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1996 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
43
199339
199438
199537
199645
199752
199827
1999
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
11Air Bags
6Electrical System
5Steering
5Suspension
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
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: 11 of 37 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAG OVER-SENSITIVITY DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TOO SENSITIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL WAS DAMAGED. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN INFANT CAR SEAT , WITH THE CONSUMER CHILD FASTENED INSIDE, WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT FACING…

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AIRBAG OVER-SENSITIVITY DEFECT.*MR THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE AIR BAG WAS TOO SENSITIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE DRIVERS SIDE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL WAS DAMAGED. BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AN INFANT CAR SEAT , WITH THE CONSUMER CHILD FASTENED INSIDE, WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT FACING REARWARD. THE IMPACT OF THE AIR BAG CAUSED FATAL INJURIES TO THE CHILD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10042056

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH IN WHICH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #881225

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2000
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR COLLISION IN WHICH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, KILLING INFANT IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867179

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER DOUBLE LINES AND SPUN AROUND AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND WENT INTO TREES AND THE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE A THIRD TIME. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845042

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1997
Air BagsSeats

THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND THE TWO FRONT SEATS FULLY RECLINED DURING THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #527228

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #517965

Official recalls

1

99V307000 · Steering: Steering Wheel/handle Bar

Nov 1, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

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

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.