NHTSA vehicle safety data

2001 Lexus IS 300 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2001 Lexus IS 300 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 27 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 IS 300, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2001 Lexus IS 300 owner complaints

Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Lexus IS 300, describing incidents dated September 30, 2000 to January 14, 2019.

Most-cited components

Vehicle Speed Control 5 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Suspension 4 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints
Air Bags 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 27 complaints on file, 8 report a crash and 3 a fire; across all 27 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11170880 · Filed January 18, 2019
ENGINE CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART WHILE DRIVING.
ODI #10839934 · Filed March 4, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT…
ODI #10434917 · Filed November 8, 2011
AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS MAKE/MODEL I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT GOES THROUGH TIRES LIKE NOT OTHER CALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN. I AM LUCKY TO GET 10-12K MILES FROM A SET OF TIRES. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE MULTIPLE TIRE SETS AS WELL AS A LIFETIME ALIGNMENT DUET TO THE…

Read all 27 complaints

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2001 Lexus IS300 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

27 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2001 Lexus IS 300.

Engine

ODI #11170880

Incident: January 14, 2019 · Filed: January 18, 2019

ENGINE CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART WHILE DRIVING.

Power Train; Electrical System; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10839934

Incident: April 1, 2014 · Filed: March 4, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AS THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ROLL DOWN THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND IT FAILED TO ROLL BACK UP. THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GLASS PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000. ...UPDATED 09/19/16 *BF

Suspension

ODI #10434917

Incident: August 1, 2001 · Filed: November 8, 2011

AS THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS MAKE/MODEL I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT GOES THROUGH TIRES LIKE NOT OTHER CALL I HAVE EVER KNOWN. I AM LUCKY TO GET 10-12K MILES FROM A SET OF TIRES. IN THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE MULTIPLE TIRE SETS AS WELL AS A LIFETIME ALIGNMENT DUET TO THE EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES, THIS WEAR IS ON THE INNER PORTION OF THE FRONT TIRES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE CAMBER PORTION OF THE SUSPENSION THAT CAUSES THIS. I AM A MODEL DRIVER WHO TAKES ALL PRECAUTIONS IN THE CARE OF MY VEHICLE. WITH THIS BEING SAID THERE ARE TIMES THAT A NEW TIRE CAN GO FROM GOOD TO TOTALLY BAD IN MONTHS. FOR EXAMPLE THIS PAST JULY 2011 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR TIRES AND ALIGNMENT BY OCT 2011 MY FRONT TIRES WERE WORN OUT ON THE INSIDE PORTION. CONSUMER CAN SUPPLY PROOF. I HAVE SEEN BLOG POST ON THE NET WITH VARIOUS OTHER IS 300 OWNERS STATING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE EXACT TIRE WEAR I AM SEEING. IT IS THE SAFETY FACTOR THAT CONCERNS ME. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CHECK BEFORE I GET ON A LONG TRIP IS MY TIRES HAVE WORN OUT FOR FEAR OF HAVING A HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10390253

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

I PURCHASED A CAR FROM A DEALER IN MALDEN I HEARD A SOUND THAT WAS NOT FAMILIAR TO ME AND REQUESTED THE DEALER CHECK IT AS I HAD JUST PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. I MADE SEVERAL CALLS AND WAS TOLD THE DEALER WAS WITH A CUSTOMER OR BUSY. ON MARCH 1, 2011 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET INSPECTED IN STOUGHTON AND RECEIVED A REPORT WITH A PASSING GRADE. REGARDLESS I STILL HEARD THE SOUND AND ELECTED TO DRIVE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 2, 2011. THE DEALER WAS TOO BUSY THAT DAY AND IT WAS ARRANGED FOR ME TO RETURN ON MARCH 9 OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK. I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERS ON THE NIGHT BEFORE (8TH) AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK AT 5PM THE 9TH. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG AND WAS GIVEN MY KEYS BACK. I LEFT FOR HOME AND A SHORT TIME LATER THE BALL JOINT ON THE LEFT FRONT LET GO CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND WHEEL.. THE STATE POLICE HAD ME TOWED AND THE FOLLOWING DAY A MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THE BALL JOINT BROKE AND THAT THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND RIGHT BALL JOINT WERE "JUNK". I CALLED THE DEALER AND MY FATHER SPOKE TO HIM. HE SAID HE WOULD STAND BEHIND WHAT HE SOLD BUT QUESTIONED THE INSPECTION. WE WENT TO THE INSPECTION STATION AND THE OWNER WOULD NOT PROVIDE HIS NAME OR THE NAME OF HIS INSURANCE CARRIER. HE SAID IF WE WANTED TO GET THIS RESOLVED WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING HIM TO COURT. I HAVE GOTTEN THE ESTIMATES TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LEVEL AND THE COST WILL BE $1745.07 INCLUDING MY TOW CHARGES. I REALIZE THE DEALER HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PERFORM THE TERMS OF THE CONTRACT HOWEVER THE INSPECTION FACILITY RISKED MY LIFE AND HAVE SHOWN NO INTENTION ON WORKING THIS OUT AMICABLY. I AM REQUESTING THE SERVICE STATION LOSE THEIR LICENSE TO INSPECT VEHICLES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY OTHERS THAT THIS STATION DOES NOT CONDUCT COMPLETE INSPECTIONS AND I QUESTION IF THE TECHNICIAN THAT LOOKED AT MY CAR WAS CERTIFIED AS IT WAS NOT THE OWNER WE SPOKE TO. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10360998

Incident: October 8, 2010 · Filed: October 18, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD, SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR AND A CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRACK WAS CONFIRMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10318416

Crash

Incident: January 12, 2010 · Filed: March 10, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN FROM A SERVICE ROAD ONTO A MAIN HIGHWAY THE CONTACT HAD HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN THE CONTACT SLOWLY REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SLIGHTLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THERE WAS AN EXTREME INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS. THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDLY AND IT ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE OF SPEED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WAS PUSHED BACKWARDS FROM THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING. INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO PROCEED INTO THE HIGHWAY SHE MADE THE DECISION TO CRASH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTO A CEMENT WALL. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED FOR FLOOR MAT ENTRAPMENT BY THE MANUFACTURER BUT SHOWED NO SIGNS OF INTERFERENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 5/17/2010 * CN UPDATED 05/20/10.*JB

Visibility

ODI #10283994

Incident: July 1, 2008 · Filed: September 15, 2009

DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW GLASS BOLTS LOOSE. GLASS SEPARATES FROM REGULATOR. GLASS DOESN'T FIT INTO WINDOW FRAME CAUSI NG CRACKING SOUND AND ACTIVATING THE CHILD SAFETY FEATURE AUTOMATICALLY REVERSING CLOSURE. GLASS CAN BREAK PRESENTING SAFETY HAZARD. PROBLEM CONTINUOUS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10192559

Fire

Incident: April 1, 2006 · Filed: June 6, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING BELT. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL BUILD-UP INSIDE THE ENGINE. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. AS OF JUNE 6, 2007, THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Power Train

ODI #10147450

Incident: January 7, 2006 · Filed: January 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE JERKED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT. THE PULLING PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE COTTER PIN CAME OUT OF THE CV BALL. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10131171

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: July 23, 2005 · Filed: August 2, 2005

FAILURE OF ABS FEATURE / MALFUNCTION OF BRAKES AROUND 07/14/05 WHEN MY WIFE BRAKED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR SKIDDED WITH THE REAR WHEELS PULLING OUT TOWARDS RIGHT. SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AS SHE WAS EXITING AND WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED (<45 MPH) ON 7/23/05 WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, TO AVOID A CAR THAT WAS GETTING IN MY LANE (THE LEFT MOST LANE) I BRAKED HARD. THE SPEED OF THE CAR WAS ABOUT 65 MPH. THE BRAKES JUST LOCKED EVEN AFTER I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR SKIDDED WITH THE REAR WHEELS PULLING OUT TOWARDS RIGHT. I WENT THROUGH TWO LANES OF THE HIGWAY, CRASHED THROUGH THE BARBED WIRE FENCE, THE CAR FLIPPED IN AIR AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN THE DITCH (ABOUT 15 FEET DEEP). ALL THE WHILE DURING THE SKID THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED AND I COULD DO NOTHING TO UNLOCK THEM OR TAKE CONTROL OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I AND MY WIFE SURVIVED WITH MINOR INJURIES BUT WE ARE BOTH TRAUMATIZED BY THE EVENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE CO. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 51K MILES ON IT AND IT HAS ABS. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL THE SERVICES DONE AT THE DEALER SINCE THE FIRST SERVICE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHY THE BRAKES LOCKED OR WHY THE ABS FAILED. IN ADDITION TO ABS THE CAR ALSO HAS TRACTION CONTROL, LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, ELECTRONIC STABILITY ETC BUT NOTHING HELPED GETTING CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. *JB

Other Lexus IS 300 model years

Check your 2001 Lexus IS 300 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus IS 300 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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