FaultScore report
Owners have filed 50 complaints about the 1994 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA between 1995 and 2010. The largest single group is the seat belts. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 11 worst.
FaultScore 47/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lexus ES300.
How this is worked out50
Complaints
9
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
110,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 166,027 miles
Median failure at 64,000 miles
2 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
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.
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH, ENGINE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY CATEGORIZED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #899627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH, ENGINE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY CATEGORIZED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #899627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #829145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT THE BRAKES SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #829143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT BUT RELEASED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #829146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT BUT RELEASED UPON IMPACT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #829146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 LEXUS ES330-CAR HESITATES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. VERY UNSAFE WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. ALMOST HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. COMPUTER CHIP FOR TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX PROBLEM. USED PREMIUM GAS AS SUGGESTED BY MECHANIC- NOTHING HELPED.
NHTSA complaint #10339990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1994 LEXUS ES300 INSTRUMENT PANEL (SPEEDOMETER,TACHOMETER,FUEL,AND TEMP),NEEDLES HAVE GONE OUT AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ GAUGES AT NIGHT OR IN LOW LIGHT CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10324629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT LEXUS ES300 IN 1994. KEPT FOR CAR FOR 5 YEARS. EVEN BRAND NEW IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY LUNGE FORWARD WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO DEALERSHIP OVER AND OVER; WROTE LETTERS; KEPT COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS SPORADIC LUNGING FORWARD OF THE CAR BUT I WAS NOT EVEN TAKEN SERIOUSLY. AT A STOP LIGHT I WOULD HAVE TO STAY 10+ FEET BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT JUST IN CASE MY LEXUS LUNGED FORWARD EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I FINALLY GOT RID OF THIS CAR SINCE I FELT IT WAS A NOT SAFE AND THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE COMPANY TOOK ME SERIOUS ABOUT THIS RACING OF THE ENGINE AND THE LUNGING FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10304767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1994 LEXUS ES300. ELECTROLUMINESCENT GAUGES FOR SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER FAIL TO ILLUMINATE. THIS MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE (ESPECIALLY WITH GLARE OR AT NIGHT) TO DETERMINE RPM'S OR SPEED. A SEARCH ON THE WEB WILL SHOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG 1992 - 1996 ES300'S. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
NHTSA complaint #10280573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SEATBELT ASSEMBLY REPEATEDLY UNLATCHES ARBITRARILY POSING SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. HAS OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. FLOW LEXUS OF KERNERSVILLE, NC, REFUSES TO MAKE COMPLIMENTARY REPAIR.
NHTSA complaint #10104842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
FRONT SEAT BELT MAY NOT LATCH PROPERLY AND CAN UN-LATCH ITSELF. HAS OCCURRED OCCASIONALLY WITHOUT WARNING SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10056255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL EXTEND OUTWARD, BUT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK IN PLACE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM.
NHTSA complaint #10051801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BATTERY IS LEAKING ACID THROUGH POSITIVE POST. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10026170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING UP THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A CHAIN FENCE THEN THE GEAR CHANGED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD INTO A WALL. *NLM *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10016086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING BATTERY EXPLODED.*AK CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AND PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. CONSUMER INSERTED THE KEY AND HWEN TURNING THE IGNITION THE BATTERY EXPLODED CREATING FUMES AND SMOKE. ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER WAS GONE. THE DEALER MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS. A FEW DAYS LATER THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.
NHTSA complaint #8017043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT, CAUSING IT TO FAIL IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #8014154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE 4 INCH PIECE THAT CONNECTS THE RR ARM ASSEMBLY STRIPPED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO BUCKLE INWARD - THE PIECE HAD TO BE WELDED TOGETHER JUST TO PULL TO CAR INTO THE GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #756750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH, ENGINE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY CATEGORIZED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #899627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH, ENGINE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY, AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED NO INJURIES. INSURANCE COMPANY CATEGORIZED VEHICLE AS A TOTAL LOSS, AND NO DETERMINATION HAS BEEN MADE AS TO CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.
NHTSA complaint #899627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
HAD A SIDE BLOWOUT ( RIPPED 180 DEGREES ON THE SIDE WHERE THE SIDEWALL IS), OR THE WHEEL AXLE HAD COLLAPSED. ALSO THE NUT TO STEERING WHEEL (DUE TO RECALL) LOCKED TIGHTER AT ABOUT 1000 PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #9000987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
HAD A SIDE BLOWOUT ( RIPPED 180 DEGREES ON THE SIDE WHERE THE SIDEWALL IS), OR THE WHEEL AXLE HAD COLLAPSED. ALSO THE NUT TO STEERING WHEEL (DUE TO RECALL) LOCKED TIGHTER AT ABOUT 1000 PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #9000987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
HAD A SIDE BLOWOUT ( RIPPED 180 DEGREES ON THE SIDE WHERE THE SIDEWALL IS), OR THE WHEEL AXLE HAD COLLAPSED. ALSO THE NUT TO STEERING WHEEL (DUE TO RECALL) LOCKED TIGHTER AT ABOUT 1000 PRIOR TO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #9000987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
DEALERSHIP SENT CONSUMER RECALL 99V307000 NOTICE. VIBRATION WAS FELT INSIDE OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #895609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXCESSIVE SMOKING AND ENGINE RUNNIG ROUGHLY.
NHTSA complaint #748411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 25-30 MPH LEFT REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 25-30 MPH LEFT REAR WINDOW SHATTERED FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #892778 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE PLASTIC LENS COVERS ARE SO OPAGUE AS TO MAKE SEEING AT NIGHT DIFFICULT AND NO OTHER JAPANESES CAR HAS THAT PROBLEM, AT LEAT THE HONDA. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND NOW IT IS BARELY ABLE TO RELFECT LIGHT, DEALER WANTS $1000 PLLUS LABOR TO RREPLACE WHLE UNITS!!
NHTSA complaint #746370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAR FLIPPED OVER
NHTSA complaint #730252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAR FLIPPED OVER
NHTSA complaint #730252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WOULD ARBITRARILY UNBUCKLE. IT WOULD HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR WAS STATIONERY OR MOVING. IT DID NOT SEEM TO BE PROMPTED BY A SUDDEN STOP OR A BUMP. AFTER IT WOULD UNSNAP, I WOULD REBUCKLE AND TRY TO PULL THE BUCKLE UNDONE, BUT I COULD NOT PULL IT OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #726096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.