Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Lexus ES300. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 27 · page 1 of 2
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.
1999 LEXUS ES300. CONSUMER REQUESTS INFORMATION ON TOYOTA DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HIS MOTHER WAS INVOLVED IN A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT AND SUFFERED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE REVERSE POSITION. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE OTHER VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
CALL LEXUS AND MADE COMPLAIN ABOUT MY CAR AND THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING GETTING RESOLUTION HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING. THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT I TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. *TR
MY CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT MY CONTROL AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO BRING IT TO A STOP BY USING THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS FUTILE. AFTER ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. CAR WAS TOWED BY TRIPLE AAA TO NTB IN ALEXANDRIA VA. REPORT THE INCIDENT TO TOYOTA /LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DID NOT GET A FAVORABLE RESPONSE. *TR
COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT IMPROPER SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE, BUT CHANGED THE FLUID ANYWAY. I STILL CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER NOT TO COME BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDATIONS AND NOW AT 88,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THIS IS AN U140E TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR
HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND CHARCOAL CANISTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED IN TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES UP UNTIL AND INCLUDING 1998. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT COVERED THE OLDER VEHICLES. *TR
HAD TO REPLACE EVAP CHARCOAL CANISTER ON MY LEXUS ES300, MY CO-WORKER ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THIS ON HIS RX300 ALONG WITH THE O2 SENSORS. *TR
ISSUE INVOLVE 1999 LEXUS ES300 CHROME WHEELS (RIMS). FAILURES TO MAINTAIN AIR PRESSURE. NUMEROUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS LEXUS KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT VEHICLE MANUFACTURE UNWILLING TO FIX THIS FAILURE, WHICH RESULT IN OWNERS PURCHASING NEW CHROME WHEELS AT $500 EACH.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE BUCKLE HARNESSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED.
WHILE DRIVING ON A RECENTLY OILED AND CHIPPED RURAL ROAD, I HAD TO VEER TO THE RIGHT IN ORDER TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE CENTER OF THE ROAD. UPON SAID VEHICLE PASSING, I SLIGHTLY TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO FULLY RETURN TO THE ROAD. AT THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO "FISH TAIL" TERRIBLY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED TO REGAIN CONTROL, AND EVENTUALLY TURNED HEAD ON TOWARD THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD, DIRECTLY TOWARD TREES LINING THE OPPOSITE SIDE. I MUST HAVE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS, AS THE NEXT THING I RECALL IS FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT I WAS GOING, WITH THE RIGHT (PASSENGER) SIDE OF THE CAR RESTING AGAINST THE TREES LINING THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION I WAS TRAVELING. THE IMPACT HAD BEEN EXTREMELY SIGNIFICANT, AS THE VEHICLE WAS ABSOLUTELY TOTALED, WITH THE FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE BEING THE AREAS OF PRIMARY DAMAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAD SIX (6) AIRBAGS, NONE OF WHICH DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY LOOKED AT BY LEXUS REPRESENTATIVES, WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO, I.E., THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THIS ACCIDENT, WHICH I FIND DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND CONSIDERING THE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OF SAID VEHICLE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SUGGESTED THAT I CONTACT NHTSA TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT.*JB
THE IAC VALVE IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 LEXUS ES300 FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING AFTER BEING DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE. *NM *JB
I OWN A 1999 LEXUS ES-300 AUTOMOBILE THAT WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2002. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE ATLANTA AIRPORT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THEN SIMPLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BY LEXUS MECHANICS I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS "OIL GEL" IN THE ENGINE AND THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER COULD TAKE THE BATTERY OUT AND REPLACE IT, AND THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON MORE THAN EIGHT TIMES IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
THE LEXUS SPECIALIST AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER ES 300 MODELS AS WELL AS THE RL MODELS AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THE ONES WITH THE TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES HAVEN\\\\\\'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS A TSB ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT THERE.
NONE OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS HOLD THE CHILD SEAT FIRMLY. WHEN THE CAR TURNS OR SWERVES LIGHTLY THE CHILD SEAT TILTS ACCORDINGLY. *JB
JUST BOUGHT A 1999 LEXUS ES 300, TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED OUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH IN THE REVERSE GEAR. FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING BADLY AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, THE LEXUS SPECIALIST SAYS HE HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN THE ES 300 MODELS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE RL MODELS BUT HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALLS. INFORMATION IS FOUND REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE TSB DATABASE. *JB
MY BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEAKS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A FACTORY PERSON COME CHECK MY BRAKES LAST MONTH ON 12/12/02 AND DIDN'T DETECT A PROBLEM. MY BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING AND I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAD THEIR LOANER SAME MODEL AND DIFFERENT YEAR-THE BRAKES DIDN'T SQUEAK AT ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE A POSSIBLE DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION. IS IT SAFE MY CAR TO SQUEAK CONSTANTLY WHENEVER I STEP ON THE BRAKES IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER.
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
ENGINE OIL GELLING DAMAGED ENGINE
THE VEHICLE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SOON FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. NLM
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A DEALER LOW MILEAGE EXTENDED TO 100K WARRANTY 1999 ES300 LEXUS, MY MID AGE DREAM CAR. IT IS TRULY A NICE AUTO, EXCEPT. THE BEAST HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR "MAID SERVICE" NOT GENUINE PROBLEM UNTIL FROST/FREEZE PUTS THE PROBLEM AGAINST MY REQUIREMENT OF WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FOR VISION. MICE HAVE A FREE RUN OF THE ENTIRE AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS...AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER AND ENGINE AIR FILTER/FUEL INJECTION. I HAVE PHONED AND E-MAILED THE TOYOTA/LEXUS FOLKS BOTH AT WEBSITE AND CALIFORNIA MULTIPLE TIMES WITH LITTLE RESPECT TOWARDS CONSUMER COMMUNICATION. THE RESPONSE FROM MY AGITATION RELIEVED ME OF THE LAST $BILL PRESENTATION, YET THE ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE: "GET MOTH BALLS,GET A CAT, GET AN EXTERMINATOR..". MY CAR SITS ON CONCRETE IN A RURAL CARPORT 1/2 THE TIME..YET WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK ME TO YET ANOTHER TOYOTA SERVICE SHOP TO ASK..WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM EXIST FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THEM? ONE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS DEALT WITH AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS EVERY WHICH WAY SINCE 1990..AND NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR THE COMPLAINT! HE PERSONALLY HAS A CAMRY THAT IS PARKED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A CLOSED GARAGE, WITH CAR COVER, 5 CATS AND LIBERAL DOUSING OF RAT POISON..AND HAS 3 TIMES HAD TO CLEAN OUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID IT IS NO EASY FEAT TO GET AT THE CAR FRAME TO CLEAN ...INCLUDING DEAD RODENTS,MICE & SNAKES..AND DISINFECT; SOME OF THESE ARE LUXURY AUTOS?! YET NO CORPORATE INTEREST TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOR RECTIFY THE INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE AND PERHAPS DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN WINDSHIELD VISION MAY BE MORE THAN IMPAIRED DUE TO NO AIR CONTROL TO THE FRONT AUTO GLASS BECAUSE MOUSE ?!@#$% AND NEST CRAP JUST GOT SUCKED INTO THE "SOPHISTICATED" AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS A ROUTINE SITUATION FOR MANY THAT DO NOT RESIDE IN A CONCRETE JUNGLE ENVIRON. *TR
AT START UP AND ACCELERATION BLUE SMOKE COMES FROM TAIL PIPE.ALSO, THERE IS EXCESSIVE USE OF OIL, AND PCV VALVE IS CLOGGED UP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BASED ON NO EVIDENCE OF DEFECT
DURING EARLY MORNING STARTS WHEN ACCELERATING RPMS WERE AROUND 1700 TO 2300. CONSUMER HEARD A VERY LOUD PITCH., UNSURE OF THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT FIRMLY. YH
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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