Most common 2003 Lexus IS problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus IS complaints by model year
Best IS years: 2014, 2013, 2015. Years to avoid: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2007. Compare all years →
What 2003 Lexus IS owners say
Air bags
Tl* the contact owned a 2003 Lexus IS. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle crash into the contacts vehicle head on and the air bags failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained head, neck and left shoulder injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Vehicle fishtailed at about 40 MPH due to RWD and about an inch or two inches of snow on the ground. Vehicle was uncontrollable and the brake was not applied. Seatbelt was being worn and vehicle slid onto oncoming traffic and hit an early 2000's f250 (I believe) rocker panel. The whole front end IS destroyed and I have pictures. My head hit the windshield and cracked it. I went to the hospital and had a ctscan and was ambulanced to a nearby hospital that had a neuro surgeon and kept overnight. I am now on necessary leave from work and in a great amount of pain due to a hemorrhage in my brain. I believe my medical injuries could have been avoided if the vehicles airbags were deployed.
Body & structure
The dashboard on my Lexus IS 300 IS melting. It IS very sticky and as it heats up a chemical IS released and there IS an odor in the car. I called Lexus and they said that the recall does not effect the year of my vehicle, but it IS very clear that this car has a serious issue. All is300 regardless of year with this issue must be recalled.
The dashboard and center console IS melting, leaving a sticky & shiny surface making it hazardous to drive the vehicle. A warranty campaign was issued for several other Lexus models to address this very issue, however, the 2003 is300 was excluded. Lexus could not provide a reason as to why this exact defect was not addressed for the 2003 is300 model, since they addressed the very same issue with an older 2003 gx470 model. My vehicle has been garage kept and extremely well maintained, so sun exposure was minimal and still experiencing the same issue as thousands of others that have complained. This hazardous defect has hindered me from driving my vehicle in fear of leaving it in the sun to further deteriorate causing more damage and rendering the vehicle undrivable.
Engine & cooling
Brand new owner - first owner at time of lease/finance terms and conditions. Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life, placed us in harms way and accident occurred in California due to faulty emissions, acceleration out of control, and braking problems. This Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issue coupled with anxiety. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns reported to dealership and has done nothing to compensate me for their multibillion dollar settlement to date. I need compensation of torment, poor performance, lemon laws associated and punitive damages, hereto. What are next steps? Sincerely, [redacted]
Brand new owner - first owner; Car accelerated numerous times during ownership that caused harm to both my young son and I life. This IS250 Lexus was dangerous, unreliable, caused mental and emotional issues. Lexus was negligent in handling numerous issues and concerns related and has done nothing to compensate me for to date relating to multi-billion dollar law suits.
2003 Lexus IS engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Lexus IS a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 IS rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the IS 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 IS?
The air bags — 4 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (4) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus IS have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Lexus IS. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus IS?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2007. See the full Lexus IS years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Lexus IS problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 48,000 miles; 71% 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.