11 of the
91 complaints about the 1998 Lexus GS300 are about the
suspension — 12% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
135,000 miles.
C
11
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Front
545.5%
Lower Ball Joint
327.3%
Suspension
218.2%
Stabilizer BAR
19.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 135,000 milesSAN Diego, CA
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10413829 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 193,000 milesEL Segundo, CACrash
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, HIT A POT HOLE, CAR DROPPED APPARENTLY THE BALL JOINT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THIS HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE A FEW MONTHS AGO IN DECEMBER. THAT TIME I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE I SAW THAT PREVIOUS MODELS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 1998. AFTER THE INCIDENT IN DECEMBER AND THE DAMAGE WAS CORRECTED, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'M AFRAID SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED, LUCKILY I DIDN'T, ESPECIALLY THE SECOND TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT A LEXUS WAS A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10323263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chico, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
98 LEXUS GS300LOWER BALL JOINT DISLOCATED ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS. LUCKILY IT WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. CALLED A TOWING COMPANY, AND THEY REFUSED TO TOW THE LEXUS GS300 SINCE IT COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. DURING THE WHOLE ORDEAL, THE LOWER BALL JOINT PUNCTURE THE ORIGINAL LEXUS 16INCH WHEEL. A HOLE IS VISIBLE AND THE DISLOCATED BALL JOINT SITS ON THE WHEEL CLOSE THE EDGE.
NHTSA complaint #10262402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chico, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT
98 LEXUS GS300LOWER BALL JOINT DISLOCATED ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS. LUCKILY IT WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. CALLED A TOWING COMPANY, AND THEY REFUSED TO TOW THE LEXUS GS300 SINCE IT COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. DURING THE WHOLE ORDEAL, THE LOWER BALL JOINT PUNCTURE THE ORIGINAL LEXUS 16INCH WHEEL. A HOLE IS VISIBLE AND THE DISLOCATED BALL JOINT SITS ON THE WHEEL CLOSE THE EDGE.
NHTSA complaint #10262402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 170,000 milesChico, CA
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TOW COMPANY WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TOWING IN FEAR THAT THEY WOULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE AND PUNCTURED THE RIM. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10262443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100,000 milesSanta Cruiz, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED TO A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE FENDER, TIRE, AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V125000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) FOR THE 1995-1997 LEXUS GS300. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 02/14/08.
NHTSA complaint #10215649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesTopeka, KS
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WE OWN A 1998 LEXUS, MODEL GS 300. THIS SATURDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE LEXUS AND THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE VEHICLE DUE THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. IN REVIEWING RECALL INFORMATION FOR LEXUS\TOYOTA, IT IS VERY APPARENT THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE OF QUALITY CONTROL RELATED TO THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS. FOR OUR SPECIFIC MODEL, THERE WAS A RECALL IN 93, 94, 95, 96 AND 97 SPECIFIC TO THIS PART. GIVEN WE HAVE A 98 AND A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED (YET), THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY ACCOMMODATION TOWARDS FIXING THE FAILED PART, OR THE RESULTING BODY DAMAGE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD ON ONLY THREE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. BUT MOREOVER, REGARDLESS OF OUR FINANCIAL LOSS, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10184339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE (98V-080) YAW SENSOR PRIOR TO RECALL REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENTS, AFTER RECALL REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE YAW SENSOR. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #558135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Preston, CT
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE DEALER STATES THE TIRES ARE CAUSING THE NOISE AND REPLACED TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.
NHTSA complaint #871821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, FL
SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF60- 65MPH THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. CONTACTED DEALER. AND HE REPLACED TIRES, AND DID AN ALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, ENGINE WILL SURGE AND HESITATE AT TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #850341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pembroke Pines, FL
SUSPENSION:FRONT
AT 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT CONTROL, HAVE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN IGNITION OFF. FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVERS CONTROL. FRONT END SHAKES AT 45 MPH AND ABOVE, HAS CRUISE CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #701285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.