Car surges during acceleration. Stall out and idle extremely high while driving under 60 mph
Vehicle safety record
2000 Lexus ES300 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 63 complaints about the 2000 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (11) and the visibility & wipers (10). Those complaints describe 17 crashes, 4 fires and 8 injuries. There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 1999 has 37 and the 2001 has 38.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical ES300 year, for its age
#112 most complained-about 2000 vehicle
- Complaints
- 63
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 17
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 8
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2000 Lexus ES300 problems
Share of all 63 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 2000 Lexus ES300
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 Lexus ES300. Recalls can be announced at any time - this page updates daily.
What owners say
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63 complaints about the 2000 Lexus ES300
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 3.
Electrical systems is fried, draining every battery I buy ( about a total of 15 or more bought) I've changed the starter and alternator multiple times as well. If I turn the a/c on the lights dim and the car slows down dangerously before completely shutting down! My car is a risk on the road so I haven't been able to drive it since finding out, yet, I still have to pay insurance every month on it.
On september 15, 2018, at around 1:05 p.M I was driving my lexus es 300 down route 88 pennsylvania approximately 5 mins from my residence. When suddenly smoke began to fill the cabin of the vehicle. I began to panic and pulled vehicle over and stopped turning ignition off and immediately fled the vehicle. Heavy smoke was pouring out of the interior of the vehicle. I ran to the closest residence and pounded on the door to get help and to warn the occupants of the possible fire. As I was parked at the edge of their...
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driveway. There was no answer, at the same time a passerby notified me that I had fire underneath my vehicle, he immediately called 911. Police responded in one minute. Fire department responded within five minutes, by this time vehicle was fully engulfed. Vehicle was a total loss. Vehicle had just st under 150,000 miles at time of incedent.. Contacted toyota who then hired an independent fire investigator, who stated that the electrical system was damaged at the sunroof, so interior fuse panel and center console.
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
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 . 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 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...
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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. 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. 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
I put my key in the ignition, the car started by itself sounded bad, I had not turned key. Removed key and car kept running. We had it parked in garage. Could not get car to turn off, heard something explode under hood, smoke started pouring out from under hood. Called fire department. Firemen opened hood, starter had caught fire and possibly solenoid. New battery bought 1/4/2014 was damaged and dead. Lexus mechanic told me he saw this on other models but not our model. Estimated repair cost 820.00. *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 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 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...
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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
My 2000 lexus es300 was having issues with the rpm ramping up high when the engine is warm up especially when I accelerate at a dead stop. As of today the accelerator stick when I was cruising 55 on the highway and had a hard time stopping my car. I had to pull over into a gravel road with my foot on the brake hard and putting it on park. Finally my car skidded and stop. I'm afraid it might happen again and next time I won't be so fortunate to stop my vehicle like I did today. I just need to know what I can do as...
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for my vehicle goes. Is there a recall on the model of my car or any lexus or toyotas with the same issue? If there is what is your suggestion I should do to get my vehicle fix. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 lexus es. The contact stated that all of the instrument panel lights illuminated, fumes were coming in through the vents, and fuel was leaking out of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who had not performed a diagnostic test when the complaint was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle identification number was not available. The vehicle failure and current mileage was 140,000.
Trac off and ck engine lights illuminate during driving. Vehicle will then operate in a rough manner and will not steadily idle, rpm's drastically drop and vehicle feels like it wants to stall out on the road during operation. On each of the following occasions the vehicle was serviced at lexus of wilmington in the state of delaware for this same issue: 8/25/04 - code 440 po and reset lights (warranty) no repairs; 11/03/2005 - codes p0046, p0441 & p0440 claimed loose gas cap & didn't make any repairs; 11/16/05 -...
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canister switching valve shorted out, replaced & cleared lights, charge 45.00 For valve; 02/16/2006 now out of warranty; again the charcoal canister shorted out and was replaced $362.52; 08/30/2006 Bank 1 sensor 1 oxygen sensor shorted out, replaced sensor $280.56; 10/29/09 Diagnostics showed code p0420 catalyst system below threshold on bank 1, need to replace..$124.95 For diagnostics check; replace catalytic converter 1,831.19; 05/13/10 Catalytic converter malfunction $434.25. Malfunction first occurred during the warranty period and dealer did not suggest replacement part during that time. Not until after warranty expired, did lexus express concern for replace of parts. Now the issue has arose again and I don't fell I should have to pay the dealer for any additional issues arising from the same malfunction. I have all service reports from the dealer to document all of these occasions and my service history from date of purchase. All of these issues are related to the trac off & ck engine lights illuminating. I purchased this vehicle brand new from lexus of wilmington and feel they should now take responsibility for the repairs that, most likely, should have commenced during the warranty period.
Have a 2000 es300. Recently, the check engine/trac light illuminated and after a quick scan code po446 was discovered. I started by tightening the gas cap and disconnecting the battery; the engine light came back on after a week. I have taken a look at the vacuum lines at the charcoal canister and up underneath the engine cover. Everything looks ok. I do all my own work, and I hate being a 'parts replacer'. I'd rather source the exact problem and fix just that particular part. Having said this, my research on...
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this site has indicated that the po446 code could be one of many things, including the charcoal canister itself, the vsv attached to the canister, or the vacuum valve up underneath the engine cover. First question: I was going to replace the charcoal canister at expensive way? Does anyone here know if the issue being recall and they can replace new oem charcoal canister includes the vsv valve? If it does, how can I get this done. Second question: do you think I am way off base with my intention to replace the charcoal canister next? If so, what would you do? Obviously, I am trying to avoid my dealer at all costs. Perhaps someone here could help in my quest to repair this problem. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 lexus es300. The contact was driving approximately 35 mph; proceeding to a stop sign. While depressing the brake pedal there was an increased acceleration. The vehicle failed to slow down and rear ended a vehicle. The passenger in the front seat and the driver of the other vehicle sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The failure mileage was 88,000.
Car surged out of control-stopped by a fire hydrant and lawn bushes =car was totaled- bags did not open-problem with sensors replaced 2 and the\immediately before crash- run away check engine light plus another light came on. *Tr
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
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 lexus es300. While the contact was pulling out of a parking spot the contact noticed that the brakes suddenly stopped functioning causing the vehicle to crash into a wall. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealership and there were no prior warnings. The contact sufferd minor injuries to the chest and a police report was not filed for the crash. The current and failure mileages were 40000. Updated 3/16/10 *cn updated 09/30/10
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.
Tl*the contact owns a 2000 lexus es300. While driving 40 mph and approaching a stop, the contact heard a loud grinding noise coming from the engine. She attempted to accelerate, but the vehicle completely failed and was unable to be restarted. There were no failures prior to the transmission stalling. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the transmission failed. The repair would cost $3,700. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 130,000. Updated 1/6/09 *cn updated 01/14/09. *Jb
2000 Lexus es300 transmission failure 80,000 miles, no warning, driving car and suddenly car would not move forward when accelerating. Very scary experience. Could have caused an accident. *Tr
Lexus ES300: every year compared
All ES300 years2000 Lexus ES300 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Lexus ES300 | 63 | 0 | D | |
| 2000 Lexus RX300 | 216 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus GS300 | 35 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus RX | 29 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus LX470 | 17 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus LS400 | 12 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus GS400 | 8 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus LX | 6 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2000 Lexus LX450 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2000 Lexus ES300
Does the 2000 Lexus ES300 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 Lexus ES300 right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2000 Lexus ES300?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (11), visibility & wipers (10), electrical system (10).
How many complaints has the 2000 Lexus ES300 had?
63 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 19, 1999 and the latest on December 7, 2021. Of these, 17 describe a crash and 4 a fire, and together they report 8 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2000 Lexus ES300 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 35 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Lexus ES300 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Lexus ES300 years have the most complaints?
2002 (185), 2003 (140), 2000 (63). See every Lexus ES300 year compared.
What should I do if my 2000 Lexus ES300 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data