1998 Lexus GS300 Driver assistance Problems

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

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

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

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE SPEED FAILED TO INCREASE. THE FAILURE MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10447932

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 192,380. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. UPDATED 02/27/12

NHTSA ID

10442688

Incident

Oct 4, 2011

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 167,000.

NHTSA ID

10370463

Incident

Dec 10, 2010

Mileage

167,000 mi

REFERRING TO A 1998 LEXUS GS300, REAR WHEEL DRIVE CAR WITH 84,000 MILES. ON SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2010, I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION WITH A 2 WAY STOP SIGN, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR AFTER SLOWING DOWN A BIT, SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT AS I 'CRUISED' ACROSS THE INTERSECTION INSTEAD OF STOPPING. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY ADVISED THAT I BRING THE CAR IN. I DROVE THERE ABOUT 15 MILES, AND ON THE WAY THERE I STOPPED ABOUT 100 FEET BEHIND ANOTHER CAR WHICH WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. I WAS AT A TOTAL STOP, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS SO FAR BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DROVE TO LEXUS. THEY EXAMINED THE CAR AND TOLD ME THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, INCLUDING WITH THE COMPUTER. THEY THEN TOOK ME FOR A DRIVE, PERHAPS 20 OR 30 MINUTES, STOPPING AND STARTING, AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AWAY AS THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED TWICE THAT MORNING, SO I BOUGHT A NEW CAR ON THE SPOT. I WAS OF THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION DID NOT INVOLVE THE GS SERIES. LEXUS DID ALLOW MY GS300 AS A TRADE-IN. BOTH TIMES WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED, I HAD NO DISTRACTIONS AND AM CERTAIN THAT THIS DESCRIPTION IS ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE. ALSO, I HAD ONLY THE ORIGINAL MATS IN THE CAR AND THEY WERE SET PROPERLY WITH THE HOOKS THROUGH THEM AS THEY SHOULD BE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341283

Incident

Jun 19, 2010

Mileage

84,000 mi

WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ACCELERATES. I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, USUALLY, THE ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 DAYS AND THE THIRD TIME THE ACCELERATION DID NOT STOP, THE CAR REALLY ACCELERATED, I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE REAR TIRES WERE SMOKING SO I TURNED OFF THE KEY. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK AND COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. BEFORE I GOT THE CAR BACK INTO MY GARAGE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT NOT TOO BADLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320103

Incident

Feb 19, 2010

Mileage

66,800 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED STATING THAT SHE HAD A CRASH ON 07/09/06 IN HER 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF HE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE VEHICLE STARTING GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS ON A CLEAR NIGHT AND, THAT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE ALSO SEEMED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT MADE THAT STATES SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY ARISTOCRAT TOWING TO ARISTOCRAT AUTO SHOP. THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY AND THE PASSENGER DIDN'T HAVE ON A SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT DID HAVE SEAT BELT ON BUT, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THERE WAS A RECALL WITH CAMPAIGN # 98V080000, AND SHE CONTACTED LEXUS THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10177077

Incident

Jul 9, 2006

Mileage

107,000 mi

1998 LEXUS GS 300 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ES 300 THROTTLE CONTROL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND I PRESUMED THAT I HAD SOMEHOW HIT THE PEDAL, WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10139646

Incident

Apr 8, 1999

AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL FORWARD VERY SLOWLY WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NORMALLY. IT WOULD SUDDENLY "CATCH" AND LURCH FORWARD IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. CAR WOULD THEN HANDLE NORMALLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS BUT UPON STOPPING WOULD REPEAT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO "REBOOT" THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION SYSTEM BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. AFTER SITTING ON THE LOT FOR 1 DAY, VEHICLE STARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY IN THE DEALER'S SERVICE LOT. DEALER HAS REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM CALLS FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10095986

Incident

Oct 16, 2004

Mileage

101,000 mi

THIS LETTER IS TO REPORT A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT EXISTS WITH MY 1998 LEXUS GS 300. ON 2/02/03 I WAS WAITING AT A CAR WASH IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE ADVANCED TO WHAT SEEM LIKE FULL THROTTLE. THE REAR TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN ON THE WET PAVEMENT BUT MY FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE KEPT THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. MY WIFE LEANED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SAW MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE GAS! AT THAT TIME I STARTED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST TO TURN OF THE IGNITION. BEFORE I GOT MY HAND ON THE KEY THE ENGINE WENT BACK TO IDLE! THIS WHOLE EVENT LASTED 5 TO 10 SECONDS. MY FOOT WAS DEFINITELY NOT ON THE GAS! AT THAT TIME MY WIFE TOLD ME WHAT HAPPENED TO HER THE WEEK BEFORE THIS SCARY EVENT. SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY WITH OUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDDLE. SHE SAID SHE HAD TO APPLY A LOT OF BRAKE PRESSURE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM ACCELERATING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. THIS ALSO LASTED ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS! SERVICE FROM THE LEXUS DEALER IS GREAT BUT THEY TOLD ME MY CAR COULDN'T DO THAT, AND THAT ALL COMPUTERS CHECKED OUT OK! ALSO A FACTORY SERVICE REP SAID THIS SAME THING! I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT IT DID HAPPEN AND THAT I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAD A MIND OF ITS OWN. THEIR ANSWER WAS, NO ERROR CODES IN THE CARS COMPUTER SO NOTHING IS WRONG! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DEADLY SITUATION BOTH TIMES! SOMETHING MUST GET DONE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10005823

Incident

Feb 2, 2003

Mileage

39,900 mi

FOR ABOUT THE FIFTH TIME IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PULLING INTO A 7-11 PARKING LOT, THE ENGINE REVVED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELARATOR AND SURGED FORWARD AT WHICH TIME I APPLIED THE BRAKE HARD. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SURGE FORWARD, RESTRAINED, SLOWER BY THE BRAKING BUT STILL MOVING TOWARD PEDESTRIANS AND THE STORE. I MOVED THE SHIFTER INTO PARK AND THE REVVING CEASED IN ABOUT A SECOND OR TWO. THE PRIOR FOUR TIMES I WAS IN TRAFFIC MOVING AHEAD SLOWLY-- STOP AND GO. WHILE STOPPED, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE CAR TRIED TO SURGE FORWARD WITH MY FOOT ALREADY ON THE BRAKE. I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL HARDER AND THE REVVING STOPPED IN ABOUT 5-10 SECONDS. REPORTED TO THE DEALER FIRST ON 01/03/2002. NPF.*AK

NHTSA ID

766873

Incident

Sep 8, 2002

THE PATTERN OF THE LOW BEAM DOES NOT PROJECT WELL AND DO NOT HAVE A SHARP CUT-OFF. TOO MUCH LIGHT PROJECTS "UP" IN POOR VISIBILITY CONDITIONS, SUCH AS FOG. FOG LIGHTS ARE QUITE USELESS AS WELL. THE CAR HAS THE WORST HEAD LIGHTS OF ANY CAR I'VE HAD.*AK

NHTSA ID

753319

THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED DELAYED ACCELERATION. YH

NHTSA ID

551472

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 1998, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS. ONE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS PERIODICALLY IS THAT THE CAR WILL ACCELLERATE FROM 2MPH TO 8/10MPH WITH THE SLIGHTEST TOUCH ONTHE ACCELLERATOR (UNINTENDED ACCELLERATION). THE SECOND PROBLEM INVOLVES ABSOLUTELY NO ACCELLERATION FROM A STOPPED CONDITION FOR UP TO THREE SECONDS. THE CAR STANDS STILL AND DOES NOT MOVE AT ALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

718424

Incident

Jan 28, 2000

DEFECTIVE ACCELERATION SYSTEM CAUSED UNINTENDED ACCELERATIONS. YH

NHTSA ID

550491

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF60- 65MPH THERE IS VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. ALSO, STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. CONTACTED DEALER. AND HE REPLACED TIRES, AND DID AN ALIGNMENT. IN ADDITION, ENGINE WILL SURGE AND HESITATE AT TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

850341

Incident

Nov 12, 1998

VEHICLE IN CRUISE CONTROL AND EXPERIENCED SUDDEN SURGE/ACCELERATION WITH NO BRAKES. MJS

NHTSA ID

549519

Incident

Dec 1, 1997

AT ABOUT 3:45 PM, I LEFT MY OFFICE IN ROSSLYN TO GET TO A DENTIST APPOINTMENT. I WAS HEADING WEST ON ROUTE 50 IN THE RIGHT LANE, THEN MOVED TO THE CENTER LANE AND FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE THAT WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE. AS I PULLED BACK INTO THE RIGHT LANE, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. I HOOKED MY TOE UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK IN A DOWN POSITION. IT WAS NOT. *AK

NHTSA ID

703045

Incident

Feb 2, 1999

WHILE DRIVING THROTTLE WAS STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY IN WHICH THE OCCUPANT HAD TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TURNED OFF VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP,THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND IT WAS IDLING AT HIGH RPM. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS AT NORMAL RPM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER, HOWEVER DEALER UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK *SB

NHTSA ID

834533

Incident

Feb 2, 1999

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

608749

Incident

Nov 18, 1997