2003 Lexus ES300 vs 2003 Toyota Camry
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2003 Lexus ES300 | 2003 Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 116 | 780 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 77 | 157 |
| Investigations | 4 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 43 | 228 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 21–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 51,545 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Lexus ES300 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 48 | 259 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 112 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 91 |
| Air Bags | 13 | 72 |
| Power Train | 27 | 40 |
| Engine | 5 | 52 |
| Steering | 2 | 53 |
| Structure | 3 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 36 | 72 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 0 |
| Stalling | 0 | 29 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 26 |
| Overheating | 0 | 25 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 18 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 18 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 17 |
2003 Lexus ES300
2003 Toyota Camry
Compare all Lexus ES300 vs Toyota Camry years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.