There are 6 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2001 Lexus ES in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUMP VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT METAL FILLINGS WERE FOUND INSIDE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, WHERE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.
TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AT 92,00 MILES AND FAILED, MADE REPAIR $560. NOW AT 104,000 TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY FAILED. *TR
ATTEMPTING TO MERGE UNTO THE HIGHWAY, VEHICLE (2001 LEXUS ES300) WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 35 MPH, FORCING ME TO GET OFF TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING AS TO ANY PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION (WAS JUST FULLY SERVICED AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT). HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS BEYOND REPAIR. AUTOMOBILE HAS ONLY 101,000 MILES. LEXUS REPAIR COST IS JUST UNDER 6000.00. *TR
VEHICLE STARTED UP WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION, AND WHILE IN PARK, VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE IN REVERSE INTO THE STREET. DEALER IS TAKING A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE.*AK. DEALER STATES THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE REMOTE STARTER ITS NOT A LEXUS ISSUE. *YD
THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL IS THAT IT ENGAGES MUCH TOO EASILY AND FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. THE TRACTION CONTROL IS ENGAGING UNDER EXCELLENT CONDITIONS WHERE THE PAVEMENT IS DRY AND THE THROTTLE IS DEPRESSED LESS THAN HALF. I HAVE COME CLOSE TO BEING READ-ENDED A FEW TIMES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS WHILE TRYING TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN SLOW TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDE A FIX.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE USED THE REMOTE STARTER TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY WAS IN THE HOUSE, THE DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR SEAT, WHEN HIS WIFE GOT IN THE CAR AND THOUGHT THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AS IT SHOULD, WIFE GOT OUT OF THE CAR LEAVING THE DRIVERS DOOR OPEN TO GET THE KEY THE VEHICLE ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, CONSUMER JUMPED IN AND BROUGHT IT TO A STOP. DEALER CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE AND STATED THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *YD
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026