There are 2 stored owner reports matching the powertrain & transmission leading-label group for the 2003 Lexus IS in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 2 of 2 matching reports.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)I WAS SITTING IN MY 2003 LEXUS IS 300 4 DOOR IT WAS A RAINY AND UNUSUALLY COOL DAY SO I ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN AND WITH THE CAR IDLING I LISTENED TO SOME MUSIC AND CONTEMPLATED WHERE TO EAT DINNER IT BEING AROUND 5.30 PM. SUDDENLY THE THROTTLE OPENED UP AND THE CAR SHOT OFF LIKE A ROCKET OVER THE CURBING THROUGH SOME BUSHES AND INTO A POND MAYBE 15 FEET AWAY THE CAR WAS MOVING SO FAST THAT AS IT WAS SINKING IT MOVED OUT ABOUT 20 FEET. IT WAS COMPLETELY SUBMERGED AND I WAS LUCKY TO UNBUCKLE THE SEAT BELT AND CLIMB OUT THE OPEN WINDOW AND SWIM TO SHORE THE ONLY INJURY A SPRAINED ANKLE. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AMAZINGLY I WAS GIVEN A TICKET FOR WRECKLESS DRIVING THAT WAS DISMISSED AS THERE WERE NO WITNESSES THE POLICE AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSISTED THAT CARS DON'T SURGE LIKE THAT ON THEIR OWN WE KNOW BETTER I WAS TREATED LIKE A CRIMINAL INSTEAD OF SYMPATHIZED WITH FOR ALMOST DROWNING. IT WAS NOT THE MAT OR A STICKY ACCELERATOR BUT I FEEL AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM DUE TO MOISTURE THAT MADE THE THROTTLE OPEN UP THE THING WAS ALSO THAT THE CAR WAS IN PARK! OF COURSE NO LAWYERS WOULD TOUCH IT I DIDN'T GET HURT BAD AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NEVER ANY SUCCESSFUL LITIGATION AGAINST THE MANUFACTURERS FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION IRREGARDLESS OF CAUSE. I JUST FEEL I NEED TO TELL MY STORY AND HOPE THAT IT HELPS I HAVE THE VIN # AND ALL THAT IF NEEDED TO TRACK THE FACTORY MADE AND MAYBE THIS WILL HELP SUBSTANTIATE A CLAIM BY SOMEONE WHO WAS HURT OR HELP THE FAMILY OF SOMEONE HURT OR KILLED. THESE COMPANIES CARE ABOUT PROFITS NOT PEOPLE AND THIS CULTURE MUCH CHANGE. THE OTHER SAD PART WAS THE POLICE WHO ASSUMED I DID THIS ON PURPOSE I AM NOT INSANE ONLY AN INSANE PERSON WOULD DRIVE A CAR INTO A LAKE WITH THEM INSIDE. THAT'S THE BOYNTON BEACH POLICE FOR YOU...NICE HUH ALSO I LOST MY JOB AS A SALESMAN AS THIS TOOK 3 MONTHS FOR ME TO GET PAID AND I HAD NO TRANSPORTATION! DO YOU THINK TOYOTA WILL PAY ME FOR THAT? *TR
COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE AT 23,400 MILES. *JB
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.
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.