I HAVE OWNED MY 2000 ES 300 LEXUS FOR 10 YEARS NEVER ANY CONCERNS OR PROBLEMS . IT HAD 93,204 WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT NOW HAS 238,452. *TR
2000 Lexus ES300
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all ES300 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
33 reports with mileage · 23 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
56 reportsTAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE I…
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TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE DID SHUT OFF SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL , FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. TRIED START ENGINE AGAIN AND IT SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW OIL LIGHT. INSPECTED ENGINE OIL WITH DIP STICK AND SHOWED GOOD LEVEL. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND BEEN TOLD THE SLUDGE FORMATION CAUSED ENGINE SEIZE . REPLACEMEN…
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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE DID SHUT OFF SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL , FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC. TRIED START ENGINE AGAIN AND IT SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND LOW OIL LIGHT. INSPECTED ENGINE OIL WITH DIP STICK AND SHOWED GOOD LEVEL. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND BEEN TOLD THE SLUDGE FORMATION CAUSED ENGINE SEIZE . REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE IS THE ONLY OPTION. FOUND A TSB ON NHTSA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: 628655 BULLETIN DATE: 20-JAN-2002 ABOUT THE OIL SLUDGE ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING NHTSA TO HELP ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BY MANUFACTURER.
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY ENGINE STOPPED WORKING. TOWED IT TO MECHANIC AND HE SAID ENGINE SEIZED. HE SUGGESTED ME TO REPLACE ENGINE WITH A NEWER ONE QUOTED 7500$ +LABOR. IT HAS ONLY 77000 MILES ON IT.
I JUST PAID $3,600 TO HAVE THE KNOCK SENSORS AND CONNECTING HARNESS REPLACED, AND A TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD, IN THIS CAR BECAUSE THE KNOCK SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP WORKING ("TRAC OFF" LIGHT, NO OVERRIDE) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IT IS ALSO WHAT CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO…
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I JUST PAID $3,600 TO HAVE THE KNOCK SENSORS AND CONNECTING HARNESS REPLACED, AND A TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD, IN THIS CAR BECAUSE THE KNOCK SENSOR PROBLEM CAUSED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM TO AUTOMATICALLY STOP WORKING ("TRAC OFF" LIGHT, NO OVERRIDE) AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON. IT IS ALSO WHAT CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO NEED RE-BUILDING BECAUSE WHEN TRACTION CONTROL IS OFF, THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, AND THIS DESTROYS THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER REPLACING AND REPAIRING THESE, THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN 2 WEEKS. AFTER TO SPEAKING TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE, AND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THE PROBLEM RECURRED, I WAS TOLD, AND YOU CAN FIND ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THAT 1998-2002 LEXUS ES300S AND TOYOTA CAMRYS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE HAVE THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY AND OWNERS ARE PAYING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO SOLVE IT WITH NO LUCK. ONE TOYOTA MECHANIC TOLD ME, OFF THE RECORD OF COURSE, THAT THE SENSORS IN THESE YEARS HAD SENSITIVITY ISSUES THAT WERE CORRECTED STARTING IN 2003. OF COURSE, DEALERSHIPS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, AND WANT TO CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES TO TELL YOU IT WILL COST THOUSANDS TO FIX, AND THEN THE PROBLEM RECURS. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THESE SENSORS WITH A NEW SET THAT NO LONGER HAS THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CAN OCCUR WHETHER THE CAR IS MOVING OR SITTING AT AN IDLE. TO ME, THE FACT THAT THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM QUITS WORKING IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IN A CAR THAT THE DRIVER IS USED TO DRIVING WITH THAT FEATURE. SEARCH "ES300 KNOCK SENSORS" ON THE WEB AND YOU WILL SEE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS BY FRUSTRATED OWNERS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BABY TREND HYBRID 3-IN-1 BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: FB48079. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 29, 2015 AND BEING UTILIZED IN A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRAP THE CHILD INTO THE SAFETY SEAT, THE HARNESS BUCKLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SEAT. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BABY TREND HYBRID 3-IN-1 BOOSTER SEAT, MODEL NUMBER: FB48079. THE SEAT WAS MANUFACTURED ON JANUARY 29, 2015 AND BEING UTILIZED IN A 2000 LEXUS ES300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STRAP THE CHILD INTO THE SAFETY SEAT, THE HARNESS BUCKLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO UTILIZE THE SAFETY SEAT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CHILD WAS IN THE SAFETY SEAT AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL AND THEN JOLT INCREASING AND DECREASING IN ACCELERATION BY ITSELF I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND REBUILT A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND NOW IT SEEMS TO BE DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
MY FATHER WAS DISORIENTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE JUST KEPT DRIVING, HOPING TO FIGURE IT OUT. HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A VERY DEEP RAVINE. THE CAR SUSTAINED OVER $17000 IN DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. HE HAS 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 6 DAYS NOW. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. S…
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MY FATHER WAS DISORIENTED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHERE HE WAS. HE JUST KEPT DRIVING, HOPING TO FIGURE IT OUT. HIS CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD DOWN INTO A VERY DEEP RAVINE. THE CAR SUSTAINED OVER $17000 IN DAMAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. HE HAS 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND HAS BEEN IN THE ICU FOR 6 DAYS NOW. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE. HE BOUGHT THE CAR AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP, PERFORMANCE LEXUS OF LINCOLN. THEY WORKED ON HIS CAR IN MAY...TOTAL WAS OVER $2000.00. *TR
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATED I FELT FRICTION/VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT HAS …
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WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATED I FELT FRICTION/VIBRATION IN THE GAS PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THE NOISE COULD BE HEARD EACH TIME I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION. AFTER THAT INCIDENT, IT HAS NOT OCCURRED IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, AND MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 RPM WENT DOWN TO 0 AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR PILEUP WITH INJURIES. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIIC CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER, GETTING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE IDLE A…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD, AND MY 2000 LEXUS ES300 RPM WENT DOWN TO 0 AND SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY TRAFFIC. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR PILEUP WITH INJURIES. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF TRAFFIIC CAR WOULDN'T START. AFTER, GETTING THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC THEY DETERMINED THAT IT WAS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, IT IS COSTLY TO REPLACE AND A PROBLEM WITH THAT MAKE AND MODEL 2000 LEXUS ES300. THIS IS A SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND I FOUND OUT A FAULTY IAC VALVE CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO STALL ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME. I AM THANKFUL NO ONE, AS WELL AS MYSELF WAS INJURED, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT PERSON THIS MAY HAPPEN TO. THE PART COST ABOUT 200 DOLLARS AND THE LABOR IS APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS. THIS HAPPENED ON WED. 08/10/2011 AND THE PART HAS TO BE ORDERED DUE TO COST. AS A RESULT, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE BECAUSE OF EXPENSE. THERE SHOULD REALLY BE A RECALL AND THIS A SAFETY HAZARD; ESPECIALLY IF THE DRIVER{S) BEHIND ME HAD BEEN SPEEDING OR NOT PAYING ATTENTION. *KB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.
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