2001 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 2001 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
- Engine419.0%
- Powertrain (other)314.3%
- Steering314.3%
- Driver assistance314.3%
- Brakes29.5%
- Airbags29.5%
- Suspension14.8%
- Electrical14.8%
- Other / unspecified14.8%
- Seat belts14.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
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 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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 LEXUS GS300, WITH IT WANTING TO "PULL/FOLLOW/WANDER" WHEN DRIVING ON CERTAIN ROADS. I HAVE ADDRESSED THIS CONCERN WITH LEXUS, BUT THEIR HELP WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THEY TELL ME THAT THIS IS THE NATURE OF THE VEHICLE, EVEN WHEN ANOTHER LEXUS GS300 (2003) DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED MY LEXUS. WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE 1000 MILE CHECK-UP- I BROUGHT UP THE CONCERN, BUT WHAT I GOT WAS THAT THE STEERING LOOSENS, A LITTLE AS THE CAR AGES . WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO ONE LEXUS DEALER- HE INDICATED THAT THAT WAS NOT TRUE AND THAT WAS AN UNACCEPTABLE ANSWER. TODAY, I CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT BEEN AN ADDRESS BY LEXUS, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THEY SAY ITS THE NATURE OF THE CAR. THIS CAR CURRENTLY HAS LEXUS OEM 17 WHEELS FROM A LEXUS GS430- THE GS300 HAS 16 WHEELS, BUT EVEN WITH THESE ITS A PROBLEM. THANKS DANNY ZAMORA. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
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
ALL BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE FIRST WEEK AFTER WE GOT THE CAR THE FRONT BERRING WAS REPLACED SENT IT BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE BACK BEARING WAS REPLACED CAR TAKEN BACK THE OTHER TWO BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. OTHER INCIDENT CALL WAS BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE LIGHT ON AND SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING NOW I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR JERKS.*AK
EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING, IT ALSO OCCASIONALLY BECOMES DEPRESSED WITHOUT TOUCHING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. *SLC
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
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
I HAVE A 2001 LEXUS GS300. MY VEHICLE FLIPPED THREE TIMES ON A TURN AND NONE OF MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NOT THE SIDE, FRONT OR CURTAIN AIR BAGS. *NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
ALL BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, THE FIRST WEEK AFTER WE GOT THE CAR THE FRONT BERRING WAS REPLACED SENT IT BACK THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE BACK BEARING WAS REPLACED CAR TAKEN BACK THE OTHER TWO BEARINGS WERE REPLACED. OTHER INCIDENT CALL WAS BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE LIGHT ON AND SMELL OF RUBBER BURNING NOW I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND THE CAR JERKS.*AK
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
DOOR LOCKS ACTUATOR FAILURE ON PASSENGER FRONT, PASSENGER REAR. UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS MANUALLY OR REMOTELY VIA KEY FOB.
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
CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING A DEFECT IN ALLOY WHEEL. CONSUMER DISCOVERED A CRACKED SPOKE IN ALLOY WHEEL WHEN CHECKING TIRES FOR PROPER PRESSURE. *TS THE DEALER WAS SHOWN THE DAMAGED WHEEL BUT PROVIDED NO CORRECTIVE ACTION. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .