RoadVitals

1990 Lexus ES250

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 25, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 11, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
7
5 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Lexus ES250, most frequently naming the airbags, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 22 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Airbags654.5%
  • Brakes19.1%
  • Driver assistance19.1%
  • Fuel system19.1%
  • Seat belts19.1%
  • Suspension19.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10E002000

SUSPENSION

Feb 11, 2010
12,657 units potentially affected
The defect: RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
The risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
RIDE CONTROL, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA97008ClosedEngineering Analysis

LEAKING FUEL TANK

Opened Apr 23, 1997
Closed Apr 22, 1998

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE97003ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

LEAKING FUEL TANK

Opened Jan 21, 1997
Closed Apr 23, 1997

CRACKS IN THE SOLDER JOINT OF THE FUEL FILL OR INLET PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK ALLOWS LIQUID FUEL TO LEAK FROM THE TANK.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 9
Suspension
Filed Apr 25, 2014

THEY WONT HONOR THE RECALL THE PHONE NUMBER GIVEN IS A BUSY SIGNAL AND THE CAR CANT DRIVE CAUSE THE STRUTS ARE REALLY BAD. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID
10584820
Incident
Apr 25, 2014
Mileage
160,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jun 14, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE PULLING INSIDE A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO A BRICK WALL. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10071980
Incident
May 3, 2004
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 24, 1998
1 injury reported

WHEN CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY ABOUT 60 MPH, HER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A REASON. SHE GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO SEE IF SHE HAD HIT ANY THING, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY POTHOLES, NOR ANY OBSTACLES AND NO DAMAGES ON HER VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
825864
Incident
Jun 5, 1998
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jul 17, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION CAUSED CERVICAL SPINE DAMAGE. DUP OF 812606, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

NHTSA ID
519472
Incident
Dec 26, 1991
Airbags
Filed May 30, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 10-15 MPH THERE WAS A SMALL COLLISION AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER SEVERE DAMAGE TO HER UPPER BODY. DRIVER IS NOW DISABLED FOR LIFE BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING. SHE HAS HAD SEVERAL OPERATIONS ON HER NECK. DEALER WAS A WARE OF THE AIR BAG PROBLEM, AND DID NOT WARN ANY OWNERS OF THE DEFECT OF THE AIR BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID
812606
Incident
Dec 26, 1991
Airbags
Filed Mar 18, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

OWNER WAS DRIVING CAR WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

NHTSA ID
809235
Incident
Jan 31, 1997
Brakes
Filed Feb 21, 1997
Crash reported

VEHICLE'S ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING 15-20MPH, DRIVER CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR .THE MASTER CYLNDER IS LEAKING AIR INTO BRAKE LINE AND CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID. *AK

NHTSA ID
809195
Incident
Aug 15, 1996
Airbags
Filed Aug 15, 1996
Crash reported

AIR BAG DID NOT INFLATE FULLY IN FRONT END COLLISION.

NHTSA ID
507581
Incident
Mar 8, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Safety Recall 22

EQUIPMENT

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

Lexus PRO19-02 -

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Lexus.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

Lexus Safety Re

EQUIPMENT

Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

L-SB-0179-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

L-SB-0008-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003 93, and PG002-90. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1990 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin.

L-SB-0048-08 Obs

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus ES250 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024000—
2023100—
2022000—
2021000—
2003000—
2002000—
2001000—
2000000—
1999000—
1998000—
1997000—
1996100—
1995100—
1993100—
1992100—
1991131245.2
1990Viewing912—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.