NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Lexus IS Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Lexus IS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 12 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 2003 Lexus IS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

2003 Lexus IS owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Lexus IS, describing incidents dated February 11, 2003 to January 16, 2016.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 4 complaints
Structure 4 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Of the 12 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 12 complaints, owners report 7 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11604124 · Filed July 23, 2024
Brand new owner - first owner at time of lease/finance terms and conditions. Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life, placed us in harms way and accident occurred in California due to faulty emissions, acceleration out of control, and braking…
ODI #11604122 · Filed July 23, 2024
Brand new owner - first owner; Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life. This IS250 Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issues. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns related and has done nothing…
ODI #11385752 · Filed December 31, 2020
THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE IS MELTING, LEAVING A STICKY & SHINY SURFACE MAKING IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN WAS ISSUED FOR SEVERAL OTHER LEXUS MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS VERY ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE 2003 IS300 WAS EXCLUDED. LEXUS COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON AS TO WHY THIS…

Read all 12 complaints

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Lexus IS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

12 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Lexus IS.

Power Train; Service Brakes; Engine

ODI #11604124

Crash 2 injuries

Incident: October 12, 2006 · Filed: July 23, 2024

Brand new owner - first owner at time of lease/finance terms and conditions. Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life, placed us in harms way and accident occurred in California due to faulty emissions, acceleration out of control, and braking problems. This Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issue coupled with anxiety. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns reported to dealership and has done nothing to compensate me for their multibillion dollar settlement to date. I need compensation of torment, poor performance, lemon laws associated and punitive damages, hereto. What are next steps? Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Steering; Service Brakes; Engine

ODI #11604122

Crash 1 injury

Incident: February 11, 2003 · Filed: July 23, 2024

Brand new owner - first owner; Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life. This IS250 Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issues. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns related and has done nothing to compensate me for to date relating to multi-billion dollar law suits.

Structure

ODI #11385752

Incident: January 1, 2013 · Filed: December 31, 2020

THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE IS MELTING, LEAVING A STICKY & SHINY SURFACE MAKING IT HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN WAS ISSUED FOR SEVERAL OTHER LEXUS MODELS TO ADDRESS THIS VERY ISSUE, HOWEVER, THE 2003 IS300 WAS EXCLUDED. LEXUS COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON AS TO WHY THIS EXACT DEFECT WAS NOT ADDRESSED FOR THE 2003 IS300 MODEL, SINCE THEY ADDRESSED THE VERY SAME ISSUE WITH AN OLDER 2003 GX470 MODEL. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED, SO SUN EXPOSURE WAS MINIMAL AND STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE AS THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED. THIS HAZARDOUS DEFECT HAS HINDERED ME FROM DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN FEAR OF LEAVING IT IN THE SUN TO FURTHER DETERIORATE CAUSING MORE DAMAGE AND RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVABLE.

Air Bags

ODI #10825787

Crash 1 injury

Incident: January 16, 2016 · Filed: February 12, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 LEXUS IS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASH INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE HEAD ON AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK AND LEFT SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Unknown or Other; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10764176

Incident: June 1, 2011 · Filed: September 16, 2015

DASH IS MELTING AND IS STICKING TO ANYTHING THAT IS RUB UP AGAINST IT. I SAW A RECALL ON ALL OTHER MODEL REGARDING THIS ISSUE. EXCEPT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL 2003 LEXUS IS300. I BELIEVE IT SHOULD EXTEND TO THIS YEAR AND MODEL AS WELL. NO DASH SHOULD BE MELTING AWAY WITH HEAT! OWNER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR POORLY BUILT PARTS! FOR HOW MUCH I PAID FOR THE CAR, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THE PROBLEM ARE NO COST!

Structure

ODI #10732766

Incident: March 2, 2011 · Filed: July 8, 2015

THE DASHBOARD ON MY LEXUS IS 300 IS MELTING. IT IS VERY STICKY AND AS IT HEATS UP A CHEMICAL IS RELEASED AND THERE IS AN ODOR IN THE CAR. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT EFFECT THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, BUT IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT THIS CAR HAS A SERIOUS ISSUE. ALL IS300 REGARDLESS OF YEAR WITH THIS ISSUE MUST BE RECALLED.

Structure

ODI #10679036

Incident: January 3, 2005 · Filed: January 26, 2015

DASHBOARD IS "MELTING". RECALLS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR DASHBOARDS OF THE ES300 AND RX 300 MODELS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10653823

Incident: September 2, 2014 · Filed: November 10, 2014

MY CAR HAS 51000 MILES ON IT AND I'M TOLD MY ALTERNATOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR FOR ONE THINGS AND THE DEALERSHIP FOUND 4 DIFFERENT ISSUES WHICH 2 OF THE ISSUES I AM AWARE OF. GRANT YOU ALL THE PARTS IN MY CAR ARE THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I SERVICE MY CAR ACCORDING TO LEXUS 25,000 - 75,000 MILES SERVICES. HOW CAN I WELL KEPT AND SELDOM DRIVE VEHICLES HAVE AN ALTERNATOR ISSUE? ON FEBRUARY 7, 2003, THERE WAS COMPLAINTS OF THE (BULLETIN#:T10001308) CD BECOMING JAMMED IN CD CHANGER. IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE TO THE IS 300 CD CHANGER MECHANISM BUT I WASN'T NOTIFIED. I TOOK MY CAR TO WESTSIDE LEXUS REGARDING AN ONGOING DASHBOARD MELTING SITUATION AND CD PLAYER ISSUE. LEXUS FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACED DASHBOARD AFTER 3 YEARS AND I AM GRATEFUL BUT THE CD CHANGER JAMS NOW. IF I HAVEN'T DONE MY RESEARCH I WOULDN'T KNOW THERE WAS INITIAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE CD CHANGER. OVER THE MONTH-TO-MONTH WEIRD CD SOUND OF TUMBLING THEN PLAYING IT PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. MY 5- DISC CD PLAYER WILL NOT PLAY CDS AT ALL AND SOUND IS CD TUMBLING AROUND IN THE PLAYER. WESTSIDE LEXUS STATED I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CD PLAYER AT $500.00 AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE THE ISSUE AT ALL. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AS SOON AS THE ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY $500.00 FOR A 2003 ISSUE. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10651998

Incident: November 11, 2009 · Filed: November 3, 2014

INITIALLY, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG COMPARTMENT STARTED SHINING, MELTING AND DETERIORATING THEN THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD STARTED DETERIORATING. NOW THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT WEAKENING WHERE IT IS SINKING IN THE MIDDLE. I'M VERY AFRAID THAT THE COMPARTMENT WILL DEPLOY THE AIR BAG AND INJURE AND/OR KILLING ANYONE SITTING IN THE SEAT. I WHICH STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE SINCE 2009 TO LEXUS CORPORATION IN WHICH I WAS TOLD MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. LEXUS KNEW THE MATERIALS USED ON THE IS 300 WERE DEFECTIVE AND DID NOT RECALL THEM TO FIX. *TR

Structure

ODI #10630538

Incident: June 1, 2012 · Filed: September 3, 2014

DASH IS MELTING AND COMING OFF CREATING A SHINY SURFACE. *TR

Other Lexus IS model years

Check your 2003 Lexus IS VIN

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

Check a Lexus VIN