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1998 Lexus ES300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Lexus ES300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.

About this comparison →
52Owner complaints

Model-year median: 38

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
38
199537
199645
199752
199827
199956
200029
2001
Compare all ES300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
9Seat Belts
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Vehicle Speed Control
5Electrical System
4
All reported categories
Seats
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4Fuel System, Gasoline
3Tires
3Wheels
3Equipment
2Fuel System, Other
2Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Power Train
1Steering
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 30 unknown

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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 6 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.

13 crash reports1 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

52 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Air Bags

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. YH

NHTSA ODI #608814

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Tires

TIRE FAILED, FLATTENED WHILE DURING ON FREEWAY. P205/65R 15924 BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE88. YH

NHTSA ODI #608655

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seats

COMPUTER FOR FRONT SEAT FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #608585

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Wheels

RIGHT TIRE FAILED DUE TO LEAK IN THE WHEEL RIM, ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASE YH

NHTSA ODI #608541

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Steering

ALARM SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #608065

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISC BRAKE PAD FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607596

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seats

SEAT ADJUSTMENT MOTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #607585

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Suspension

SUSPENSION FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606998

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

WHEEL BEARING FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606373

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN YOU TAKE IT OFF, PREVENTS CLOSURE OF DOOR. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606191

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.