10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
125,724 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Lexus ES 300 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Lexus ES 300:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Lexus ES 300 Owner Comments

problem #11

Jul 232022

ES 300

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

During a trip on the highway the accelerator was to low and take harder to accelerate the car. When we arrived home close to parking end the car suddenly accelerated while I was using the brakes pedal. I was lucky to stop on time. Thanks for your attention.

- Sparanburg , NC, USA

problem #10

Dec 212020

ES 300

  • 0 miles
I tried to start my car out of no where it wouldn't start no warning or anything I checked the starter that wasn't it I'm not sure off it's the engine or an electrical problem

- University City, MO, USA

problem #9

Oct 232020

ES 300

  • 173,000 miles
The contact's mom owned a 2002 Lexus ES 300. The contact stated that while driving at 3 mph, the vehicle began to emit a thick white, yellowish smoke from the driver side headlight without warning. As the contact attempted to pull the vehicle over, the vehicle began to lose power as a bystander altered the contact that the vehicle was on fire. The contact immediately exited the vehicle and the authorities were called to the scene. The fire department arrived at the scene and was able to extinguish the fire. A police and fire report was filed at the scene. Due to the fire, the vehicle was destroyed and was towed to an independent mechanic. No injuries were suffered as a result of the fire. The manufacturer nor the dealer have yet to be notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 173,000.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #8

Mar 092017

ES 300

  • 172 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought this car from all auto sales. The same day, less than an hour later I attempted to drive the car home and it broke down in front of a red light. The salesman reassured me that nothing was wrong with it. I tried to start it back up and it wouldn't start so I had to push it to the side of the road, while pregnant and two kids present. It was sold to me "as is" and I have no temp tags and I'm expected to pay a bi weekly car note. I had to payout of pocket for a tow truck and at this point I just want my money back it's only been two days and I'm already experiencing problems out of this vehicle. Please help.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #7

Jan 052020

ES 300

  • 136,000 miles
This is the 2nd 2002 Lexus ES300 ive owned with half the miles of the 1st one...yet both cars catalytic convertors failed!! how is that possible at only 136K miles the catalytic convertor needs to be replaced!! the 1st car had almost 268K miles which I felt the catalytic convertor failure wasnt as surprising...but between my boyfriend and I we have owned 4 Lexus vehicles: 1997 ES300 1999 RX300 and 2 ES300 and all of them had catalytic convertor failures!!! I was told by a mechanic as long as you put in the correct fuel and correct oil the convertors should last forever!! so why is it that Lexus cars convertors fail as low as 136K miles!! thats rediculous!!

- Carlsbad, CA, USA

problem #6

Aug 202019

ES 300

  • 248,455 miles
On the night of August 20, 2019, at 9:45, I parked my Lexus ES 300 and went inside the local acme. Acme is approx miles from home. I entered the store and heard over the intercom all shoppers had 12 min before closing. I quickly shopped, and upon exiting the store, my car had a significant fire, and the fire company that was across the street had to respond and put it out. My car had no power, and it mysteriously caught fire. I was given the directive to have it towed immediately by the police and fire co who was on the scene. I quickly grabbed any salvageable personals and had to get a ride home by the police officer. The following day August 21, 2019, aaa towed the vehicle to my home. I had to attach the battery cable to have power for windows and locks along with the trunk. I gathered all my belongings and removed the wire. I called the fire marshall for a report, and he said he couldn't give me a report. It was compromised by being towed. Compromised for towing when I was told or rather demanded to remove the vehicle of the property immediately. I googled the words Lexus and fire and noticed by a few posts my issue was not an isolated incident. Therefore, I contacted Lexus, who had me tow my vehicle to the local dealer. The car sat and is still sitting for almost three weeks before an inspector looked at it on September 10. 2019. I went to check the only car after and took a video of what I saw. I waited the 30 days for a reply if they'd assume responsibility. I got my letter on the 31st day and they can not identify how the fire started and assume no liability. How does a car mysteriously catch fire parked" because this issue isn't isolated, is there any recourse action against Lexus for damages" I have videos and photos of the damage after the fire and after the inspection.

- Wilmington, DE, USA

problem #5

Sep 022015

ES 300

  • 145,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Large cloud of white/gray smoke when car sits overnight from previous night driving. After researching online this seems to be a common problem. There was a lawsuit filed because of this. Why not a recall"??"

- Riverwoods, IL, USA

problem #4

Jan 042016

ES 300

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2002 Lexus ES300. While driving 30 mph, there were flames and a black substance coming from the engine compartment of the vehicle. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to an auto body repair center, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was unavailable.

- Culver City, CA, USA

problem #3

Oct 242014

ES 300 6-cyl

  • 127,000 miles
I accelerated from a stop light after it turned green. About 25 feet thru the light I heard the car behind me blowing their horn constantly. I looked in my rear view mirror to see what was going in. Then I thought I notice light smoke coming from my tailpipe. I applied my right turn blinker and pulled to the curve. As soon as I parked, I could see orange colored fire around the front of my car and along the side of my driver/passenger doors. I felt that me and my passenger wouldn't be able to exit the car without be burnt, but I knew we needed to get out immediately. I tried to calmly get my passenger to exit which we did mainly because she hadn't seen the flames. We were able to exit and I immediately call 911 and proceeded to clearing people from near my car. The fire dept and police arrived about 10-15 minutes later. The fire department extinguished the car then left. A police officer stayed until the tow co arrived. The car was towed away and I was given a ride to my residence.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 252013

ES 300 6-cyl

  • 156,342 miles
Dealer and finance company claim clean title but documents reflect otherwise.

- Van Nuys, CA, USA

problem #1

Apr 182014

ES 300 6-cyl

  • 267,000 miles
I just purchased this car (Lexus ES 300 2002 sedan) for my daughter less than a week ago on 4/11/2014 from a private owner, with 267,000 miles and it ran well for a transportation vehicle, seems to have been well cared for mechanically, interior and exterior is in great shape and was checked out my friend a longtime mechanic. My daughter had just left the dmv which was closed today 4/18/2014 and street driving back home. The car made a loud popping sound, smoke started from under the hood and soon flames and she had to pull over and ditch the car. Soon it blazed and the whole front end, engine, windshield the front tires all burned. Fire and police departments showed up, extinguished the fire and did traffic control. The fire damage was control to the front and engine, the firewall did it's job. All the interiors, dash and console are all in tact and in good condition no smoke damage. VIN:[xxx] Lexus ES 2002 information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Altadena, CA, USA

Not what you are looking for?