1991 Lexus ES250 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1991 Lexus ES250, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure318.8%
- Interior & seats318.8%
- Driver assistance212.5%
- Engine212.5%
- Visibility212.5%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Suspension16.3%
- Transmission16.3%
- Brakes16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED TO RELEASE REAR LEFT SIDE DOOR. WOULD TRY MANUALLY & IT STILL FAILED TO RELEASE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT E ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
TRUNK GAS CYLINDER BROKE AND FELL ON CUSTOMER HEAD CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *AK
ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER PRODUCED THIS PART ANYMORE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING CAR ACCELERATES AND CUT OFF . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
OIL LEAK IN SPARK PLUG WELLS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *AK
ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER. *LA
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN AUTO WAS PLACE IN PARKED IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED INTO THE FREEWAY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. THE DEALER HAD RECENTLY DONE WORK ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BURN MARKS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGERS DOOR WHERE THE BRAKES WERE LOCATED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT SEAT THE BRAKES PROPERLY AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .