KnownCarProblems2002 Lexus ES300 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus ES300, most often about the transmission (34% of complaints, typically around 4,000 miles). It is the most complained-about ES300 model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2002 Lexus ES300 problems
Transmission
52 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
When the accelerator is pressed for the purpose of passing or for merging into traffic at varying speeds between 25-50 MPH, the vehicle "lags" or encounters a dead spot before responding (by suddenly speeding off). The vehicle seems to be attempting to decide how to respond to the action of the accelerator being…
Dangerous condition exists with 2002 Lexus ES300, where a severe hesitation exists when accelerating at slow roll (< 5mph) at intersection turns, exiting driveways, and generally anywhere when trying to get into flow of traffic when nearly stopped - especially when a turn is involved along with the acceleration. Very…
Speed control
50 complaints · 33%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal, cruise control.
The Lexus ES300 was driven at almost 0 MPH speed to get ready to park outside the garage. The car continues accelerating even after the driver was hitting the brake to stop the car. The car smashed the car garage door, and everyhing on the way. There was more than $5,000 damages to the car and $1,250.00 on real…
Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus ES300. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into the back of a vehicle.the contact and a witness were surprised that the wheels continued to spin after the vehicle had stopped moving. A week later the vehicle accelerated again without warning and crashed…
Brakes
14 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 22,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, pedals and linkages, controls.
Steering wheel shimmy when brakes are applied. This started to occur approx at 22000 miles. The care now has approx 26000 miles. Found 2 other complaints while researching this problem. Odi #s 10034592 and 10037938. Is this something Lexus corp is volunteering to fix for their consumers.
When pulling into a parking space traveling at less then 10 miles per hour, the car suddenly accelerated, proceeded forward hitting another parked car head on. The vehicle then jumped a curb and hit a second car. When attempting to stop the car using the brakes, the brake pedal was depressed but the car did not stop.…
Engine
12 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 99,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
Check engine light came on and car acceleration was limited. Error codes p2121 and p2128 indicated faulty "throttle position sensor" the part retails for around $100. Lexus insisted that I had to replace the complete accelerator pedal assembly with a new throttle position sensor. Lexus charged me $764 to replace both…
I was stopped at a red light approximately 3-4 ft. Behind a utility truck. Suddenly the car surged forward and hit the rear end of the truck in front of me.
Electrical
11 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, instrument cluster/panel.
Lexus es 300 year 2002, I was pulling into a parking space, traveling at slow speed, 5-8 miles an hour, when the car would not stop, despite applying the brake. The car engine appeared to have a low hum and appeared to be in overdrive. The car jumped over a concrete divider, over a sidewalk, through a brick wall and…
Air bags
9 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 40,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Lexus es 300 year 2002, I was pulling into a parking space, traveling at slow speed, 5-8 miles an hour, when the car would not stop, despite applying the brake. The car engine appeared to have a low hum and appeared to be in overdrive. The car jumped over a concrete divider, over a sidewalk, through a brick wall and…
Non deployal of side airbags on Lexus es 300. Model year 2002. My son was hit square in the drivers door and incurred significant damage to the vehicle. The oncoming vehicle that hit him had its airbags fully deploy. The side curtain airbags in my 2002 es 300 should have deployed and failed to do so. There was…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 5%While driving on a freeway the car made a sudden & brief shutter immediately followed by loss of response by the accelerator pedal. I immediately began to move off the freeway knowing that something was wrong with my car. Upon getting o the off ramp I saw flames coming from around the front left tire. I put the car…
Fuel system
7 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: storage.
On june 15, 2009 we were driving home and my husband felt the car almost stalled. Then we smelled gasoline and saw smoke coming from the bottom right under the engine. We exited the car and it was already on fire. The car burst into flames and was completely destroyed. It was a 2002 Lexus 300es with only 44,000 miles.…
I was driving my 2002 Lexus e300 on rte95 in providence r.I. I was in the middle lane traveling at the speed of the traffic--65mph. Suddenly t check engine warning light came on and without warning when I stepped on the gas pedal there was no response. I was in the midst of heavy traffic losing speed rapidly.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 Lexus ES300 recalls
Air bags: frontal
Risk: If this should occur, there is a possibility that the detached bottom portion may strike the driver causing personal injury.
Fix: 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 remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331 or lexus at 1-888-333-9376.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: If the brake tube is deformed significantly, it could contact the inner fender panel, and eventually cause damage to the tube due to vibration during driving. Brake tube damage could also lead to brake fluid leakage after extended use of the vehicle.
Fix: 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 receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact lexus at 1-888-333-9376.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Unwanted and unintended acceleration
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened dp09-001 on april 8, 2009, to evaluate a defect petition requesting additional investigation of potential throttle control system defects unrelated to floor mat interference with accelerator pedals in model year (my) 2007 lexus es 350 vehicles.the petitioner referenced an earlier odi investigation concerning floor mat interference with accelerator pedal return (pe07-016/ea07-010), which he stated was too narrow in scope as it did not include all incidents of unwanted acceleration and consider all potential causes of vehicle speed control concerns.the petition also requested an investigation of my 2002-2003 lexus es300 for those 'longer duratio
Vehicle speed control
Summary
In a letter dated july 8, 2005, and after experiencing two incidents (and one crash) where he alleges his model year (my) 2002 camry accelerated without driver input, mr. Jordan ziprin petitioned the national highway traffic safety administration?s (NHTSA) office of defects investigation (odi) to commence a proceeding to determine the existence of a defect within the etc system in my 2002 to 2005 toyota and lexus vehicles, or to reopen a prior investigation preliminary evaluation (pe) 04-021.in a letter dated august 18, 2005, mr. Ziprin amended his petition to include allegations of interrelated brake and acceleration problems that allegedly result in inappropriate and uncontrollable vehicle
Throttle control system
Summary
The lexus models were the subject of defect petition (dp) 04-003.twelve odi complaints are duplicative to toyota reports, including the two minor crashes.the v6 equipped solara models have been excluded because they do not contain the subject throttle control system.toyota introduced electronic throttle control (etc) on the subject vehicles beginning in model year (my) 2002.odi opened the investigation to determine if the system could be the cause of complaints alleging the engine speed increased, or failed to decrease, (for a short duration) when the accelerator pedal was not depressed (the alleged defect).during the course of the investigation, odi analyzed agency data and reviewed vehicle
Throttle control system
Summary
The population number noted above is estimated.in the january 15th, 2004 petition request letter to the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA), the petitioner identified 37 voq complaints as related to vehicle speed control issues similar to those the petitioner allegedly experienced in their own vehicle on multiple occasions (as described in the petition request letter).during it's consideration of the request, the office of defects investigation (odi) reviewed the 37 complaints and concluded that 34 of the complaints did not involve a throttle control issue as described and alleged by the petitioner; three voqs (one of which is the petitioner's) do allege a throttle control
Questions about the 2002 Lexus ES300
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Lexus ES300?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (52 complaints, typically around 4,000 miles); speed control (50 complaints, typically around 36,000 miles); brakes (14 complaints, typically around 22,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus ES300 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 11, 2001 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2002 a bad year for the Lexus ES300?
- It is the most complained-about ES300 model year since 2000, with 153 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.