1999 Lexus Gs 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 1999 Lexus Gs, 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 & structure222.2%
- Brakes111.1%
- Driver assistance111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Other / unspecified111.1%
- Powertrain (other)111.1%
- Airbags111.1%
- Seat belts111.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A U-TURN ON A PRIVATE NARROW STREET THE AUTOMOBILE RPM JUMPED FROM AN ALMOST IDLE CONDITION TO OVER 3000 RPM. EVERY EFFORT TO BRAKE THE CAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL PROVED INEFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A LOW GARDEN WALL FORCING AN ENGINE STOP. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATE OF THE SPEED WHEN STRIKING THE WALL WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE BRAKE STREAKS AS WELL AS TOTAL DAMAGE SCENE. IN ADDITION A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HEARD THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND CAN VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE BRAKING EFFORT. TO DATE LEXUS HAS STATED THAT IT WAS NOT AN AUTOMOBILE DEFECT. I AM LOOKING INTO APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION. THE 1999 GS300 IS IDENTIFIED AS A CANDIDATE FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATIONS IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETE TOYOTA UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION CLASS ACTION SUITE BUT MY EVENT IS CLOSED OUT DUE TO THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE. *TR
I WAS DRIVING GOING HOME FROM THE STORE AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND DAMAGE MY WHEELS, FENDER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN ALL THE WAY DUE TO THE DAMAGE ON THE FENDER. THANK GOD I WASN'T IN THE FREEWAY OR WITH MY KIDS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
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
The contact owns a 1999 Lexus GS400. The contact stated while driving at 1 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The brakes failed to engage while depressed on the brake pedal almost causing a collision. The contact informed the independent mechanic of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
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
The contact owns a 1999 Lexus GS400. The contact stated while driving at 1 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently. The brakes failed to engage while depressed on the brake pedal almost causing a collision. The contact informed the independent mechanic of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
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
IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A U-TURN ON A PRIVATE NARROW STREET THE AUTOMOBILE RPM JUMPED FROM AN ALMOST IDLE CONDITION TO OVER 3000 RPM. EVERY EFFORT TO BRAKE THE CAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL PROVED INEFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A LOW GARDEN WALL FORCING AN ENGINE STOP. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATE OF THE SPEED WHEN STRIKING THE WALL WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE BRAKE STREAKS AS WELL AS TOTAL DAMAGE SCENE. IN ADDITION A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HEARD THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND CAN VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE BRAKING EFFORT. TO DATE LEXUS HAS STATED THAT IT WAS NOT AN AUTOMOBILE DEFECT. I AM LOOKING INTO APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION. THE 1999 GS300 IS IDENTIFIED AS A CANDIDATE FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATIONS IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETE TOYOTA UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION CLASS ACTION SUITE BUT MY EVENT IS CLOSED OUT DUE TO THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING GOING HOME FROM THE STORE AND MY LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED AND DAMAGE MY WHEELS, FENDER AND DRIVER SIDE DOOR WON'T OPEN ALL THE WAY DUE TO THE DAMAGE ON THE FENDER. THANK GOD I WASN'T IN THE FREEWAY OR WITH MY KIDS WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR
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
IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A U-TURN ON A PRIVATE NARROW STREET THE AUTOMOBILE RPM JUMPED FROM AN ALMOST IDLE CONDITION TO OVER 3000 RPM. EVERY EFFORT TO BRAKE THE CAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL PROVED INEFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A LOW GARDEN WALL FORCING AN ENGINE STOP. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATE OF THE SPEED WHEN STRIKING THE WALL WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE BRAKE STREAKS AS WELL AS TOTAL DAMAGE SCENE. IN ADDITION A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HEARD THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND CAN VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE BRAKING EFFORT. TO DATE LEXUS HAS STATED THAT IT WAS NOT AN AUTOMOBILE DEFECT. I AM LOOKING INTO APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION. THE 1999 GS300 IS IDENTIFIED AS A CANDIDATE FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATIONS IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETE TOYOTA UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION CLASS ACTION SUITE BUT MY EVENT IS CLOSED OUT DUE TO THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A U-TURN ON A PRIVATE NARROW STREET THE AUTOMOBILE RPM JUMPED FROM AN ALMOST IDLE CONDITION TO OVER 3000 RPM. EVERY EFFORT TO BRAKE THE CAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL PROVED INEFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A LOW GARDEN WALL FORCING AN ENGINE STOP. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATE OF THE SPEED WHEN STRIKING THE WALL WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE BRAKE STREAKS AS WELL AS TOTAL DAMAGE SCENE. IN ADDITION A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HEARD THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS AND CAN VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE BRAKING EFFORT. TO DATE LEXUS HAS STATED THAT IT WAS NOT AN AUTOMOBILE DEFECT. I AM LOOKING INTO APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION. THE 1999 GS300 IS IDENTIFIED AS A CANDIDATE FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATIONS IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETE TOYOTA UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION CLASS ACTION SUITE BUT MY EVENT IS CLOSED OUT DUE TO THE DATE OF OCCURRENCE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
I FOUND OUT THAT I COULDN'T EXTEND THE BACK SEAT BELTS (PASSENGER). *TR
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 .