There are 10 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2003 Lexus ESin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2003 Lexus ES 300. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 136,406. At the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 235,000.
MY DRIVER HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT.I BOUGHT ANOTHER BULB AND SAME PROBLEM .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AS IT WAS STALLING. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CUT THE BATTERY CORD AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.
VIN: (XXXXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 (XXXX) AIR/BAG BUSTING THRU DASH ( * NEED HELP ) (XXXX) YEAR: 2003 MAKE: LEXUS MODEL: ES300 AIRBAG IS BULGING -SEE PICTURES ELECTRICAL DRAIN ON THE BATTERY OFF AND ON SINCE. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. CAN'T OPEN DRIVERS DOOR. HAD TO CLIMB OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT. NO MANUAL OVER RIDE TO OPEN DOOR. I'M 82 YEARS OLD AND COULD NOT FINE A WAY TO OPEN MY DOOR WITH THE DOOR SWITCH OR THE REMOTE CONTROL. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN . *TR
DT: CONSUMER STATES THAT AT NIGHT THERE WAS A TIME DELAY IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN BEING SHUT OFF. IF THE TRUNK WAS PROPPED OPEN ONLY 1/8 OF AN INCH THE LIGHTS STAYED ON UNTIL THE BATTERY IWASDEAD. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY UNHOOKED THE TIME DELAY. THE BATTERY DIED TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS ONLY IN THE NIGHTTIME.*AK
WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION VEHICLE JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT COMPUTER RECALIBRATED (EMC) ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO THE COMPUTER. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN IN NEUTRAL AND ENGINE IS OFF, PERMITTING CAR TO ROLL.*AK
UPON STOPPING, AND WHEN CONSUMER REMOVED FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD BEFORE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ONCE, RESULTING IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE POLE WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. ALSO, STARTING AT 5000 MILES BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES BECAUSE IT DIED. THIS WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK *LA
WHILE SHIFTING GEARS VEHICLE JERKED AND HESITATED TO MOVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND HE RESET IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM REOCCURED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. CURRENTLY, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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 Apr 25, 2026