2002 Lexus Es: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 48 complaints
48
Total Complaints
110,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
15
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

50,000 25th Percentile
110,000 Median Mileage
175,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
STRUCTURE:BODY
5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
5
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
AIR BAGS
3
WHEELS
3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
STEERING
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1

Severity Assessment

15
Crashes
13
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE PLASTIC KEY TO MY 2002 LEXUS ES300 CRACKED DUE TO FAULTY PRODUCT DESIGN AND THE MICROCHIP THAT CONTROLS THE CAR FELL OUT. I DID NOT KNOW THIS HAD HAPPENED AND WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. I WAS STRANDED IN A RAIN STORM AND HAD TO CALL LEXUS FOR HELP. SUBSEQUENTLY I USED AN EMERGENCY KEY WHICH W..."
"THIS VEHICLE HESITATES INTERMITTENTLY IN TRAFFIC AND HAS A DANGEROUS LOSS OF POWER. WHEN I PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC, OR TURN A CORNER, THE VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THEN THE VEHICLE WILL PROCEED. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY BLOW UP AND T..."
"WHEN MY VEHICLE IS IMMEDIATELY PUT IN DRIVE GEAR FROM REVERSE GEAR, FOOT TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE AND TAP THE GAS PEDAL, MY VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD AS IF IT IS IN FULL THROTTLE. AS RESULT, MY VEHICLE JUMPED THE CURB AND IMPACTED A BRICK WALL. I SUFFERED A BLOODY NOSE AND A CUT ON MY HAND. THE VEHICLE SU..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28