RoadVitals

1998 Lexus GS300 Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Jul 20, 2011
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
17%
of 60 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Lexus GS300 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Jul 20, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10413829
Incident
Jul 18, 2011
Mileage
135,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 31, 2010
Crash reported

WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, HIT A POT HOLE, CAR DROPPED APPARENTLY THE BALL JOINT BROKE ON THE RIGHT SIDE. BUT THIS HAPPENED ON THE LEFT SIDE A FEW MONTHS AGO IN DECEMBER. THAT TIME I WAS NOT ON THE FREEWAY. AFTER RESEARCHING ON LINE I SAW THAT PREVIOUS MODELS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT NOT THE 1998. AFTER THE INCIDENT IN DECEMBER AND THE DAMAGE WAS CORRECTED, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE CHECKED IT OUT MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS, THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'M AFRAID SOMEONE COULD GET KILLED, LUCKILY I DIDN'T, ESPECIALLY THE SECOND TIME WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN, I ALWAYS THOUGHT A LEXUS WAS A VERY DEPENDABLE CAR.

NHTSA ID
10323263
Incident
Mar 24, 2010
Mileage
193,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 19, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 20 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH TREMENDOUS FORCE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE TOW COMPANY WAS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TOWING IN FEAR THAT THEY WOULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE HANGING FROM THE VEHICLE AND PUNCTURED THE RIM. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 170,000.

NHTSA ID
10262443
Incident
Mar 18, 2009
Mileage
170,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 19, 2009

98 LEXUS GS300LOWER BALL JOINT DISLOCATED ITSELF WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH ON CITY STREETS. LUCKILY IT WASN'T ON THE HIGHWAY. CALLED A TOWING COMPANY, AND THEY REFUSED TO TOW THE LEXUS GS300 SINCE IT COULD CAUSE MORE DAMAGE. DURING THE WHOLE ORDEAL, THE LOWER BALL JOINT PUNCTURE THE ORIGINAL LEXUS 16INCH WHEEL. A HOLE IS VISIBLE AND THE DISLOCATED BALL JOINT SITS ON THE WHEEL CLOSE THE EDGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262402
Incident
Mar 18, 2009
Suspension
Filed Jan 22, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED TO A STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE FENDER, TIRE, AND UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED. THE CONTACT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V125000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT) FOR THE 1995-1997 LEXUS GS300. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000. UPDATED 02/14/08. *LJ

NHTSA ID
10215649
Incident
Dec 22, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 6, 2007

WE OWN A 1998 LEXUS, MODEL GS 300. THIS SATURDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE LEXUS AND THE ENTIRE WHEEL ASSEMBLY CAME OFF THE VEHICLE DUE THE FAILURE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINT. IN REVIEWING RECALL INFORMATION FOR LEXUS\TOYOTA, IT IS VERY APPARENT THERE IS AN ONGOING ISSUE OF QUALITY CONTROL RELATED TO THEIR LOWER BALL JOINTS. FOR OUR SPECIFIC MODEL, THERE WAS A RECALL IN 93, 94, 95, 96 AND 97 SPECIFIC TO THIS PART. GIVEN WE HAVE A 98 AND A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED (YET), THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY ACCOMMODATION TOWARDS FIXING THE FAILED PART, OR THE RESULTING BODY DAMAGE RELATED TO THE VEHICLE TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD ON ONLY THREE WHEEL. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE NOT TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED. BUT MOREOVER, REGARDLESS OF OUR FINANCIAL LOSS, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10184339
Incident
Mar 3, 2007
Mileage
135,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 14, 2000

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE (98V-080) YAW SENSOR PRIOR TO RECALL REPLACEMENT RESULTING IN NEAR ACCIDENTS, AFTER RECALL REPLACEMENT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT DUE TO FAILURE OF THE YAW SENSOR. *MJS

NHTSA ID
558135
Suspension
Filed Sep 29, 2000

THERE IS A NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT END OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE DEALER STATES THE TIRES ARE CAUSING THE NOISE AND REPLACED TIRES, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *YH

NHTSA ID
871821
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Nov 15, 1999

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
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Jan 21, 1999

AT 45 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT CONTROL, HAVE TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, AND TURN IGNITION OFF. FROM A STOP THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVERS CONTROL. FRONT END SHAKES AT 45 MPH AND ABOVE, HAS CRUISE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
701285
Incident
Apr 10, 1998

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .