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1998 Lexus GS300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
60Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
9
19952
19960
199760
199838
199935
200017
2001
Compare all GS300 years →

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

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
25Suspension
10Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Tires
5Electrical System
4
All reported categories
Structure
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Exterior Lighting
3Air Bags
2Electronic Stability Control
2Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Power Train
2Service Brakes
2Steering
2Engine
1Equipment
1Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1Wheels
1

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

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 36 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
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190,000 miles · Jan 6, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 192,380. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. UPDATED 02/27/12

NHTSA ODI #10442688

146,400 miles · Feb 25, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE "VSC" AND THE "VSC OFF" LIGHTS BOTH TURN ON AT THE SAME TIME, AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY COME TO IDLE AND THE CAR SLOWLY COME TO STOP RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY WHEN I AM DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10183461

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

ROD BEARING KNOCK FIRST HEARD AT 3300 MILES, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR STATEING THAT PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. I HAVE RECORDING OF THE NOISE AND AFFIDAVITS.

NHTSA ODI #713330

Official recalls

1

98V080000 · Electronic Stability Control:automatic (asc)

Apr 17, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.

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.