NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Lexus ES300 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2001 Lexus ES300 has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 29 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2001 Lexus ES300, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2001 Lexus ES300 owner complaints

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Lexus ES300, describing incidents dated June 28, 2000 to January 16, 2012.

Most-cited components

Vehicle Speed Control 8 complaints
Service Brakes 6 complaints
Power Train 5 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints

Of the 29 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 29 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10456444 · Filed April 25, 2012
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…
ODI #10390319 · Filed March 15, 2011
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO MY HEAD AND EYE. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH BEFORE BREAKING AND CONTACT. *TR
ODI #10327463 · Filed April 28, 2010
2001 LEXUS ES 300. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FULL RPM, PROBABLY AROUND 6,000 PLUS. HER FEET WERE FLAT ON THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NOT PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, NOR HAD SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE OR THE…

Read all 29 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2001 Lexus ES300 as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

2001 Lexus ES300 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

29 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Lexus ES300.

Power Train

ODI #10456444

Incident: January 16, 2012 · Filed: April 25, 2012

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.

Air Bags

ODI #10390319

Crash

Incident: March 9, 2011 · Filed: March 15, 2011

WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THEREFORE I WAS THROWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUSTAINED AN INJURY TO MY HEAD AND EYE. I WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH BEFORE BREAKING AND CONTACT. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10327463

Incident: February 15, 2010 · Filed: April 28, 2010

2001 LEXUS ES 300. ACCELERATION ISSUES *GR THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE STARTED THE VEHICLE, IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FULL RPM, PROBABLY AROUND 6,000 PLUS. HER FEET WERE FLAT ON THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NOT PUT THE GEAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE GARAGE, NOR HAD SHE TOUCHED THE BRAKE OR THE ACCELERATOR, WHEN THE RPMS BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. THE CONSUMER STATED ONLY A COMPUTER FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED THE RPM TO INSTANTLY INCREASE IN THAT MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WENT TO THE GARAGE TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONSUMER RE-STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT BEHAVED IN A NORMAL MANNER.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10310740

Crash

Incident: February 3, 2007 · Filed: February 16, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A JERSEY WALL CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUFFER ANY INJURIES DURING THE CRASH. THE CONTACT FEELS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND NOT STOP AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,014 UPDATED 08/19/10*BF UPDATED 08/24/10

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility

ODI #10306712

Incident: July 11, 2008 · Filed: February 5, 2010

I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS 300. I HAVE NEVER EVER HAD ISSUES WITH IT-EXCEPT FOR 12-18 MONTHS AGO- MY MAT GOT STUCK. AS I DROVE IT KEEP AT HIGH SPEED AND KEPT GOING FASTER- THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT MOVE AS I PUSHED DOWN. I PIT MY HEAD DOWN AND PULLED AT THE MATT & UNHOOKED THE FRONT HOOK UNDER THE SEAT . I THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO REMOVE MY MAT- AS OF THAT DAY-I REMOVED MY MAT & HAVE RUINED MY CARPET, BUT THAT IS FINE. I AM SURPRISED THIS RECALL IS NOT FOR MY MAKE & MODEL- WHEN I HEARD THE ISSUES WITH THE PEDAL...IT BROUGHT BACK THAT DAY- IF I WAS UNABLE TO FREE THE PEDAL, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED- I WOULD NEVER HAD THOUGHT TO HIT THE E BRAKE OR SHUT CAR DOWN- AND I PUT ALL MY POWER ON THE BRAKE & IT WOULD NOT WORK. ALL IN ALL IT IS AN EXCELLENT CAR! *TR

Power Train

ODI #10261275

Incident: March 6, 2009 · Filed: March 9, 2009

TRANSMISSION SKIPPING AT 92,00 MILES AND FAILED, MADE REPAIR $560. NOW AT 104,000 TRANSMISSION HAS TOTALLY FAILED. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10224076

Crash 1 injury

Incident: March 13, 2008 · Filed: April 10, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH. THE FIRST VEHICLE SLAMMED ON ITS BRAKES AND CAUSED THE SECOND VEHICLE TO STRIKE THE BUMPER OF THE FIRST VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER THEN CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE SECOND VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN THE THIRD VEHICLE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE AND THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INJURED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10193988

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 5, 2007 · Filed: June 22, 2007

ON 2 RECENT OCCASIONS (NOV 13, 2006 AND MAY 5, 2007) MY WIFE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY AND SLAMMED INTO A WALL. BOTH INCIDENTS WERE ALMOST IDENTICAL. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT SHEET METAL (ABOUT $9,000 ON EACH INCIDENT). IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MY WIFE STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS STEPPING ON THE BRAKE BUT SHE SWEARS THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN. ALSO, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THIS HAVE HAPPENED TWICE. *TR

Seat Belts

ODI #10155274

Crash 3 injuries

Incident: March 19, 2005 · Filed: April 13, 2006

FRONT END COLLISION RESULTING IN HEAD INJURY OF RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. INJURY RESULTED FROM IMPACT WITH RADIO. SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTED AFTER ACCIDENT. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10138278

Incident: September 25, 2005 · Filed: September 30, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SPEED UP ON OWN WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. I FOUND MY CAR GOING FROM 40 TO 60. IN PARK POSITION THE CAR WILL REV TO HIGH RPM BUT IF I AM IN DRIVE MODE IT WILL JUST ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT TO LEXUS AND THE TECHNICIAN SAYS THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS NOT WORKING AND THE REPAIR WORK WOULD BE $500. *NM

Other Lexus ES300 model years

Check your 2001 Lexus ES300 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus ES300 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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