Exterior Lighting. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 13 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

124 reports

53,089 miles · Aug 18, 2009

Steering

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I PURCHASED MY 06 LEXUS GS300 LAST YEAR AROUND MAY OF 2008, FROM THE DAY THAT I TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME, ALL I EVER EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTIES OF PROBLEMS. THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, I HEARD A REALLY BIG CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY, IT APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF CAM GEAR GRINDING, I TOOK IT TO LEXUS OF RENO TO HAVE IT FIX NOT ONCE BUT TWICE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, NOT TO MENTION THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN ALSO MAKE GRINDING NOISES, I'D ADDRESS THIS TO THE MECHANIC AT LEXUS AND THEY WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE MY COMPLAINT. TODAY IS AUGUST 19 2009 THE TRUNK OF MY CAR WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE REMOTE CONTROL OR THE TRUNK OPENER FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT, IT TOOK ME 60 MILES OR MORE COMING BACK AND FORTH EVERY COUPLE MONTHS TO GET THE SOMETHING FIX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280934

26,000 miles · Aug 8, 2009

Vehicle Speed Control

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A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY 2006 LEXUS GS300 IN JAN., 2006, I EXPERIENCED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF MY CAR. I WAS PASSING A CAR AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I TRIED THE BRAKE BUT IT SEEMED FROZEN..IT DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL. I QUICKLY THREW THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, AND AS I WAS ABOUT TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I SHIFTED INTO PARK...IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE FIRST TIME I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR BACK UP, IT RACED. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT IT SEEMED TO START UP NORMALLY, AND I DROVE IT TO WORK. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT FINE. THE OTHER EVENING 8/3/09, A LITTLE MORE THAN 3 YEARS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AS SHE WAS ACCELERATING , ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR, THE PEDAL CONTINUED TO MOVE TOWARD THE FLOOR . IT GOT UP TO 80 MILES AN HOUR, WHEN SHE DID AS I DID, PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER, AND THROW IT INTO PARK. SHE WAS FRANTIC, CALLING THE CAR A " DEATHTRAP " . I CALLED THE DEALER FOR A TOW AND WHEN I DESCRIBED WHAT HAPPENED, HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE MATS. .NO WAY. EVEN AFTER WE MOVED THE MAT COMPLETELY AWAY AND RESTARTED THE CAR..THE RPM'S RACED UP. EVEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID THE CAR RACED AND " JUMPED ' WHEN HE PULLED IT ONTO THE FLATBED . THE DEALER CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THE CAR IS FINE. I TOLD HIM I WANT THEM TO KEEP THE CAR UNTIL THEY FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. I HAD A LOANER FOR A COUPLE DAYS AND THEN THE DEMANDED IT BACK. I SAID I DON'T WANT MY CAR BACK UNTIL IT'S FIXED OR THEY GIVE ME A NEW ONE. I CAN'T SUPPLY THE VIN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALER, BUT I CAN GET IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10279800

20,000 miles · Mar 25, 2009

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED THREE SEPARATE RECALL LETTERS FROM THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS, AND THE FUEL DELIVERY PIPES. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK FOR THE PARTS TO ARRIVE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT IT WOULD TAKE AN ADDITIONAL WEEK FOR THE ACTUAL REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RECALL WAS INITIATED DUE TO A DEFECT AND POSSIBLE SAFETY RELATED ISSUE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 20,000.

NHTSA ODI #10263097

37,311 miles · Mar 25, 2009

Tires

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I OWN A 2006 GS300 AWD WHICH I BOUGHT IN SEPT 2007, WITH 9000 MILES. I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. IN OCTOBER 2008, WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WENT FLAT. I WENT TO ROCKVILLE CENTRE LEXUS IN ROCKVILLE CENTRE NEW YORK AND THEY NOTIFIED THAT I NEED NOT ONE BUT TWO TIRES. THEY STATED THAT ONE OF MY OTHER TIRES WAS NOT INFLATED BUT RUNNING ON THE RUN FLAT MODE. I WONDER IF I BOUGHT THE CAR IN THIS CONDITION AND WAS NOT AWARE. I BOUGHT TWO TIRES THE END PRICE WAS $1,087. ON MARCH 21, 2009, WHILE DRIVING AGAIN LOW TIRE LIGHT COMES ON. I GO TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY MARCH 23, I NEED TWO NEW TIRES AGAIN. THE TIRE WAS SPLIT, AND IT WAS NOT BY GLASS OR A NAIL. THESE TIRES ARE NOT FIT FOR THIS VEHICLE OR CHEAPLY MADE. I AM UPSET WITH LEXUS AND WILL NEVER PURCHASE LEXUS AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10263043

40,000 miles · Mar 16, 2009

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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LEXUS GS 300: HEADLAMP GOES OUT! VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOUR SEPARATE TIMES BY THE DEALER. WITH EACH REPAIR VISIT THE DEALER RESPONDED THE SAME WAY. WE CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, CAN'T FIX IT UNTIL WE CAN. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED FOUR TIMES TO THE OWNER WITH THE HEADLAMP NOT WORKING. FOUR SEPARATE VISITS TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIPS DURING A NINE MONTH PERIOD GENERATED THE SAME RESPONSE. FIRST THE HEADLAMP WAS REPLACED. TWO DAYS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE HEADLAMP WENT OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NIGHT. HEADLAMP PROBLEMS ARE KNOWN TO EXIST, HOWEVER LEXUS KEEPS NO RECORDS OF OWNER REPORTED HEADLAMP PROBLEMS ON THEIR MAINTENANCE RECORDS. MY DEALERSHIP RECORD SHOWS NO RECORD OF THE VEHICLE EVER BEING SERVICED FOR PROBLEMS BEYOND THE ORIGINAL HEADLAMP REPLACEMENT. ALL ATTEMPTS TO HAVE LEXUS CORPORATE RE-PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REFUSED, FIRST BY VAUGHN WENDELSTAPH, THEN PAULETTE CRISS, VP. HOW MANY FATAL CRASHES DUE TO A LEXUS FAILED HEADLAMPS ARE REQUIRED BEFORE LEXUS TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT, RECALLS THE VEHICLES, AND REMOVES THE SAFETY HAZARD FROM THE ROAD? LEXUS HAS OFFERED TO WASTE MORE OF MY TIME AND CONTINUE TO GUESS AT WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE AND REPLACE RANDOM PARTS UNTIL THEY GET IT RIGHT. IN THE MEANTIME I'M TOLD TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS MOVING HAZARD AND PUTTING MYSELF, MY FAMILY, AND ALL OTHER PASSENGERS AT RISK. I URGE ALL LEXUS OWNERS HAVING A LEXUS LEMONS HEADLAMP SAFETY OR OTHER ROAD HAZARD PROBLEM. BLOG YOUR RESPONSE TO LEXUSLEMONS.COM. *TR UPDATED 09/04/09

NHTSA ODI #10261995

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2008

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT SHORTLY AFTER BEING TURNED ON. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE ABOUT 3 TO 4 MONTHS AGO WITH MY PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THEY REPLACED THE WIRES AND HOUSING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT SINCE THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE EXACT ISSUE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A ELECTRICAL ISSUE. MY C…

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NHTSA ODI #10246510

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2008

Tires

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DUNLOP 18" TIRES PRESENTING WITH SEVERE CUPPING ON INSIDE EDGE (DISCOVERED AT 16K). TIRES HAVE APPROX 7/32 TREAD LEFT OTHERWISE (70%). SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS WEAR IS ABNORMAL AND ISN'T EASY TO SEE. TIRE WOULD COME APART IF NOT DISCOVERED AND REPLACED. LEXUS DEALER AGREED WEAR ISN'T NORMAL BUT WOULD ONLY REPLACE 2 TIRES. LEXUS TECH STATED HE'S SEEN THIS BEFORE (ALIGNMENT ISSUES FROM THE FACTORY). SIMILAR SITUATION CAUSED RECALL ON LS460 MODELS WITH DUNLOPS. THE GS300 SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL FOR ALIGNMENT/TIRE CHECKS BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. WE WERE LUCKY TO DISCOVER THAT OUR TIRES WERE UNSAFE AS THIS IS SO DIFFICULT TO SEE/DETECT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246429

30,000 miles · Jun 26, 2008

Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS GS300. WHILE BACKING UP OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR AND BECAME STUCK. HE THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. THE CONTACT CRASHED THROUGH THE FRONT GLASS WINDOW OF A STORE. THE CONTACT AND POSSIBLY ONE OCCUPANT IN THE STORE WERE INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO VIELE'S AUTOMOTIVE SHOP UNTIL IT CAN BE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND SPEED WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10232382

29,500 miles · May 6, 2008

Tires

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ONLY 29,500 MILES ON TIRES THAT FOR THE PRICE SHOULD LAST MANY THOUSAND MORE. OUR TIRES LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE RUN IMPROPERLY INFLATED AND NOT ROTATED AS RECOMMENDED, BUT WE HAVE THE SERVICE PAPERS THAT PROVE OTHERWISE. I HAVE NOT HAD EXPERIENCE WITH DUNLOP BRAND TIRES AND AM QUITE DISAPPOINTED WITH MY ONLY EXPERIENCE. I WILL NEVER USE THIS MANUFACTURER AGAIN. MY FAMILY IS MUCH TOO IMPORTANT TO TRUST THEIR SAFETY WITH A COMPANY THAT DOESN'T TAKE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY. OUR TIRES STARTED LOOSING TREAD CHUNKS WHILE DRIVING 75-80 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. ONLY ALERT WE HAD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS OCCURRING WAS A CHUNK THAT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TIRE STARTED HITTING THE WHEEL WELL OF OUR VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION, WE LEARNED THAT TWO OTHER TIRES HAD ALREADY LOST PIECES OF TREAD AND WERE WORN DOWN BEYOND WHAT WAS SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226767

13,800 miles · Nov 5, 2007

Tires

TIRES ARE CUPPING AT 13,000 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 13,000 MILES OR RISK A TIRE FAILURE. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE GS300 HAS AN ISSUE WITH CUPPING OF THE TIRES. THE LEXUS GS300 SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR A VEHICLE DEFECT THAT CAUSES TIRE PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207971

Official recalls

14V647000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Oct 15, 2014

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Lexus LS vehicles manufactured May 9, 2006, to July 20, 2010, 2006-2011 Lexus GS vehicles manufactured January 6, 2005, to September 10, 2010, and 2006-2011 Lexus IS vehicles manufactured August 30, 2005, to September 10, 2010. Due to anti-corrosion plating remnants, fuel may leak from where the fuel pressure sensor is attached to the fuel delivery pipe.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will clean and reseal the fuel pressure sensor mounting area, free of charge. The recall began March 3, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331.

11V115000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 AND 2007 LEXUS GS300 AND GS350 ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) VEHICLES. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PLASTIC PAD EMBEDDED INTO THE FLOOR CARPET MAY INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL COULD TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE PLASTIC PAD ON THE FLOOR CARPET FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal