Most common 2002 Lexus IS 300 problems
Share of the 28 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS 300 complaints by model year
Best IS 300 years: 2018, 2004, 2019. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
What 2002 Lexus IS 300 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Accelerator failure in a Lexus is300 about two years my daughter got on a car accident at that time she mentioned that her accelerator got stuck. There has bee a few time that I felt that the accelerator got stuck while driving my car also. I called the dealer and the Lexus company for the last 6 months and all they said IS that my car IS not involve in the recall. That don't mean that my car IS not defective, or there need to be a fatal accident for them to take action.
My 2002, Lexus is300 had a case of sudden unintended acceleration that LED to a crash causing over $10,000 worth of damages to both my car and the other persons car. I have seen other reports of other people wondering if the electronic throttle IS suspect in these cases, however I personally believe that the real problem IS only partly to blame on the electronic throttle. In my opinion, the problem IS the likelihood of the pedal getting stuck under floor mats IS too high, combined with the relatively "light" spring force on the gas pedal because it IS a throttle-by-wire system which leads to the floor mat easily holding the pedal down to full throttle causing an accident. I say that this IS "negligent pedal design on the part of the car manufacturer". …
Transmission & drivetrain
I own a 5-speed manual 2002 Lexus is300. Currently, my car has 40,000 miles. Everything in the vehicle IS stock, no modified parts and accesories. I drive this car normal like any other manual transmission cars. I rev match when I downshift, never ride the clutch etc...I have been driving manual cars for the last 10 years. A few days ago, I noticed that the transmission clutched began to slip as I was accelerating on-ramp onto freeway. The car IS drivable but I have to be careful accelerating and passing or else, the clutch slips and car won't accelerate. Because of this premature clutch failure, I can't drive the car as it was intended to be. I drive it really slow. Painfully slow. I can't believe Lexus (Toyota) won't warranty this item. Most manual transmission cars' clutches have a lifetime of at least 100,000 miles. As an engineer, I see this as a manufacturer defect. …
After getting clutch replaced, I press the clutch pedal down and release the pedal, it takes sometimes up to 30 or 40 seconds before the pedal pops back out.. I have to reach down with my hand and pull the pedal up.
Body & structure
Lexus is300 2002 vehicle rollover on freeway. Defect that caused the car to roll was from the left front wheel/rim broke in half while driving. I was merging and heard something break under the car. My steering wheel turned a hard right forceful and without my control. I tried to straighten the steering wheel out from this involuntary harsh direction of vehicle, it was locked up. I turned completely around facing traffic. All attempts to turn the steering column would not allow me to do so (completely locked position). The vehicle spun and I heard and felt the back end hit something. The car catapulted over a 8 ft. Fence that separates the access road. The car landed on its roof. My airbags never deployed! Impact crushed the roof into the ground I was suspended upside down by my seat belt. The car engine was still running. I attempted to unlatch my seat belt, it took a few attempts. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Lexus IS 300. While driving 30 MPH, a glare appeared on the windshield that affected the contact's visibility. The contact noticed that the dashboard was melting and a sticky residue covered its surface. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 144,500.
2002 Lexus IS 300 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Lexus IS 300 a good car?
Based on 28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 IS 300 rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the IS 300 at the same age. It is one of the IS 300 years we suggest avoiding. 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 2002 Lexus IS 300?
The speed control & acceleration — 6 complaints, 21% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and body & structure (4).
How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus IS 300 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Lexus IS 300. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus IS 300?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2004 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 2002. See the full Lexus IS 300 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Lexus IS 300 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 35,000 miles; 64% 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.