2003 Lexus ES300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2003 Lexus ES300, and owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2003 Lexus ES300. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Lexus ES300 have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA; 43 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 18 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 44,982 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 39 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Sir/madam, i am trying to help my friends (xxxx) and (xxxxx), long time residents of huntington beach and a very sweet couple. Peggy was driving her husband to a doctor's appointment and due to a faul”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 28, 2019 · Engine
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lexus es300. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, when she saw smoke and fire igniting from the hood. The contact stated the engine failed and turned off in the middle”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 25, 2019 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 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 2003 Lexus ES300
How do I know if my 2003 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.
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.
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.