2002 Lexus ES: problems, recalls and reliability

“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!!”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2020

“In a commercial parking lot, I shifted from r to d to exit a parking space and, with my foot on the brake pedal, my lexus suddenly sped forward and rammed a parked car, driving it into a 3rd car.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · May 2017

“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.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Mar 2017

“Takata recall, my wife was involved in a frontal collision at @35mph in which her airbags did not deploy. I am concerned that since the sensors were knocked off during the impact, what could have happened to prevent the airboys from deploying? She was traveling at 35 mph into an intersection when she ran a red light and t-boned another vehicle. Fortunately the vehicle she hit was a jeep wrangler with a steel side bumper on all sides. So there way minimal damage to the jeep.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015

“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 lexus es 300. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, another vehicle crashed head on into the contact's vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. The contact sustained back, neck, face, and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2014

“Had to replace stater,brakes would start and engine would stop.had to have brakes replaced,lighting inside would sometimes come on other times no lighting inside.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2013

“Transmission shifts roughly and sometimes abruptly in the lower gears. The downshift at times is very hard. The vehicle will also surge forward at times or will not accelerate for several seconds after the accelerator is depressed. *nm”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2006