IllustrationCONSUMER IS DISATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR SHORT PEOPLE.
1997 Lexus ES300
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all ES300 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 45 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 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 →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
6 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
45 reportsTHE OWNER IS SIX FEET TALL AND HIS VISION IS IMPAIRED BY THE LARGE YELLOW/BLACK AIR BAG WARNING LABEL WHICH REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD. LEXUS CORPORATION SAYS THIS IS THE WAY THE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE MIDDLE REAR SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE OCCUPANT OUT FROM THE MIDDLE SEAT. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, HAD TO CUT THE BELT IN ORDER TO GET A CHILD OUT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT. ALSO THE SHOULDER BELT WAS AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK AND WAS COMPRESSING HIS NECK TIGHTLY. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH AT NIGHT.
Official recalls
299V307000 · 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.
97V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist
Sep 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
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
1DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.