AI Damage2003 Lexus GS: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Lexus GS filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 25% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
- 6 Wheels 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 4.3 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
car stalls when trying to accelerate like its going to turn off...The Wheel alighnment is not correct.Doors will not lock Bad lighting i cant see because front lights are doll
Acceleration pedal problem. Car fails to respond to acceleration pedal sometimes while in motion. Car can stop moving in traffic or during turns (especially left turns). This is very dangerous and life threatening. Although pedal sensor was changed given the error code, the car still show the same issue.
When backing into a parking space with my foot on the brake, the rpms surged causing speed to increase suddenly. I place the car in neutral and the rpms continued to surge for about three seconds and then returned to normal.
I have never experience rims chrome plate pealing causing newer tires to lose air before. I was interested to find out if any other owners have or are experiencing the same problem with this models rims. Thanks
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the GS has 7 complaints (24 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Lexus GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, steering. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: door locks, latches, handles (25%), stalls while driving (25%), unintended acceleration (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Lexus GS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 Lexus GS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.