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FaultScore report

1991 Lexus ES250 problems

Owners have filed 19 complaints about the 1991 Lexus ES250 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2004. The largest single group is the engine & cooling.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Lexus ES250
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Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

19

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1991 compares with every other Lexus ES250

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1991 Lexus ES250

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Doors, Latches & Locks 3 15.8%

Median failure at 40 miles

Body & Structure 3 15.8%
Transmission & Drivetrain 3 15.8%
Engine & Cooling 3 15.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 10.5%

Median failure at 40 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 10.5%
Suspension 2 10.5%
Brakes 1 5.3%

0 crashes, 1 fires

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Jun 1995 peak 4 Sep 2004

NHTSA investigations into the 1991 Lexus ES250

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA97008 Opened 23 Apr 1997 Closed 22 Apr 1998 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

LEAKING FUEL TANK

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK

PE97003 Opened 21 Jan 1997 Closed 23 Apr 1997 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

LEAKING FUEL TANK

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Canton, MI Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. THE DEALER HAD RECENTLY DONE WORK ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BURN MARKS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGERS DOOR WHERE THE BRAKES WERE LOCATED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT SEAT THE BRAKES PROPERLY AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10064900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

SAN Francisco, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER PRODUCED THIS PART ANYMORE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10094779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shrewsbury, MA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10078337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Shrewsbury, MA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10078337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, MI Fire

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. THE DEALER HAD RECENTLY DONE WORK ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BURN MARKS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGERS DOOR WHERE THE BRAKES WERE LOCATED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT SEAT THE BRAKES PROPERLY AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10064900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40 miles Norwood, MA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint #10047524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40 miles Norwood, MA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA complaint #10047524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Washington, DC

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

THE KEY DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK DOORS.

NHTSA complaint #784008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glendale, AZ

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED TO RELEASE REAR LEFT SIDE DOOR. WOULD TRY MANUALLY & IT STILL FAILED TO RELEASE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT E ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #860728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albany, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #509990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boston, MA

SUSPENSION:FRONT

VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #800663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boston, MA

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #800663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boston, MA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT

VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #800663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Boston, MA

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.

NHTSA complaint #800663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK IN SPARK PLUG WELLS.

NHTSA complaint #484709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LEAK IN SPARK PLUG WELLS.

NHTSA complaint #484709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manlius, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

SUPPORT RODS OF TRUNK LID FELL DOWN ONTO PASSENGER'S NECK WHEN RETRIEVING GROCERIES.

NHTSA complaint #500807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Manlius, NY

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT

TRUNK GAS CYLINDER BROKE AND FELL ON CUSTOMER HEAD CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. TT

NHTSA complaint #977432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arverne, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN DRIVING CAR ACCELERATES AND CUT OFF . TT

NHTSA complaint #975840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fountain VAL, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHEN AUTO WAS PLACE IN PARKED IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED INTO THE FREEWAY. TT

NHTSA complaint #967962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.