There are 5 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2001 Lexus ISin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
ENGINE CRANK PULLEY/HARMONIC BALANCER CAME APART WHILE DRIVING.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. WHEN SHE OPENED THE HOOD, SHE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR AND A CRACK AT THE TOP OF THE RADIATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CRACK WAS CONFIRMED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 114,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS IS 300. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AS THE TIMING BELT. THE DEALER DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS OIL BUILD-UP INSIDE THE ENGINE. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. AS OF JUNE 6, 2007, THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT HAS A 2001 LEXUS IS300 THAT WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACTS VEHICLE GOT JAMMED INTO A POLE CAUSING IT TO DAMAGE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED VEHICLE TO MOVE IT OFF OF THE STREET, THE CONTACT NOTICED RED FLUID COMING OUT THE VEHICLE, AS WELL AS, SOMETHING THAT PENETRATED A RADIATOR HOSE. THE HARNESS BALANCE BROKE AND APPARENTLY FLEW INTO THE HOSE. THE TRANSMISSION LINE SNAP AND A PULLEY FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRACKED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 140000. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE POLICE REPORT IF NEEDED.
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE WILL AT TIMES SHUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. NLM
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026