2000 Lexus GS300 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 2000 Lexus GS300, 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
- Driver assistance1433.3%
- Suspension716.7%
- Brakes716.7%
- Electrical49.5%
- Engine49.5%
- Airbags37.1%
- Other / unspecified24.8%
- Tires & wheels12.4%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
REGARDING MY 2000 GS 300 LEXUS. BRAKE, ABS, VSC, VSC OFF LIGHTS ALONG WITH LOUD ALARM DISPLAYED. ALSO HAS HAD AN ANNOYING ON AND OFF CHIRPING NOISE BEFORE THIS ALARM SOUNDED. THE BREAKS APPEAR TO BE WORKING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE CHIRPING NOISE IS HEARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER CAR IS MOVING OR DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IS NOT HEARD AT ALL AND THE CAR DRIVES FINE WITHOUT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A SHRILL ALARM THAT SOUNDED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WENT OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP AND WOULD COST $3700 TO FIX. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES WILL GO OUT AND AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SINCE MY BRAKES MAY SUDDENLY GO OUT. *TR
BOUGHT A 2000 CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN 2005 FROM LEXUS DEALER. IN 2007 ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, A DRIVER WAS DRIVING VERY SLOW AND STARTED TO PULL OVER. I QUICKLY WENT AROUND HER TO PASS, AT ABOUT 35 MPH, BUT AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL, CAR SPED UP INSTEAD. TRIED TO SLOW DOWN WITH THE BRAKES, BUT IT SPED UP MORE. THEN SLAMMED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH BOTH FEET AND PUT IT ON PARK TO AVOID HITTING STOPPED CARS AHEAD. IT STOPPED IN "PARK" BUT WAS STILL REVVING HIGH. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS STILL REVVING OVER 6 RPM! I BENT UNDER THE DASH AND TRIED TO LOOSEN THE GAS PEDAL WITH MY HAND THINKING IT WAS STUCK BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP REVVING SO I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. BEFORE TURNING ENGINE ON AGAIN, I MADE SURE NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME AND PREPARED TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL/PARK IMMEDIATELY THIS TIME. DIDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. TOOK IT TO LEXUS (SEE INVOICE). THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE PROBLEM; CLAIMED PEDAL GOT STUCK IN RUBBER FLOOR MAT. I TOLD THEM I PULLED GAS PEDAL WITH MY HAND WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND REVVING ON ITS OWN, AND PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK MAT. IN 2009 (NOW WITH 117K MILES) ON 60 MPH HIGHWAY WHEN MY DAUGHTER DROVE IT AND FLOORED THE PEDAL TO PASS SOMEONE. AFTER RELEASING PEDAL, IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO 95 MPH. FORTUNATELY HER LANE WAS EMPTY AS SHE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN WITH THE BRAKES, BUT THIS DIDN'T WORK. THEN SHE STOMPED ON GAS PEDAL TO DISENGAGE IT. AFTER A MINUTE THE ACCELERATION STOPPED. I CALLED DEALER TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THE GS300 WAS NOT NOTED FOR THIS AND DIDN'T HAVE RECALL. I STILL HAVE CAR BUT NOW NEVER FLOOR THE PEDAL AND I'M ON GUARD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. I CANNOT GET RID OF IT BECAUSE I CAN'T SELL IT KNOWING THIS PROBLEM, AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR. *TR
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LOWER BALL JOINT IS MAKING SQUEAKING NOISES. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FACED BY OWNERS OF LEXUS GS300 MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1998-2002. THERE MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR IMPROPER LUBRICATION CAUSING THE BALL JOINT TO BREAK. THERE ARE SEVERAL LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SO FAR: HTTP://WWW.CHRISANDNAT.COM/PROJECTS/LEXUSBALLJOINT/BALLJOINT.HTM HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/SUSPENSION-AND-BRAKES/340101-LOWER-BALL-JOINT-FAILED-TODAY-WITH-PICS-9.HTML HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/SUSPENSION-AND-BRAKES/340101-LOWER-BALL-JOINT-FAILED-TODAY-WITH-PICS-8.HTML HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/SUSPENSION-AND-BRAKES/340101-LOWER-BALL-JOINT-FAILED-TODAY-WITH-PICS-7.HTML HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/SUSPENSION-AND-BRAKES/340101-LOWER-BALL-JOINT-FAILED-TODAY-WITH-PICS.HTML I REQUEST NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS AND REQUEST LEXUS TO REPLACE ALL BALL JOINTS FOR ALL LEXUS GS 300 THAT HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR
TIRE BECAME COMPLETELY UNATTACHED AND JAMMED AGAINST RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL CAUSING BODY DAMAGE. GOING ONLY DOING 30 MPH AT THE TIME. THANK GOD I HAD JUST EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND NO ONE HIT ME. CAR IN SHOP RIGHT NOW WITH ESTIMATED DAMAGE OF $500 (EXCLUDING BODY DAMAGE). *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
WHILE DRIVING, RAN OVER A POT HOLE FILLED WITH WATER AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHICH ULTIMATELY AFFECTED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. TOOK TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED THE SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST OVER 3500 DOLLARS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THIS MATTER!!!!! IT HAPPENED NOV. 2015
REGARDING MY 2000 GS 300 LEXUS. BRAKE, ABS, VSC, VSC OFF LIGHTS ALONG WITH LOUD ALARM DISPLAYED. ALSO HAS HAD AN ANNOYING ON AND OFF CHIRPING NOISE BEFORE THIS ALARM SOUNDED. THE BREAKS APPEAR TO BE WORKING WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. THE CHIRPING NOISE IS HEARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER CAR IS MOVING OR DRIVING AND SOMETIMES IS NOT HEARD AT ALL AND THE CAR DRIVES FINE WITHOUT ANY MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. BUT WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IT WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A SHRILL ALARM THAT SOUNDED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND WENT OFF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE PUMP AND WOULD COST $3700 TO FIX. THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY AND I AM AFRAID THE BRAKES WILL GO OUT AND AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SINCE MY BRAKES MAY SUDDENLY GO OUT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE IT WAS TRYING TO START UP ON IT'S OWN WITH NO KEYS. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING AND THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD CRANKING, BANGING NOISE AND WE COULD SMELL THE SMOKE. AFTER LIFTING UP THE HOOD WE COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT WAS STILL TRYING TO CRANK UP. SMOKE BEGIN TO FILL THE GARAGE AND IT WAS GETTING WORSE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE EXTINGUISHER AND WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP TRYING TO START UP. WHAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN. CAR IS STILL IN THE GARAGE AT THIS TIME NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE THE FIRE CAUSED. IS THIS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION? *TR
I HAVE LEXUS GS300. THE CAR WERE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I TOWED THE CAR TO LEXUS. THEY TOLD ME IT IS NOT MECHANICAL PROBLEM. ONE OF THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR WERE MALFUNCTION. IT SEEMS THE LEXUS SENSE IS NOT RELIABLE AND CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A PASSERSBY WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE IT WAS TRYING TO START UP ON IT'S OWN WITH NO KEYS. THE DASH LIGHTS WERE BLINKING AND THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD CRANKING, BANGING NOISE AND WE COULD SMELL THE SMOKE. AFTER LIFTING UP THE HOOD WE COULD SEE THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND IT WAS STILL TRYING TO CRANK UP. SMOKE BEGIN TO FILL THE GARAGE AND IT WAS GETTING WORSE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH THE EXTINGUISHER AND WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE BATTERY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP TRYING TO START UP. WHAT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A DANGEROUS THING TO HAPPEN. CAR IS STILL IN THE GARAGE AT THIS TIME NOT SURE WHAT TO DO WITH IT BECAUSE I AM NOT SURE OF THE ENGINE DAMAGE THE FIRE CAUSED. IS THIS SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION? *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
RECALL.
I WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING APPROX 35-40 MPH AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE DOOR WAS CAVED IN AND MY SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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
WHILE DRIVING, RAN OVER A POT HOLE FILLED WITH WATER AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHICH ULTIMATELY AFFECTED THE BRAKING SYSTEM. TOOK TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED THE SYSTEM REPLACED WHICH WOULD COST OVER 3500 DOLLARS. AT THIS TIME, WE ARE STILL WORKING ON THIS MATTER!!!!! IT HAPPENED NOV. 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL COLLAPSED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER WAS UNINJURED. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE WHEEL WAS FACING THE ENGINE. THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER AND CABLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE NEW BALL JOINTS THAT WERE REPLACED A YEAR AGO WERE DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A MESSAGE WAS LEFT ON THE VOICEMAIL OF AUTO PART INTERNATIONAL, THE MANUFACTURER OF THE BALL JOINTS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RETURN CALL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRIDGESTONE TIRES: CONSUMER WAS UNSURE OF THE MODEL. TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT DUE TO A CUT ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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 .