Most common 2003 Lexus ES problems
Share of the 23 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus ES complaints by model year
Best ES years: 2015, 2016, 2018. Years to avoid: 2021, 2019, 2011, 2020, 2010. Compare all years →
What 2003 Lexus ES owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Driving out of my garage usually slowly and when I put my foot on the gas while in reverse to pull out the car just flew out into the street. The immediately tried to brake and couldn't work. When I hit a truck in the street behind me the car finally stopped. I had no control. This never happened before, a first time and a very frightening experience. The car is at the Lexus authorized body shop waiting for the Lexus inspector to go over the car. I would be afraid to drive this car in the future thinking this could happen again anytime. I'm the original owner and felt this is the best car I ever owned until now.
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Lexus ES. While driving at speeds of 45 MPH in the rain, the vehicle abnormally accelerated. The contact was unable to maintain control of the steering wheel and proceeded to crash into the median. The vehicle surged forward and proceeded to crash into the driver's side door of another vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact suffered major injuries as a result of the crash. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
1. The vehicle hesitates with initial acceleration (slow or quick acceleration). 2. The automatic transmission also hesitates. I suspect that ounce the acceleration problem is fixed that the transmission problem would be fixed. 3. I have gone to the Lexus dealer to update the computer with a new chip to help resolve the problems with no success. 4. I have discovered on the internet that hundreds of Lexus owners have the same complaint. In some cases the dealers have the audacity to suggest thats the way the car was designed! Why isn't Lexus listening to all the complaints? Thanks
The car changes gear when braking to a stop or coasting. When I apply the accelerator the car May hesitate and the snap into gear and lunge forward or it May quickly go between two gears until it finally jerks into gear and lunges forward. I took this certified car to the dealer under warranty and they claimed to have updated the computer program but it is exactly the same as before. The car has now started to hesitate while driving on the interstate as if was changing gears but doesn't need too. T he car is under warranty but I am discouraged by my first service experience.
Brakes
Driving out of my garage usually slowly and when I put my foot on the gas while in reverse to pull out the car just flew out into the street. The immediately tried to brake and couldn't work. When I hit a truck in the street behind me the car finally stopped. I had no control. This never happened before, a first time and a very frightening experience. The car is at the Lexus authorized body shop waiting for the Lexus inspector to go over the car. I would be afraid to drive this car in the future thinking this could happen again anytime. I'm the original owner and felt this is the best car I ever owned until now.
I was driving in residential doing speed limit 30. The car started to exhilarate right before my turn on the my street. The brakes wouldn't work because the car just kept going faster the stearing wheel locked up. I couldn't stop and ran start into a tree and spun out, resulting in serious injuries
2003 Lexus ES engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 27 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Lexus ES a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 ES rates average: 22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the ES at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Lexus ES?
The speed control & acceleration — 6 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and brakes (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus ES have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Lexus ES. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus ES?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2016 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2019, 2011, 2020 and 2010. See the full Lexus ES years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Lexus ES problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 29% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.