RoadVitals

1998 Lexus GS300

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.
60
Latest Jul 11, 2019
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 Apr 17, 1998
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.
0
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 60 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Lexus GS300, most frequently naming the driver assistance, suspension and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 73 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

  • Suspension1013.3%
  • Brakes79.3%
  • Tires & wheels56.7%
  • Body & structure45.3%
  • Electrical45.3%
  • Engine45.3%
  • Exterior lighting34.0%

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

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

Apr 17, 1998
14,855 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.
The risk: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300 EQUIPPED WITH DEXTERO TOURING DTR1 TIRES, SIZE: 21560R16 95H (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TWO FRONT TIRE SIDEWALLS WERE CRACKED FROM THE INSIDE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE TIRES AT WALMART. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11231031
Incident
Jul 9, 2019
Mileage
235,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2017

PURCHASED A 98 GS300 SIX MONTHS AGO AND MY VSC, ABS, BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING GAUGES CAME UP AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THROTTLE POSITION ACTUATOR WERE THE PROBLEMS. WITH THESE FEW ITEMS GONE BAD MY CAR PRODUCES LITTLE TO NO POWER DURING ACCELERATION. THE CAR BARELY GETS UP TO 45 MPH WITH ACCELERATION PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. WITH THE VSC GONE BAD THERE IS AN ALARM THAT STRETCHES TO UNCOMFORTABLE HEARING LEVELS THAT' HURTS LIKE THE DEVIL. MY CAR WILL LITERALLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF CRUISING AND WON'T PICK UP ANY SPEED UNLESS I HAVE MY FOOT PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR, WHICH ALSO OFTEN TIMES CAUSES IT TO TURN OFF ON HIGHWAYS, ALL TYPES OF STREETS AND OTHER AREAS. ALSO WITH THESE ITEMS GONE BAD MY CAR SHIFTS SO HARD TO THE POINT WHERE IT JUMPS WHENEVER I SHIFT INTO ANY POSITION. ALL IN ALL THE VEHICLE, I FEEL , IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME

NHTSA ID
11034007
Incident
Oct 17, 2017
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 22, 2017

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 ID
11024942
Incident
Sep 22, 2017
Mileage
270,038 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 3, 2017

I PURCHASED A VEHICLE OFF THE STREETS AND HAD NO CLUE ON HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS WHEN PURCHASING A SALVAGED VEHICLE THAT HAD BEEN IN A AUCTION AFTER A WRECKLESS ACCIDENT. HAD A MASTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTION THAT GOT FIXED BY NOT A LEXUS PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC DUE TO BUDGET REASONS. RECEIVED A CHECK FOR AROUND $20.00 FOR THE RECALL ON THE GAS PEDAL GETTING STUCK AROUND 3 YRS. AGO. NO LONGER HAVE POSSEION OF MY LICENSE # PLATE OR VEHICLE. I THINK VIN # WAS A SCAM.

NHTSA ID
10970369
Incident
Jul 19, 2016
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 25, 2016

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 ID
10918851
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Mileage
112,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 28, 2014

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 ID
10629152
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
97,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2013

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 ID
10491786
Incident
Dec 5, 2012
Mileage
240,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 19, 2012

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 ID
10466657
Incident
May 19, 2012
Mileage
112,000 mi

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-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-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-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 GS300 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2020000
2019020
2018010
2017000
2016000
2015000
2014100
2013100
2009000
2008000
2007011
20061242150.3
2005200
2004600
2003120037.7
2002130033.1
2001170036.7
2000350039.2
1999380042.4
1998Viewing601044.9
1997010
1996210
1995910
1994610
1993710

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.