2002 Lexus ES300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2002 Lexus ES300, and owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2002 Lexus ES300
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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.
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…
-
Air bags: frontal
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.
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…
153 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Lexus ES300 have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA; 37 describe a crash and 5 describe a fire. Reports cite 24 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 47,861 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 37 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lexus es300. While the contact was stopped in traffic, the vehicle was rear ended at 45 MPH by another vehicle. Both the front driver and passenger seats collapsed. As a re”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 24, 2018 · Seats
“I replaced the battery on my lexus and it would no longer idle you take your foot off the accelerator and the engine dies.. The computer lost the idle parameters this is dangerous as i turned left off”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 18, 2017 · Electronic stability control (esc)
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Lexus ES (ES 300). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18 / 27 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Lexus ES300 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus ES300 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 37 |
| 1993 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 43 |
| 1994 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 39 |
| 1995 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 38 |
| 1996 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 37 |
| 1997 Lexus ES300 | 2 | 45 |
| 1998 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 52 |
| 1999 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 27 |
| 2000 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 56 |
| 2001 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 29 |
| 2002 Lexus ES300 | 2 | 153 |
| 2003 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 116 |
| 2005 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2002 Lexus ES300
How do I know if my 2002 Lexus ES300 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2002 Lexus ES300; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lexus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 01V371000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lexus models
- ES3501,365 complaints
- RX957 complaints
- RX350808 complaints
- RX300722 complaints
- IS 250719 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 complaints
- RX330526 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.