RoadVitals

2001 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.
17
Latest Nov 7, 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.
0
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Lexus GS300, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and steering categories. 67 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

  • Engine419.0%
  • Powertrain (other)314.3%
  • Steering314.3%
  • Driver assistance314.3%
  • Brakes29.5%
  • Airbags29.5%
  • Suspension14.8%
  • Electrical14.8%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 17
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VSC AND CHECK ENGINE SENSOR INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE EMC WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11278609
Incident
Aug 1, 2019
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2015

EXHAUST SYSTEM LEAKING EXHAUST FUME INTO INTERIOR OF CAR. SYSTEM IS LEAKING FROM EXHAUST FLANGES FROM THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTER TO REAR CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND MUFFLER.

NHTSA ID
10750193
Incident
Feb 11, 2015
Electrical
Filed Aug 20, 2015

DOOR LOCKS ACTUATOR FAILURE ON PASSENGER FRONT, PASSENGER REAR. UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS MANUALLY OR REMOTELY VIA KEY FOB.

NHTSA ID
10750189
Incident
Oct 22, 2013
Mileage
158,961 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Dec 30, 2014

THERE IS A SQUEAKING NOISE WHENEVER THE CARE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER WAYS. IT GETS A LITTLE BIT DIFFICULT TO TURN SOMETIMES. I HAVE CHECKED THE POWER STEERING FLUID LEVEL AND IT IS OKAY AS PRESCRIBED. I HAVE JUST GOTTEN BACK FROM MY MECHANIC AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HIS VEHICLE TOYOTA IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN SOME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. *JS

NHTSA ID
10669103
Incident
Nov 14, 2014
Mileage
143,149 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 21, 2011

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A WHILE, BUT I PUT IN TODAY'S DATE BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LET YOU LEAVE IT BLANK. WHENEVER I HAVE TO GO UP A RAMP OR OVERPASS,IF I HAVE TO WAIT ON THE INCLINE PART DUE TO TRAFFIC OR A REDLIGHT, AFTER BEING ON THE BRAKE FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF TO GO FORWARD THE CAR ALWAYS ROLLS BACKWARDS AND WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS A LITTLE TO GO FORWARD AS NOT TO ROLL BACK THE CAR DOESN'T GO SMOOTHLY IT SURGES AND YOU HAVE BE IN CONTROL OF THE BRAKE OR YOU'LL ROLL BACK AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR SURGE TOO FAR FORWARD. I'M ALWAYS AFRAID WHEN I HAVE TO BE ON SOME OVERPASS AND HAVE TO WAIT TO GO BECAUSE THE LONGER THE WAIT THEN I KNOW FOR SURE THAT AS SOON AS I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO GO FORWARD THE CAR IS GOING TO START TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND IT'S REALLY SCARY. IF I HAVE TO GO UP A RAMP IN A PARKING GARAGE AND IF THERE IS A LINE THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN IT'S MY TURN TO GO THEN IT SURGES FORWARD. EVEN ON A REGULAR FLAT STREET, AFTER HAVING YOUR FOOT ON THE BREAK WHEN YOU HAVE TO GO THIS CAR SURGES FORWARD WITH A JOLT . I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS, BUT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. IS THIS A PROBLEM WITH MOST CARS OR IS THIS A DEFECT? I NEED TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM OF ROLLING BACK AND THEN THE CAR JOLTING FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10383477
Incident
Feb 21, 2011
Seat belts
Filed Dec 15, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH SHE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WERE NOT HOLDING THE PASSENGERS IN SECURELY. SHE STATED THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE GETTING WEAKER. SHE ALSO STATED THAT ONCE SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK BACK IN PLACE AND IT DRAPED DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER REGARDING THE FAILURE. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK THE SEAT BELTS. SHE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,525 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,700. UPDATED 01/28/11 *BF UPDATED 02/07/11*JB

NHTSA ID
10370764
Incident
Nov 3, 2010
Mileage
153,525 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 30, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING POWER AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD SOME TYPE OF INTERNAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO TOOK A COMPLAINT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A FAILURE WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 121,000.

NHTSA ID
10368368
Incident
Oct 1, 2010
Mileage
121,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 19, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SURGE AND INCREASE THE SPEED TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR AT THE CONTACTS REQUEST. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDANT MECHANIC TO HAVE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED AND IT WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER TO NOTIFY THEM REGARDING THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT HAS SOLD THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,500.

NHTSA ID
10312249
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Mileage
93,500 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.

L-SB-0002-20 Rev

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.

L-SB-0002-20 Rev

ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT

TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.

Lexus Safety Re

EQUIPMENT

Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

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

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
2001Viewing170036.7
2000350039.2
1999380042.4
1998601044.9
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.