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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
60Owner complaints

Model-year median: 6

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1998 Lexus GS300

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 60 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Vehicle Speed Control: 25 reports
  • Suspension: 10 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5 reports
  • Tires: 5 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

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, mileage exposure 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

Steering complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
186,000 miles · Dec 17, 2010
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE …

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.

NHTSA ODI #10371021

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Interior LightingSteeringVisibility

SUNROOF, ELECTRICAL SENSOR, DOOR LIGHT, STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA ODI #609667

Recall campaigns

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 ↗

Defect investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.