10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,800 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2003 Lexus IS 300:

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

problem #2

Sep 022014

IS 300

  • 49,000 miles
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 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 for a 2003 issue.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #1

Mar 052013

IS 300 6-cyl

  • 48,600 miles
I special ordered a 2003 Lexus Is 300 in 2002 in which waited 2 months for its arrival. There has been several recalls with components on my car but Lexus selected just a few to send letters to. Initially, the dashboard was manufacture with defective material and Lexus corporation refused to take care of it. I am still working on this issue then there is the sensor2 bank1 which my trac off blinking and check engine light stays on. The scary things is with the sensor issue the car will stop running without any warning. Driving on the highway 60 miles per hour my motor stop running which caused another driver to have an accident. The driver tried to avoid hitting me and he totaled his car. Lexus sent out limited recall letters therefore I did not know about the issue and could have cost my or the driver life. Now Lexus will not correct this issue even though I researched and found the recall. I called Lexus and was told there wasn't a need to send me letter because my VIN # wasn't on the list. I asked how could send the letters to a few when most of the Is 300 has the same issue.

- Houston, TX, USA