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1998 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
52Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
38
199537
199645
199752
199827
199956
200029
2001
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
9Seat Belts
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Electrical System
4
All reported categories
Seats
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Tires
3Wheels
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Other
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Steering
1Visibility
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 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.

13 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

1 reports
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44,000 miles · Jan 15, 2010
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN YOU USE THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS TO SIGNAL FOR A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE MAKES THIS CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AT ANY SPEED. DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS ON COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH BODILY INJ…

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HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BY THEMSELVES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THIS ALSO OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN YOU USE THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS TO SIGNAL FOR A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE MAKES THIS CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT AT ANY SPEED. DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS ON COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT WITH BODILY INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE OR OTHER VEHICLES AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE JM LEXUS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE WIPER SWITCH ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10299930

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.