2003 Lexus IS 300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2003 Lexus IS 300, and owners have filed 21 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 IS 300. 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.
21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Lexus IS 300 have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 62,410 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Vehicle was caught on a flash flood july 2015. Was taken to lexus of san diego in sept on claim as front right side squealing/squeaking while driving or turning right. Lexus of san diego kept vehicle”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 2016 · Suspension
“The brakes failed at 143,840 miles. The brakes failure occurred while driving the car on a busy city street. After inspection by a mechanic at firestone auto care..it was determined that a noticeable”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 28, 2015 · Service brakes
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Lexus IS (IS 300). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16 / 22–23 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Manual 5-spd |
Compare Lexus IS 300 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus IS 300 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 27 |
| 2002 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 28 |
| 2003 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 21 |
| 2004 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 19 |
| 2005 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 4 |
| 2006 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018 Lexus IS 300 | 1 | 6 |
| 2019 Lexus IS 300 | 2 | 7 |
| 2020 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 Lexus IS 300 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 2003 Lexus IS 300
How do I know if my 2003 Lexus IS 300 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
- ES300681 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 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.