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1998 Lexus GS300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 36 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
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270,038 miles · Sep 22, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS GOING TO GO TO WORK, AN WHEN I STARTED TO PUSH ON THE THOTTHLE/ GAS PEDAL . NOTHING ENGAGED AN THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WORKED LIKE IT WAS BACK TO RUNNING NORMAL FOR LIKE 10 SECONDS THEN LOST ALMOST ALL THE POWER AN YOU CAN PUSH THE PADEL TO THE FLOOR ALMOST BEFOR IT WILL EVEN ENGAGE. IT'S MY EVERYDAY DRIVING CAR IT NOT SAFE…

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I WAS GOING TO GO TO WORK, AN WHEN I STARTED TO PUSH ON THE THOTTHLE/ GAS PEDAL . NOTHING ENGAGED AN THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT WORKED LIKE IT WAS BACK TO RUNNING NORMAL FOR LIKE 10 SECONDS THEN LOST ALMOST ALL THE POWER AN YOU CAN PUSH THE PADEL TO THE FLOOR ALMOST BEFOR IT WILL EVEN ENGAGE. IT'S MY EVERYDAY DRIVING CAR IT NOT SAFE TO BE DRIVING, WHEN IT'S MALFUNCTIONING IN THE ECU, VSC , CRUISE CONTROL QUIT BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED. THERE A RECALL ON THE VSC FOR THE LEXUS GS 300 FOR HAVING MALFUNCTION PROBLEMS. BUT IT ONLY LET'S THE YOU USE ONLY THE LAST 25 PERCENT OF THE GAS PADEL, IT DON'T DO ANYTHING IN TILL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAPPENED IN BROOKVILLE PENNSYLVANIA, WHEN I WAS TURING LEFT ON TO ROUTE 36 SOUTH. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE MY THOTTLE BODY BECAUSE WHEN THIS ALL HAPPENED, MY THOTTLE IT WAS STUCK IN WIDE OPEN THOTTLE. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS IT COULD HAVE EASILY PUT OTHERS CITIZENS AN MY LIFE IN DANGER, WITCH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES, OR IN A WORSE CASE DEATH. I'M FILLING OUT THIS FOAM IN REGARDS OF A RECALL, TO FIX OR REPLACE THE ECU, VSC , CRUSE CONTROL .

NHTSA ODI #11024942

37,000 miles · Sep 11, 2007
Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO T…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND BELT ON APRIL 16, 2006, THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY THINK IT WAS THE CONSUMER'S STARTER. UPDATED 09/28/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10202535

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 2004
Electrical SystemStructureUnknown Or Other

NOTICE OF CLAIMS REGARDING TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT BREACH OF CONTRACT. *MR THE TRUNK BUTTON WOULD UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE, THE RADIO SHUT OFF, AND THE DRIVER REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AT TIMES. *SC

NHTSA ODI #10091768

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

DEAD BATTERY. YH

NHTSA ODI #609316

Official recalls

1

98V080000 · Electronic Stability Control:automatic (asc)

Apr 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.

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.