FaultScore

Lexus ES300 steering problems

25 of the 862 complaints filed about the Lexus ES300 are about the steering — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.

25

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

2

Fires

Steering complaints by model year

1992 ES300 1 4.0%
1993 ES300 1 4.0%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

1994 ES300 3 12.0%
1995 ES300 3 12.0%

Median failure at 111,000 miles

1996 ES300 7 28.0%

Median failure at 85,779 miles

1997 ES300 2 8.0%

Median failure at 180,000 miles

1998 ES300 1 4.0%
1999 ES300 1 4.0%

Median failure at 85,135 miles

2000 ES300 1 4.0%

Median failure at 175,000 miles

2002 ES300 3 12.0%

Median failure at 19,006 miles

2003 ES300 2 8.0%

Median failure at 2,449 miles

What owners said

2000 Lexus ES300 at 175,000 miles Waterloo, IA

STEERING

TAKATA RECALL THE BACK SUSPENSION ON THE CAR FEELS LIKE IS YOU HAVE NO CONTROL SHE YOU HIT A BUMP OR NEED TO MANEUVER THERE'S SO MUCH BODY ROLL THAT IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND I THINK IT'S ALSO DAMAGING THE BREAKS BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT FAST AND NOT AT THE SAME RATE. THERE IS ALSO IS RUST AROUND THE WHEEL WELL AND EVEN A WHOLE IN THE TRUNK YOU CAN SEE THROUGH TO THE GROUND. THE BRAKES AND REAR SUSPENSION DEFINITELY IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS JUST DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE AND IT'S JUST BEEN GETTING WORSE. I HAUL KIDS IN THERE AND IF I COULD AFFORD I'D JUST DO I JUST ABSOLUTELY CAN'T. THANKS, MARK

NHTSA complaint #11102935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lexus ES300 at 180,000 miles Phoenix, AZ

STEERING

THE STEERING WHEEL COMES COMPLETELY OFF THE COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THEN AGAIN WHEN TURNING. THE CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. THE HORN AND POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10983192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Lexus ES300 at 85,135 miles DIX Hills, NY

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,135.

NHTSA complaint #10627463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lexus ES300 at 126,558 miles Phoenix, AZ

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.

1993 Lexus ES300 at 87,000 miles Artesia, CA Fire

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT 1993 ES300 LEXUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45MPH AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SMOKE. UPON PULLING OVER THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HE STATED THAT THE STEERING FLUID CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED OVER TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STILL HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER AS OF THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT . THE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WERE IN SHOCK BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10317667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Lexus ES300 at 38,000 miles Whittier, CA Crash

STEERING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 5 MPH AND EXITING ONTO A RAMP IN LIGHT RAIN, THE CONTACT LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE LEFT RAILING. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SERVICE SHOP. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 38,500. UPDATED 03/04/10.

NHTSA complaint #10301882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Lexus ES300 at 111,000 miles Bethesda, MD

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SURGING WHEN DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. *AK THERE WAS CARBON BUILD UP AROUND THE THROTTLE, THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS WORN OUT, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN, THE STEERING HOSE WAS CRACKED, THE TEMPERATURE WOULD STAY THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE SETTING, AND THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY OIL PUMP DID NOT SHOW THE PRESSURE. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10083638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Lexus ES300 Wrentham, MA

STEERING

CAR PULLS VERY HARD TO LEFT ON HIGHWAY. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT THIS BY ALIGNMENTS, NEW TIRES AND SWITCHING TIRES. IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE LEFT LANE, I WILL NEVER HAVE TO TURN LEFT! EVEN ON A LEFT HAND CURVE, I HAVE TO TURN RIGHT TO KEEP FROM GOING OFF OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. ***NOTE THE 3 LOANER ES300'S DID THE SAME THING. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY THE CAR IS DESIGNED! I HAVE GOTTEN THE CAR TO TRACK SOMEWHAT BETTER BY SWITCHING MY TIRES, BUT NOW I CAN'T ROTATE THE TIRES! FRUSTRATED!

NHTSA complaint #10062003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lexus ES300 Oakland, CA Crash

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH DRIVER WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10053498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Lexus ES300 at 12 miles Rockville, MD Crash

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

1. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, AT 2-4 MPH, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED, JUMPING THE CURB AND HITTING A TREE WITH FULL FORCE. BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS CONCERNS WITH THROTTLE PROBLEMS NOTED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AT 1000 AND 5000 MILE CHECK, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. AFTER A CONFERENCE CALL WITH LEXUS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE DEALERSHIP, MY CAR WAS FLAT BEDDED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FRONTAL CRASH RENDERED THE VEHICLE UN-DRIVABLE. RADIATOR DAMAGE WITH LEAKAGE OF FLUID COVERED A PORTION OF THE PARKING LOT. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR SOMEBODY ELSE LIVE COULD HAVE BEEN IN DANGER. 2. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. 3. THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD TO BE CORRECTED AT 1500 MILES AND A "PART" WAS ORDERED AND PUT ON THE CARE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. 4. THE CAR WHEN DRIVING AT ABOVE 50 PULLS TO THE LEFT AND FROM THE BEGINNING IT FELT AS THOUGH THE CAR WAS UNEVEN EVEN WHEN NOT MOVING. AT THAT TIME I REQUESTED A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOLD MY RECORD AT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD SUBSTANTIATE THIS. ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT I LEARNED BY REVIEWING COMPLAINTS FROM THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE THAT THE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN KNOWN BY THE CORPORATE OFFICE OF LEXUS FROM AS EARLY AS JANUARY, 2002 IN REGARDS TO ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. I ALSO FOUND OUT THERE HAVE BEEN TWO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT. I WILL BE REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION WITH THE LEXUS EAST REGIONAL OFFICE AND DISCUSSING THIS WITH THE ROCKVILLE LEXUS OFFICE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I BROUGHT THE LEXUS VEHICLE EVEN WITH IT'S PRICE TAG BECAUSE OF ITS REPUTATION AND TO DRIVE MY 3 YEAR OLD GRANDSON AND 1 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE SAFEST MANNER I COULD FACILITATE. I AM SURE THAT MY SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW WILL NOT ALLOW THIS AFTER THIS CRASH!!!!*AK UPDATED 7/3/12

NHTSA complaint #10045944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Lexus ES300 at 2,449 miles Carson, CA

STEERING

HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. I NOTICE THE VEHICLE LACKS THE ABILITY TO PICK UP SPEED FROM A SLOW DOWN OR DEAD STOP. I FEEL THIS IN 1ST-3RD GEARS WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A DECELERATION SPEED OR STOP. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND IS CAUSE FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH A CLICKING, WHINING NOISE WHEN TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR MAKING SLOW TURNS.

NHTSA complaint #10020695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lexus ES300 at 45,000 miles Sausalito, CA Crash Fire

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.

1994 Lexus ES300 SAN Jose, CA

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.

1994 Lexus ES300 Riverton, WY

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.

1996 Lexus ES300 Bellevue, WA

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. HEARD NOISES COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #884381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lexus ES300 Bellevue, WA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

STEERING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE. HEARD NOISES COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK POWER STEERING PUMP ALSO NEEDED REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #884381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lexus ES300 Bellvue, WA

STEERING:RACK AND PINION

STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD MAKE NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS SHOT AND VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED AT COST TO CONSUMER. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #883598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Lexus ES300 Bellvue, WA

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

STEERING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD MAKE NOISES. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT RACK AND PINION STEERING WAS SHOT AND VEHICLE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.*AK POWER STEERING PUMP WAS ALSO REPLACED AT COST TO CONSUMER. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #883598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Lexus ES300 Costa Messa, CA Crash 2 injured

STEERING

VEHICLE STEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN HIT BY AN OBJECT. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE STRAIGHT IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION AND MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #862264 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 Lexus ES300 Shellsburg, IA

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

RECALL # 99V307000 TOYOTA/STEERING WHEEL; WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP BY PHONE, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THEY WERE NOT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICE BY LEXUS DEALERSHIPS ONLY.

NHTSA complaint #857576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Lexus ES300 problems