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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

View recall details →

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

What owners actually said

37 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ANOTHER VEHICLE CROSSED OVER DOUBLE LINES AND SPUN AROUND AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND WENT INTO TREES AND THE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE A THIRD TIME. AS A RESULT, DRIVER'S HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845042

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 1997
Air BagsSeats

THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG AND THE TWO FRONT SEATS FULLY RECLINED DURING THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #527228

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #520388

Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG IN ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI #517965

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 1997
Electrical System

BATTERY FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #603125

Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 1996
Suspension

THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHIMMIES, CAN FEEL THROUGH THE STEEERING COLUMN AND ALL OVER, CAUSE UNKNOWN: *AK

NHTSA ODI #806711

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 1996
SteeringCrashInjury

STEERING FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OF 40MPH, SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES, VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION. *AK CONSUMER WAS BRAKING MODERATELY WHILE TURNING STEERING WHEEL. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #802808

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.