Lexus · IS · 2003
1
Recall
33
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Lexus IS has 1 recall and 33 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: structure (7 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2003 Lexus IS page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is structure with 7 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Remedy Status
SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
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 ATTENT...
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VEHICLE WAS CAUGHT ON A FLASH FLOOD JULY 2015. WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF SAN DIEGO IN SEPT ON CLAIM AS FRONT RIGHT SIDE SQUEALING/SQUEAKING WHILE DRIVING OR TURNING RIGHT. LEXUS OF SAN DIEGO KEPT VEHICLE FOR 30DAYS WITH NO OUTCOME INSPECTION WRITE TO INSURANCE COMPANY. BRUSHED OFF ...
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THE BRAKES FAILED AT 143,840 MILES. THE BRAKES FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A BUSY CITY STREET. AFTER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE AUTO CARE..IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NOTICEABLE INTERNAL LEAK WAS COMING FROM POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT T...
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DASH IS PEELING ALONG WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG IS ALSO START TO DISCOLOR AND PEEL. THE PEELING IS MORE LIKE STARTING TO GUM UP OR BECOME STICKY.
MY CAR HAS 51000 MILES ON IT AND I'M TOLD MY ALTERNATOR SHOULD BE REPLACED. I TOOK MY CAR FOR ONE THINGS AND THE DEALERSHIP FOUND 4 DIFFERENT ISSUES WHICH 2 OF THE ISSUES I AM AWARE OF. GRANT YOU ALL THE PARTS IN MY CAR ARE THE ORIGINAL PARTS. I SERVICE MY CAR ACCORDING TO LEXUS...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DASHBOARD WAS MELTING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
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...
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I SPECIAL ORDERED A 2003 LEXUS IS 300 IN 2002 IN WHICH WAITED 2 MONTHS FOR ITS ARRIVAL. THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS WITH COMPONENTS ON MY CAR BUT LEXUS SELECTED JUST A FEW TO SEND LETTERS TO. INITIALLY, THE DASHBOARD WAS MANUFACTURE WITH DEFECTIVE MATERIAL AND LEXUS CORPORATIO...
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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 REAS...
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS IS 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD AND CENTER CONSOLE WERE MELTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDAT...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 33 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Lexus models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Lexus IS has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 33 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Lexus IS.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Lexus IS.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Lexus IS are structure (7 reports), air bags (6 reports), unknown or other (4 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2003 Lexus IS. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.