ENGINE SEIZURE
FaultScore report
1996 Lexus ES300 problems
Owners have filed 44 complaints about the 1996 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA between 1996 and 2014. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 10 of 11 worst.
FaultScore 45/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lexus ES300.
How this is worked outThe numbers
44
Complaints
10
Crashes reported
4
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
4 complaints report a death.
115,000 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
What kind of bad
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.
- Complaint volume — 30
- Against the median year of the Lexus ES300. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
- Severity — 100
- 56.8% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
- Early failure — 0
- 0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.
How 1996 compares with every other Lexus ES300
Click any bar to open that year's report.
What breaks on a 1996 Lexus ES300
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
2 crashes, 1 fires · median 85,779 mi
5 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 165,000 mi
Median failure at 126,558 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
1 crashes, 0 fires
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
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.
NHTSA investigations into the 1996 Lexus ES300
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.
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10491604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10491604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS ES300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN ACCELERATION ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10320277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG OVER-SENSITIVITY DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TOO SENSITIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL WAS DAMAGED. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN INFANT CAR SEAT , WITH THE CONSUMER CHILD FASTENED INSIDE, WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT FACING REARWARD. THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAG CAUSED FATAL INJURIES TO THE CHILD.
NHTSA complaint #10042056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED . LUCKILY WHILE PARKED. CAR TOWED TO LEXUS OF MARIN. BILL 3000. MILEAGE ON CAR BETWEEN 40-50000
NHTSA complaint #10000002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LEXUS ES300 LEFT ROAD AND FLIPPED ONE TIME. DRIVER'S DOOR CAME OPEN AND BUCKLED SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN CAR. DRIVER'S HEAD ENDED UP UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROOF DOOR JAMMED AND KILLED INSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #763394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,340. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2015
NHTSA complaint #10668699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SHOPPING AND WENT TO TURN LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND SMOOTHLY AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HAD A LOWER CONTROL ARM PUT IN BECAUSE OF A BAD BUSHING BUT WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION IS ALSO BAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10568716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SHOPPING AND WENT TO TURN LEFT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND SMOOTHLY AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HAD A LOWER CONTROL ARM PUT IN BECAUSE OF A BAD BUSHING BUT WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION IS ALSO BAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10568716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10491604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10491604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS ES300. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION UNEXPECTEDLY. THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AND CRASHED INTO THE SIDE OF A BUILDING. THERE WAS NO INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN ACCELERATION ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10320277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PANEL IN THE DASH FAILED AND NOTHING IN THE DASH COULD BE SEEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP WERE A DIAGNOSTICS TEST WAS PERFORMED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 3/9/2006 -
NHTSA complaint #10150421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1996 LEXUS ES300; SLUDGE BUILD-UP; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; WHITE SMOKE ON START-UP; DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $7000. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED FOR 1997 TO 2001 MODELS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE. WHY WON'T THEY HONOR THE REPAIR TO THE ENGINE FOR A 1996 MODEL?
NHTSA complaint #10137705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG OVER-SENSITIVITY DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TOO SENSITIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL WAS DAMAGED. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN INFANT CAR SEAT , WITH THE CONSUMER CHILD FASTENED INSIDE, WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT FACING REARWARD. THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAG CAUSED FATAL INJURIES TO THE CHILD.
NHTSA complaint #10042056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE SEIZED IN DECEMBER 2000. LEXUS SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SUGGESTED I FIND A THIRD PARTY TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR WHICH I DID.
NHTSA complaint #10068987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE OIL SLUDGE WE SPENT A TOTAL OF 2716.00 FOR A USED ENGINE, THE MILEAGE 109,313, I BOUGHT THE ENGINE ON MARCH 10, 2003....AND THE BREAKDOWN OCCURED ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR..
NHTSA complaint #10069567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT BENEATH OIL FILLER CAP ON VALVE COVER AFTER GOING TO LEXUS THE BEST THEY WOULD OFFER WAS TO EAT THE PARTS COST, ABOUT $500 BUT I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A HEAD JOB THAT ANYONE ELSE CHARGES $950 FOR
NHTSA complaint #10069733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER ON 141 IN NORCROSS BECAUSE I KNEW MY 3 YEAR WARRENTY RAN OUT IN MAY. THE LEXUS DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL WAS NOT FLOWING PROPERLY. HE SUGGESTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL AND THE OIL BECAME CAKED TO THE ENGINE. THE OIL WAS THEN BRAKING UP IN PIECES AND CLOGGING THE ENGINE. HE SAID I NEEDED TO GET ANOTHER CAR. I STILL HAD PAYMENTS LEFT (AROUND 6K) AND COULD NOT AFFORD IT. IN OCTOBER, THE ENGINE BROKE. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T TO ANYTHING FOR ME. THEY WANTED 11.5K FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAD TO PAY $5,037.49 FOR A NEW ENGINE TO BARON'S GARAGE. I CHANGED MY OIL RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 3,000 MILES. PLEASE CALL ME AT 678-642-9913, I WANT MY MONEY REFUNDED
NHTSA complaint #10071126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILED (SEIZED UP) DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR'S OIL HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHANGED. IN FACT, THE CAR'S OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3-4,000 MILES, NOT EVERY 5,000 AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. CAR WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SERVICED BY LEXUS AT 70,000 MILES AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ENGINE VERY WELL . . . THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE BY THAT TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10071144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY EXPLODED.
NHTSA complaint #10058210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICING DEALER REPLACED O2 SENSOR - BANK 2, SENSOR 1, PART NUMBER 89465-33080 - DEALER LISTED AS $183.30 FOR THE PART WHILE WARRANTY COMPANY LISTED AS $128.11 FOR THE SAME PART. WHEN CHECKING WARRANTY COVERAGE, WAS TOLD WARRANTY DID NOT EXIST - PAID $1,860.00 TO BREDEMANN LEXUS IN GLENVIEW FOR THE WARRANTY ON 6/14/03.
NHTSA complaint #10058211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON, BLUE EXHAUST IN ENGINE SMOKE, ABNORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT INSIDE VALVE COVER BELOW OIL FILLER CAP. CALLED LEXUS AMERICA, BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER, THEY TELL ME I MUST PAY $2,071.06 FOR REPAIRS AND PRETEND NOT TO KNOW OF THIS COMMON 3.0L V-6 ENGINE PROBLEM THAT IS EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AND THAT LEXUS HAS ALREADY STARTED REIMBURSING CAR OWNERS STARTING WITH 1997 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10029186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON, BLUE EXHAUST IN ENGINE SMOKE, ABNORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT INSIDE VALVE COVER BELOW OIL FILLER CAP. CALLED LEXUS AMERICA, BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER, THEY TELL ME I MUST PAY $2,071.06 FOR REPAIRS AND PRETEND NOT TO KNOW OF THIS COMMON 3.0L V-6 ENGINE PROBLEM THAT IS EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AND THAT LEXUS HAS ALREADY STARTED REIMBURSING CAR OWNERS STARTING WITH 1997 MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10029186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED . LUCKILY WHILE PARKED. CAR TOWED TO LEXUS OF MARIN. BILL 3000. MILEAGE ON CAR BETWEEN 40-50000
NHTSA complaint #10000002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
EXCESSIVE BLUE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION IS VERY HIGH. ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OIL GELLING/SLUDGE.
NHTSA complaint #764396 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TRIED TO VEER SLIGHTLY LEFT. CAR WENT OVER 3 LANES OF EXPRESSWAY.TRIED R THEN L 4 TIMES AND BRAKED, BUT EACH TIME WENT OVER ALL LANES AND IDN'T STOP. WOUND UP 180 DEGREES FACING THE WRONG WAY STALLED. MIRACULOUSLY ALL THE DRIVCERS BEHIND HAD JUST STOPPED. THOUGHT IT WAS MY DRIVING TECHNIQUE. 2 DAYS LATER WHEEL HARD TO TURN. SENT FOR SERVICE AND STEERING PUMP LEAKING, POWER STEERING RACK BROKEN. *AK TRANSMISSISON GASKET FLUID DEFECTIVE,VANE PUMP DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #763561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
LEXUS ES300 LEFT ROAD AND FLIPPED ONE TIME. DRIVER'S DOOR CAME OPEN AND BUCKLED SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN CAR. DRIVER'S HEAD ENDED UP UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROOF DOOR JAMMED AND KILLED INSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #763394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
LEXUS ES300 LEFT ROAD AND FLIPPED ONE TIME. DRIVER'S DOOR CAME OPEN AND BUCKLED SEATBELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER IN CAR. DRIVER'S HEAD ENDED UP UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE ROOF DOOR JAMMED AND KILLED INSTANTLY.
NHTSA complaint #763394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I JUST RECENTLY PURCHARSED THIS CAR AND I AM ALREADY $1000.00 IN THE HOLE AND LOOKING AT $2000 JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT.IT WAS A LEMON FROM THE START AND NOBODY IS WILLING TO COVER ARE ASSIT WITH THE REPAIR JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT LEGAL OPTIONS I HAVE .I HAVE'NT MADE A PAYMENT ON IT YET ,BUT IT'S UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS POINT. NO SAFETYD EFECT LISTED.
NHTSA complaint #759352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. ENGINE BLEW DUE TO SLUDGE(HARD OIL IN ENGINE). VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER. THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN IN DECEMBER. THERE WAS MAIN BEARING DAMAGE, TOO SEVERE TO REPAIR AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. *JG
NHTSA complaint #8004190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.