM AS THEY DID FOR THE IS250 OR THE IS350. GOD FORBIDS YOU PARK YOUR CAR AT WORK AND AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN YOU GET IN YOUR VEHICLE AND YOU TOUCH THE DASH OR AROUND THE SHIFTER, IT FEELS LIKE IT IS MELTING. AND SOMETIMES I WONDER IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF FUME RADIATING FROM THE DASH ITSELF. #2. THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUE-APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS HAVING THE ISSUE, SOMETIMES IT TAKES OFF, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T PUSH AIR THROUGH AND THERE IS A 2-3 SECONDS DELAY WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE

Mileage: 130,000

20160926AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME STICKY AND RUBS OFF ON CLOTHING. THIS INCLUDES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SURFACE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN THE SUN.

Mileage: 123,000

20160926STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND HAS BECOME STICKY AND RUBS OFF ON CLOTHING. THIS INCLUDES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SURFACE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN THE SUN.

Mileage: 123,000

20150515UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD ON MY LEXUS IS300 IS MELTING AND REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD DURING THE DAYTIME CAUSING A TERRIBLE GLARE THAT AT TIMES AFFECTS DRIVING VISION. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT LEXUS HAS IDENTIFIED IN OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES (06 AND UP IS, LS460 ETC)AND WILL REPLACE THOSE DASHBOARDS. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE DECISION BY LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THEY REFUSED TO APPROVE MY DASHBOARD DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. I'M ALSO WORRIED THAT THERE MIGHT BE CHEMICALS THAT CAN EFFECT HEALTH COMING OUT OF THE DASH BOARD CAUSING IT TO MELT. CAN THIS MELTED DASHBOARD EFFECT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG BY MELTING ? MY VEHICLE IS IN THE GARAGE AT HOME AND WORK. PLEASE HELP TO GET LEXUS TO REPLACE MY DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD.

Mileage: 80,000

20150505STRUCTURE

STICKY MELTING DASHBOARD. *TR

20140802STRUCTURE

THE DASH BOARD IS MELTING SINCE 2007, LEXUS DID NOT DO ANY MORE THAN CHANGE PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER THAT AFTER A WILE STARTER MELTING AGAIN, THEY BLAME AT SUN EXPOSURE, THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE AND IS USED VERY LITTLE TODAY THE MILEAGE IS 48,000, WE COMPLAINED TO LEXUS A LITTLE AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS OVER WITH NO RESULT. WE ARE AFRAID OF TOXICITY THAT CAN AFFECT OUR HEALTH WE EXPRESS THIS TO LEXUS AND THEY DISMISSED OUR CONCERN. *TR

Mileage: 26,236

20140623STRUCTURE

MY 2004 LEXUS IS 300 HAS A MELTING DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD HAS BECOME STICKY TO THE TOUCH AND LEAVES MARKS WHEN YOU TOUCH IT. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

20130624TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS IS-300 EQUIPPED WITH NEXEN N-5000 TIRES (N.A), LINE SIZE 215/45/17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED LARGE CIRCULAR CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THREE OF THE FOUR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 91,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE TIRES WAS 15,000. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

20100419CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT LEASED A 2004 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED, DROVE OVER A CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE STEPS ON A RAILING OF A BUILDING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED, BUT SHE DID NOT RECEIVE A COPY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES EXPENSE. THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,527. UPDATED 06/03/10.*JB

Mileage: 34,527

20100309VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON THE MORNING OF DECEMBER 22, 2009, AT APPROXIMATELY 6:30 AM, ON THE NORTHBOUND ON RAMP TO I-25 AT CASTLE PINES NORTH, CASTLE ROCK, CO MY 2004 LEXUS IS 300 ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. STOMPING THE BRAKES HARD DID NOT STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE ONLY THING GOING THROUGH MY MIND AT THE TIME BESIDES STOPPING THE CAR, WAS THE FAMILY OF FOUR IN CALIFORNIA THAT DIED IN A RENTED LEXUS THAT ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABOUT AT THE END OF THE ON RAMP, AND I KNEW I COULD NOT MERGE ONTO I-25, WHEN STANDING ON THE BRAKES STOPPED THE ACCELERATION, AND I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET THE CAR STOPPED. AFTER CALMING DOWN, I DROVE MY CAR INTO WORK ( ABOUT 20 MILES) AND CALLED KUNI LEXUS OF LITTLETON, CO. KUNI LEXUS INFORMED ME AT THAT TIME I NEEDED TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS BEFORE KUNI LEXUS COULD DO ANYTHING, SO I CALLED TOYOTA AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT, THEN CALLED KUNI LEXUS BACK, TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND ARRANGED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. KUNI LEXUS HAD MY CAR FO

20081002VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT UNDER NORMAL BRAKING BECAUSE ENGINE FAILED TO DECELERATE WHEN PRESSURE WAS REMOVED FROM THE PEDAL. MAXIMUM FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE ANTI LOCK FEATURE WAS ACTIVATED AND A COLLISION WITH THE STOPPED CAR AHEAD WAS BARELY AVERTED. WHEN STOPPED, THE ENGINE REVERTED TO NORMAL IDLE. THE PROBLEM DID NOT RECUR. EXAMINATION BY A MECHANIC AT THE DEALERS SHOP FAILED TO IDENTIFY A COMPUTER FAULT OR OTHER CAUSE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED WITHOUT REPAIR. I AM NOT SATISFIED THAT A STUCK THROTTLE IS NOT A REPAIRABLE OR ABNORMAL CONDITION. IT SEEMS TO ME BE HIGHLY DANGEROUS AND MERITS MORE THAN A "WELL, ITS WORKING NOW SO COME BACK WHEN IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN." SORT OF RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 58,400

20080908WHEELS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS IS 300. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED TWO TIRE FAILURES, IN WHICH THEY SPONTANEOUSLY FLATTENED. SHE HAS LOW PROFILE CHROME-PLATED WHEELS. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TIRE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSIDE OF THE CHROME WHEELS WAS CORRODED AND DID NOT SEAL PROPERLY DURING INFLATION. AS A RESULT, AIR INEVITABLY LEAKED FROM THE TIRES. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

Mileage: 40,000

20080810VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACK WITH NO ROCKS HITTING IT ON THE BOTTOM MID PASSENGER SIDE. CRACKED ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM MID DRIVER SIDE ABOUT 2FT LONG. ALSO STARTED TO CRACK FROM THE MID CORNER OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. ABOUT 6 INCHES LONG. I BELIEVE ITS DUE TO BODY FLEX STRESS THAT THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED.*TR

20080720CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

ON JULY 18, 2008, I WAS DRIVING MY LEXUS IS-300. MY WIFE AND I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT ON THE OFF RAMP. WHILE WAITING TO PROCEED THROUGH THE STOPLIGHT, WE WERE STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER DRIVER GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES AN HOUR ESTIMATED BY THE POLICE OFFICER. THE REAR END COLLISION WAS SO FORCEFUL WE WERE PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF US. OUR VEHICLE (LEXUS IS 300) IS TOTALED - THE BACKEND COMPLETELY CRUSHED AND FRONT END SEVERELY CRUSHED. OUR FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED A MAJOR HEAD CONTUSION AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. WE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND IS THIS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS BRAND/MAKE. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

20061031SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE MADE OF CHROME PLATES THAT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO SLIP OFF THE PEDALS DURING NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE CHROME PLATED PEDALS. UPDATED 11/30/2006 - THE ONLY SHOES THE CONSUMER COULD WEAR TO ALLEVIATE THE SLIPPAGE WAS ATHLETIC SHOES, LIKE SNEAKERS, WHICH HAVE A RUBBER SOLE. *NM

Compare 2004LEXUSIS 300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 LEXUS IS 300 have?
The 2004 LEXUS IS 300 has 23 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 LEXUS IS 300?
The most-complained component for the 2004 LEXUS IS 300 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2004 LEXUS IS 300 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.