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1993 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1993 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
43Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
199243
199339
199438
199537
1996
Compare all ES300 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
9Air Bags
8Engine And Engine Cooling
7Equipment
4Interior Lighting
4
All reported categories
Tires
3Power Train
2Unknown Or Other
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Steering
1Structure
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 8 of 43 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "SURGING" THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE MEDIA ON MY 1993 LEXUS ES300 MANY TIMES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 1995. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED (AT IDLE). I HAVE THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND THE CAR ENGINE INCREASES IN RPM'S. SOMETIMES IT IS A POWERFUL SURGE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. USUA…

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I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "SURGING" THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE MEDIA ON MY 1993 LEXUS ES300 MANY TIMES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 1995. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED (AT IDLE). I HAVE THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND THE CAR ENGINE INCREASES IN RPM'S. SOMETIMES IT IS A POWERFUL SURGE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. USUALLY, I NOTICE THIS OCCURRING AND PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD.

NHTSA ODI #10060842

132,495 miles · Nov 24, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE …

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WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A RADIATOR ALTHOUGH THE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP *LA THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10026659

123,000 miles · Jan 18, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

A CLOUD OF BLUE SMOKE COMES OUT WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR IN THE MORNING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES HAVE SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10002903

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR AN OIL LEAK, DEALER REPLACED THE O-RING. TWO MONTHS LATER THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS, APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE FROZE UP ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #8005414

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL IS JELLING WHICH PREVENTS OIL FROM CIRCULATING THROUGH THE ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK FIRST THERE WAS OIL FILTER GASKET LEAK AT BLOCK. DEALER REPLACED OIL FILTER HOUSING O-RING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LASTLY, THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE AND FOUN…

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ENGINE OIL IS JELLING WHICH PREVENTS OIL FROM CIRCULATING THROUGH THE ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK FIRST THERE WAS OIL FILTER GASKET LEAK AT BLOCK. DEALER REPLACED OIL FILTER HOUSING O-RING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LASTLY, THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE AND FOUND OIL GELLING IN ENGINE. AFTER NEW ENGINE, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF AN OIL GELLING CONDITION THAT MAY OCCUR. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM EXPENSES INCURRED FOR OIL GELLING CONDITION. *TT

NHTSA ODI #8005413

Mileage unknown · Dec 23, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

NEED TO REPLACE THE VALVE STEM HEADS. WAS TOLD BY INDEPENDENT LEXUS SERVICE CENTER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 93/94 ES300 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI #716382

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT (60) MPH ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #810673

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.