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1999 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 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

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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: 13 of 27 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 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

27 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER SOON FOUND OUT THE CAR HAD A SLUDGE PROBLEM WHICH EVENTUALLY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL, ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #564403

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2001
Visibility

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A DEALER LOW MILEAGE EXTENDED TO 100K WARRANTY 1999 ES300 LEXUS, MY MID AGE DREAM CAR. IT IS TRULY A NICE AUTO, EXCEPT. THE BEAST HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR "MAID SERVICE" NOT GENUINE PROBLEM UNTIL FROST/FREEZE PUTS THE PROBLEM AGAINST MY REQUIREMENT OF WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FOR VISION. MICE HAVE A FREE…

Read full complaint

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A DEALER LOW MILEAGE EXTENDED TO 100K WARRANTY 1999 ES300 LEXUS, MY MID AGE DREAM CAR. IT IS TRULY A NICE AUTO, EXCEPT. THE BEAST HAS BEEN TO THE SHOP 3 TIMES FOR "MAID SERVICE" NOT GENUINE PROBLEM UNTIL FROST/FREEZE PUTS THE PROBLEM AGAINST MY REQUIREMENT OF WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER FOR VISION. MICE HAVE A FREE RUN OF THE ENTIRE AIR INTAKE SYSTEMS...AIR CONDITIONING/HEATER AND ENGINE AIR FILTER/FUEL INJECTION. I HAVE PHONED AND E-MAILED THE TOYOTA/LEXUS FOLKS BOTH AT WEBSITE AND CALIFORNIA MULTIPLE TIMES WITH LITTLE RESPECT TOWARDS CONSUMER COMMUNICATION. THE RESPONSE FROM MY AGITATION RELIEVED ME OF THE LAST $BILL PRESENTATION, YET THE ONLY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE: "GET MOTH BALLS,GET A CAT, GET AN EXTERMINATOR..". MY CAR SITS ON CONCRETE IN A RURAL CARPORT 1/2 THE TIME..YET WHEN MY HUSBAND TOOK ME TO YET ANOTHER TOYOTA SERVICE SHOP TO ASK..WHAT IF THIS PROBLEM EXIST FOR YOUR CUSTOMERS, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR THEM? ONE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE HAS DEALT WITH AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS EVERY WHICH WAY SINCE 1990..AND NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR THE COMPLAINT! HE PERSONALLY HAS A CAMRY THAT IS PARKED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD IN A CLOSED GARAGE, WITH CAR COVER, 5 CATS AND LIBERAL DOUSING OF RAT POISON..AND HAS 3 TIMES HAD TO CLEAN OUT THE SAME PROBLEM. HE ALSO SAID IT IS NO EASY FEAT TO GET AT THE CAR FRAME TO CLEAN ...INCLUDING DEAD RODENTS,MICE & SNAKES..AND DISINFECT; SOME OF THESE ARE LUXURY AUTOS?! YET NO CORPORATE INTEREST TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOR RECTIFY THE INCONVENIENCE AND EXPENSE AND PERHAPS DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN WINDSHIELD VISION MAY BE MORE THAN IMPAIRED DUE TO NO AIR CONTROL TO THE FRONT AUTO GLASS BECAUSE MOUSE ?!@#$% AND NEST CRAP JUST GOT SUCKED INTO THE "SOPHISTICATED" AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM. APPARENTLY THIS IS A ROUTINE SITUATION FOR MANY THAT DO NOT RESIDE IN A CONCRETE JUNGLE ENVIRON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #753409

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT START UP AND ACCELERATION BLUE SMOKE COMES FROM TAIL PIPE.ALSO, THERE IS EXCESSIVE USE OF OIL, AND PCV VALVE IS CLOGGED UP. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK HEAD GASKET FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE BASED ON NO EVIDENCE OF DEFECT

NHTSA ODI #880975

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

DURING EARLY MORNING STARTS WHEN ACCELERATING RPMS WERE AROUND 1700 TO 2300. CONSUMER HEARD A VERY LOUD PITCH., UNSURE OF THE LOCATION OF THE NOISE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #865777

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000
Seat Belts

REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT HOLD CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT FIRMLY. YH

NHTSA ODI #550888

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
Suspension

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, IT WOULD SWERVE RIGHT OR LEFT INTO ANOTHER LANE VERY QUICKLY. WOULD HAVE NO PRIOR WARNING WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN. PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER & WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A COMMON CHARACTERISTIC OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854964

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY A PIECE OF METAL OR STEEL PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER, THERE WAS NO PROTECTION FOR GAS TANKS. A SIMILAR PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN TO THE FORD. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850461

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

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.