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1992 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1992 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
37Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
37
199243
199339
199438
1995
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
9Air Bags
6Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
4Latches/locks/linkages
4
All reported categories
Structure
4Unknown Or Other
3Exterior Lighting
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Interior Lighting
1Seat Belts
1Steering
1Tires
1

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: 8 of 37 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 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 reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineInterior Lighting

BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH UP TO DATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THREE MONTHS. ALL BUT ABOUT 1 WEEK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP.. THE INSTRAMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY $1000 TO FIX,,, JOKE... THE POWER STEERING PUMP AMD SENSORS WENT OUT CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO FAIL CAUSED THE…

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BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH UP TO DATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THREE MONTHS. ALL BUT ABOUT 1 WEEK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP.. THE INSTRAMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY $1000 TO FIX,,, JOKE... THE POWER STEERING PUMP AMD SENSORS WENT OUT CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO FAIL CAUSED THE CAR TO SEVERLY OVERHEAT,, CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROLS CAUSING CARBON BUILDUP IN THE FUEL INJECTORS, IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE BIGGEST PEICE OF JUNK I HAVE EVER OWNED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10096210

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CALLED THE LEXUS DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TO THE NEAREST LEXUS DEALER. CONSUMER GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN THE RAMP AND WAS PUSHED A BLOCK AWAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BECAU…

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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 20 MPH AND VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER CALLED THE LEXUS DEALER, AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT IN TO THE NEAREST LEXUS DEALER. CONSUMER GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO COAST DOWN THE RAMP AND WAS PUSHED A BLOCK AWAY. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM IT. CONSUMER WASN'T SURE IF VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT AFTER REACHING SO MANY MILES THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO OTHER ES300'S . ALSO, RADIATOR CAP BLEW OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858483

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & NOTICED TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATING HOT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. HAD NO INDICATION A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. HAD NO LEAKING NOR WAS VEHICLE OVERHEATING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. AK

NHTSA ODI #848287

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AS A RESULT THE VALVE SEALS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804748

Official recalls

1

94V039000 · Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch

Feb 23, 1994

THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH MECHANISM HAS A NARROW CLEARANCE BETWEEN INTERNAL PARTS WHICH, OVER TIME, ACCUMULATE DUST OR OTHER FOREIGN MATTER AND CAUSE THE LATCH TO NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS AND THE PRIMARY LATCH IS NOT PROPERLY ENGAGED, THE HOOD COULD OPEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING, BLOCKING THE VISION OF THE DRIVER, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: LEXUS DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH.

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.