85 of the
446 complaints filed about the Lexus GS300
are about the throttle and cruise control —
19% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
85
Complaints
19%
Share of all complaints
15
Crashes
1
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
WHILE BRINGING THE CAR TO A STOP, I AM EXPERIENCING A VERY HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST GEAR. THIS HARD DOWNSHIFT IS SO ABRUPT THAT IT FEELS AS IF YOU WERE REAR ENDED. RESEARCH SHOWS THIS BEING AN ELECTRONIC FAILURE IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE BACKED WITH HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT ISSUE TO THIS PARTICULAR YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. IN SEVERAL CASES, MENTIONS OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST TOYOTA/LEXUS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED. IT'S A COSTLY, YET UNNECESSARY REPAIR CAUSED BY A FLAWED DESIGN WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTRY.. CONSIDERING THE REOCCURRENCE OF THIS ISSUE ON A MASS SCALE, IT MAY BE ONE BEST ADDRESSED VIA RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11118525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS GOING TO GO TO WORK, AN WHEN I STARTED TO PUSH ON THE THOTTHLE/ GAS PEDAL . NOTHING ENGAGED AN THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WORKED LIKE IT WAS BACK TO RUNNING NORMAL FOR LIKE 10 SECONDS THEN LOST ALMOST ALL THE POWER AN YOU CAN PUSH THE PADEL TO THE FLOOR ALMOST BEFOR IT WILL EVEN ENGAGE. IT'S MY EVERYDAY DRIVING CAR IT NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVING, WHEN IT'S MALFUNCTIONING IN THE ECU, VSC , CRUISE CONTROL QUIT BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. THERE A RECALL ON THE VSC FOR THE LEXUS GS 300 FOR HAVING MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS. BUT IT ONLY LET'S THE YOU USE ONLY THE LAST 25 PERCENT OF THE GAS PADEL, IT DON'T DO ANYTHING IN TILL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED IN BROOKVILLE PENNSYLVANIA, WHEN I WAS TURING LEFT ON TO ROUTE 36 SOUTH. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY THOTTLE BODY BECAUSE WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED, MY THOTTLE IT WAS STUCK IN WIDE OPEN THOTTLE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS IT COULD HAVE EASILY PUT OTHERS CITIZENS AN MY LIFE IN DANGER, WITCH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES, OR IN A WORSE CASE DEATH. I'M FILLING OUT THIS FOAM IN REGARDS OF A RECALL, TO FIX OR REPLACE THE ECU, VSC , CRUSE CONTROL .
NHTSA complaint #11024942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ISSUE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
NHTSA complaint #10918851 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 40 MPH. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE SPEED EVENTUALLY INCREASED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,497.
NHTSA complaint #10730626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PREPARING TO STOP WHILE ENTERING ACCESS GATE SLOWING TO AROUND 10 - 15 MPH, AFTER APPLYING BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO REAPPLY BRAKE AGAIN AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HIGH LEVEL ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH BEFORE I HAVE NOTICED OCCASIONALLY A LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION WHEN PREPARING TO STOP.
NHTSA complaint #10692948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000.
NHTSA complaint #10658958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,400.
NHTSA complaint #10629152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
REGARDING MY 2000 GS 300 LEXUS. BRAKE, ABS, VSC, VSC OFF LIGHTS ALONG WITH LOUD ALARM DISPLAYED. ALSO HAS HAD AN ANNOYING ON AND OFF CHIRPING NOISE BEFORE THIS ALARM SOUNDED. THE BREAKS APPEAR TO BE WORKING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE CHIRPING NOISE IS HEARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER CAR IS MOVING OR DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IS NOT HEARD AT ALL AND THE CAR DRIVES FINE WITHOUT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A SHRILL ALARM THAT SOUNDED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WENT OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP AND WOULD COST $3700 TO FIX. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES WILL GO OUT AND AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SINCE MY BRAKES MAY SUDDENLY GO OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10556126 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I PRESSED THE BRAKE REAL HARD BUT THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AHEAD. QUICKLY, I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 7500 AND THEN WENT BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE PERSON AT THE INTERSECTION SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HE SWERVED AWAY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. IN MY 45 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SCARIEST FEELING.
NHTSA complaint #10538318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED, CAUSING HIM TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AS A MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #10525475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE RPMS RAPIDLY INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED TO THE SHOULDER TO BE SHUT DOWN THEN RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10491786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BOUGHT A 2000 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN 2005 FROM LEXUS DEALER. IN 2007 ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, A DRIVER WAS DRIVING VERY SLOW AND STARTED TO PULL OVER. I QUICKLY WENT AROUND HER TO PASS, AT ABOUT 35 MPH, BUT AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL, CAR SPED UP INSTEAD. TRIED TO SLOW DOWN WITH THE BRAKES, BUT IT SPED UP MORE. THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND PUT IT ON PARK TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CARS AHEAD. IT STOPPED IN "PARK" BUT WAS STILL REVVING HIGH. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS STILL REVVING OVER 6 RPM! I BENT UNDER THE DASH AND TRIED TO LOOSEN THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY HAND THINKING IT WAS STUCK BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP REVVING SO I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. BEFORE TURNING ENGINE ON AGAIN, I MADE SURE NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME AND PREPARED TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL/PARK IMMEDIATELY THIS TIME. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. TOOK IT TO LEXUS (SEE INVOICE). THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE PROBLEM; CLAIMED PEDAL GOT STUCK IN RUBBER FLOOR MAT. I TOLD THEM I PULLED GAS PEDAL WITH MY HAND WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND REVVING ON ITS OWN, AND PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK MAT. IN 2009 (NOW WITH 117K MILES) ON 60 MPH HIGHWAY WHEN MY DAUGHTER DROVE IT AND FLOORED THE PEDAL TO PASS SOMEONE. AFTER RELEASING PEDAL, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 95 MPH. FORTUNATELY HER LANE WAS EMPTY AS SHE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN WITH THE BRAKES, BUT THIS DIDN'T WORK. THEN SHE STOMPED ON GAS PEDAL TO DISENGAGE IT. AFTER A MINUTE THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. I CALLED DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE GS300 WAS NOT NOTED FOR THIS AND DIDN'T HAVE RECALL. I STILL HAVE CAR BUT NOW NEVER FLOOR THE PEDAL AND I'M ON GUARD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I CANNOT GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I CAN'T SELL IT KNOWING THIS PROBLEM, AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10478899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VSC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. AFTER THE REPAIR THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIR. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V080000 (SUSPENSION:AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC)). THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. ...UPDATED 08-15-12 *BF UPDATED 08/21/12
NHTSA complaint #10466657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TURNING ONTO THE FREEWAY (UPHILL ONRAMP) I STEPPED ON THE GAS GOING ABOUT 20 MILES AN HR WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP. ACCELERATED SO QUICKLY. AT FIRST I THOUGHT MY FOOT WAS TOUCHING THE GAS ACCIDENTLY SO I MOVED AND APPLIED THE BRAKE WHICH WAS NO HELP, AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE IT ACCELERATED FASTER I WAS TERRIFIED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES WITH BOTH MY FEET AND THE CAR SLOWED ENOUGH THAT I WAS ABLE TO TURN IT OFF. EVEN WHILE I APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO PULL FORWARD AS I TURNED IT OFF THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THIS WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD AFRAID TO DRIVE IT I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I'M HOPING THAT THEY WILL FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THIS TO EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THANKFULLY IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT AND THE FREEWAY WASN'T THAT CROWDED. I HAVE A 2000 LEXUS GS300.
NHTSA complaint #10462361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE SPEED FAILED TO INCREASE. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.
NHTSA complaint #10447932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 192,380. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. UPDATED 02/27/12
NHTSA complaint #10442688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2006 LEXUS GS300. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXPENSES RELATED TO AN ACCIDENT WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE WAS SLOWLY DRIVING OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, SHE STARTED TO TURN A CORNER WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING. SHE BOUNCED OFF THE CURBS ON THE STREET, TWO OR THREE TIME AND THE TIRES AND RIMS WERE DAMAGED, THERE WAS A GOUGE IN THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER FINALLY COMING TO REST AFTER THE VEHICLE JUMPED OFF THE MEDIAN AND SHE ACTIVATED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #10390889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE, BUT I PUT IN TODAY'S DATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LET YOU LEAVE IT BLANK. WHENEVER I HAVE TO GO UP A RAMP OR OVERPASS,IF I HAVE TO WAIT ON THE INCLINE PART DUE TO TRAFFIC OR A REDLIGHT, AFTER BEING ON THE BRAKE FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF TO GO FORWARD THE CAR ALWAYS ROLLS BACKWARDS AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS A LITTLE TO GO FORWARD AS NOT TO ROLL BACK THE CAR DOESN'T GO SMOOTHLY IT SURGES AND YOU HAVE BE IN CONTROL OF THE BRAKE OR YOU'LL ROLL BACK AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR SURGE TOO FAR FORWARD. I'M ALWAYS AFRAID WHEN I HAVE TO BE ON SOME OVERPASS AND HAVE TO WAIT TO GO BECAUSE THE LONGER THE WAIT THEN I KNOW FOR SURE THAT AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO GO FORWARD THE CAR IS GOING TO START TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND IT'S REALLY SCARY. IF I HAVE TO GO UP A RAMP IN A PARKING GARAGE AND IF THERE IS A LINE THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN IT'S MY TURN TO GO THEN IT SURGES FORWARD. EVEN ON A REGULAR FLAT STREET, AFTER HAVING YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THIS CAR SURGES FORWARD WITH A JOLT . I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS, BUT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH MOST CARS OR IS THIS A DEFECT? I NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF ROLLING BACK AND THEN THE CAR JOLTING FORWARD.
NHTSA complaint #10383477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.