2000 Lexus ES300: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 56 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is visibility (19% of complaints); the 1999 and 2001 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
0
recalls
56
owner complaints
1
fire reports
77,000
typical failure mileage, mi
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
No recall campaignsOne of the most complained-about ES300 years (#3 of 12, age-adjusted)1 fire report
Common problems
Computed from 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
Visibility (windshield, wipers, defroster, mirrors)19% · 10 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)13% · 7 complaints
Service Brakes, Hydraulic (brakes)11% · 6 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)9% · 5 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)7% · 4 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)7% · 4 complaints
“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”Owner report · Seat Belts · Aug 2019
“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”Owner report · Structure · May 2018
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2016
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2016
“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.”Owner report · Child Seat · Sep 2015
“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”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2015
“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”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2014
“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”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Aug 2012
“I have a 2000 lexus es300 with about 100,000 miles. Transmission failed suddenly and car stalled in the middle of the road. Just read the edmunds forum and there are 1,384 postings about transmission problems on lexus. This is a serious issue and needs attention. *tr”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 2000 lexus es300. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact noticed smoke underneath the hood. She assumed that the vehicle was overheating and pulled over to allow the vehicle to cool down. A couple of minutes later, the vehicle caught fire and was towed to a body shop. The contact has pictures of the vehicle. The body shop does not know what caused the fire. The insurance company stated that the vehicle was destroyed. The dealer could not assist and stated that there were no recalls for the vehicle. The dealer further stated that this incident was only an "accident". The failure and current mileages were 114,000.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jul 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Check your exact ES300 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Lexus ES300 reliable?
NHTSA has 56 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2000 Lexus ES300. The most complained-about area is visibility (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2000 Lexus ES300 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 77,000 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.