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1996 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 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

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1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
43
199339
199438
199537
199645
199752
199827
1999
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
11Air Bags
6Electrical System
5Steering
5Suspension
3
All reported categories
Seat Belts
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Visibility
2Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Seats
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: 11 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 11 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 5 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 reports3 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

11 reports
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145,000 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

1996 LEXUS ES300; SLUDGE BUILD-UP; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; WHITE SMOKE ON START-UP; DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $7000. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED FOR 1997 TO 2001 MODELS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE. WHY WON'T THEY HONOR THE REPAIR TO THE ENGINE FOR A 1996 MODEL? *…

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1996 LEXUS ES300; SLUDGE BUILD-UP; EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION; WHITE SMOKE ON START-UP; DEALER SAYS THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $7000. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED FOR 1997 TO 2001 MODELS WITH THE V-6 ENGINE. WHY WON'T THEY HONOR THE REPAIR TO THE ENGINE FOR A 1996 MODEL? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10137705

86,068 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE FAILED (SEIZED UP) DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR'S OIL HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHANGED. IN FACT, THE CAR'S OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3-4,000 MILES, NOT EVERY 5,000 AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. CAR WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SERVICED BY LEXUS AT 70,000 MILES AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ENGINE VERY WELL . . . THE…

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ENGINE FAILED (SEIZED UP) DUE TO OIL SLUDGE, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE CAR'S OIL HAD BEEN REGULARLY CHANGED. IN FACT, THE CAR'S OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3-4,000 MILES, NOT EVERY 5,000 AS RECOMMENDED BY LEXUS. CAR WAS ALSO COMPLETELY SERVICED BY LEXUS AT 70,000 MILES AND THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T LOOK AT THE ENGINE VERY WELL . . . THERE MUST HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE OF SLUDGE BY THAT TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10071144

93,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER ON 141 IN NORCROSS BECAUSE I KNEW MY 3 YEAR WARRENTY RAN OUT IN MAY. THE LEXUS DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL WAS NOT FLOWING PROPERLY. HE SUGGESTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL AND THE OIL BECAME CAKED TO THE ENGINE. THE OIL WAS THEN BRAKING UP IN PIECE…

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MY OIL LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER ON 141 IN NORCROSS BECAUSE I KNEW MY 3 YEAR WARRENTY RAN OUT IN MAY. THE LEXUS DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE OIL WAS NOT FLOWING PROPERLY. HE SUGGESTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT CHANGE THE OIL AND THE OIL BECAME CAKED TO THE ENGINE. THE OIL WAS THEN BRAKING UP IN PIECES AND CLOGGING THE ENGINE. HE SAID I NEEDED TO GET ANOTHER CAR. I STILL HAD PAYMENTS LEFT (AROUND 6K) AND COULD NOT AFFORD IT. IN OCTOBER, THE ENGINE BROKE. I CALLED LEXUS AND THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T TO ANYTHING FOR ME. THEY WANTED 11.5K FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAD TO PAY $5,037.49 FOR A NEW ENGINE TO BARON'S GARAGE. I CHANGED MY OIL RELIGIOUSLY EVERY 3,000 MILES. PLEASE CALL ME AT 678-642-9913, I WANT MY MONEY REFUNDED

NHTSA ODI #10071126

98,143 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT BENEATH OIL FILLER CAP ON VALVE COVER AFTER GOING TO LEXUS THE BEST THEY WOULD OFFER WAS TO EAT THE PARTS COST, ABOUT $500 BUT I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A HEAD JOB THAT ANYON…

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"CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY, BLUE EXHAUST SMOKE ON STARTUP, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT BENEATH OIL FILLER CAP ON VALVE COVER AFTER GOING TO LEXUS THE BEST THEY WOULD OFFER WAS TO EAT THE PARTS COST, ABOUT $500 BUT I WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A HEAD JOB THAT ANYONE ELSE CHARGES $950 FOR

NHTSA ODI #10069733

109,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE OIL SLUDGE WE SPENT A TOTAL OF 2716.00 FOR A USED ENGINE, THE MILEAGE 109,313, I BOUGHT THE ENGINE ON MARCH 10, 2003....AND THE BREAKDOWN OCCURED ABOUT A WEEK PRIOR..

NHTSA ODI #10069567

121,000 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE SEIZED IN DECEMBER 2000. LEXUS SAID IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. SUGGESTED I FIND A THIRD PARTY TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR WHICH I DID.

NHTSA ODI #10068987

98,000 miles · Jul 25, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON, BLUE EXHAUST IN ENGINE SMOKE, ABNORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT INSIDE VALVE COVER BELOW OIL FILLER CAP. CALLED LEXUS AMERICA, BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER, THEY TELL ME I MUST PAY $2,071.06 FOR REPAIRS AND PRETEND NOT TO KNOW OF THIS COMMON 3.0L V-6 ENGINE PROBLEM THAT IS E…

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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ON, BLUE EXHAUST IN ENGINE SMOKE, ABNORMAL OIL CONSUMPTION, GELLED OIL OR SLUDGE PRESENT INSIDE VALVE COVER BELOW OIL FILLER CAP. CALLED LEXUS AMERICA, BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALER, THEY TELL ME I MUST PAY $2,071.06 FOR REPAIRS AND PRETEND NOT TO KNOW OF THIS COMMON 3.0L V-6 ENGINE PROBLEM THAT IS EXTENSIVELY DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET AND THAT LEXUS HAS ALREADY STARTED REIMBURSING CAR OWNERS STARTING WITH 1997 MODELS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10029186

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXCESSIVE BLUE SMOKE COMES OUT OF THE TAILPIPE. ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION IS VERY HIGH. ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO OIL GELLING/SLUDGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #764396

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHARSED THIS CAR AND I AM ALREADY $1000.00 IN THE HOLE AND LOOKING AT $2000 JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT.IT WAS A LEMON FROM THE START AND NOBODY IS WILLING TO COVER ARE ASSIT WITH THE REPAIR JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT LEGAL OPTIONS I HAVE .I HAVE'NT MADE A PAYMENT ON IT YET ,BUT IT'S UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS POINT. N…

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I JUST RECENTLY PURCHARSED THIS CAR AND I AM ALREADY $1000.00 IN THE HOLE AND LOOKING AT $2000 JUST TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE IT.IT WAS A LEMON FROM THE START AND NOBODY IS WILLING TO COVER ARE ASSIT WITH THE REPAIR JUST TRYING TO SEE WHAT LEGAL OPTIONS I HAVE .I HAVE'NT MADE A PAYMENT ON IT YET ,BUT IT'S UNDRIVEABLE AT THIS POINT. NO SAFETYD EFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759352

Mileage unknown · Feb 19, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. ENGINE BLEW DUE TO SLUDGE(HARD OIL IN ENGINE). VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN NOVEMBER. THE PROBLEM AROSE AGAIN IN DECEMBER. THERE WAS MAIN BEARING DAMAGE, TOO SEVERE TO REPAIR AND HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR MAIN OIL SEAL. *JG *AK

NHTSA ODI #8004190

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.