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1997 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
45Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
39
199438
199537
199645
199752
199827
199956
2000
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
8Electrical System
5Engine And Engine Cooling
5Seat Belts
5Air Bags
3
All reported categories
Equipment
3Seats
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Visibility
3Power Train
2Steering
2Tires
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
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 45 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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 reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

5 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE P…

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WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10091510

Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. POLICE INVESTIGATOR STATED FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016719

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2002
Electrical System

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN IN NEUTRAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8011899

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Electrical System

WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE GARAGE AND HIT A TREE, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SHIFT LOCK ACTUATOR FUSE.

NHTSA ODI #541421

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1998
Electrical System

ACCIDENTALLY LEFT CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION, UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY RESULTING IN HITTING A TREE.

NHTSA ODI #540090

Official recalls

2

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.

97V156000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist

Sep 17, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.

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.