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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.

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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

Wheels complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicWheelsCrash

5/13/1999:TOOK CAR IN FOR 10K CHECK-UP. ADVISED DEALER THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING A FRONTEND SHUDDER AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AND FOUND NO SHUDDER. 5/14/99:AFTER GETTING ON FREEWAY, EXPERIENCED A LOUD HUMMING AND THUMPING NOISE FROM FRON-END AND A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. BRAKING INCRE…

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5/13/1999:TOOK CAR IN FOR 10K CHECK-UP. ADVISED DEALER THAT I WAS EXPERIENCING A FRONTEND SHUDDER AT HIGHER SPEEDS OR UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER ROTATED TIRES AND FOUND NO SHUDDER. 5/14/99:AFTER GETTING ON FREEWAY, EXPERIENCED A LOUD HUMMING AND THUMPING NOISE FROM FRON-END AND A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. BRAKING INCREASED VIBRATION. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT THE LUG NUTS WERE LOOSE ON THE TIRES AND GOT OFF FREEWAY AND CHECKED TIRES (NO PROBLEM FOUND). THE VIBRATION AND NOISE DID NOT ABATE EVEN WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO GET OFF FREEWAY. NOISE AND VIBRATION DISAPPEARED AFTER GETTING BACK ON FREEWAY. 5/15/1999:WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL AREA, EXPERIENCED VIBRATION FROM FRONTEND AGAIN WHILE BRAKING. AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE SOUND/VIBRATION WENT AWAY. 5/17/1999:RETURNED CAR TO DEALER-ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND TIRES AGAIN. I INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEMS, BUT DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. TIRES WERE BALANCED. 6/5/1999:I GOT OFF 605 FREEWAY AT FIRESTONE EXIT AND PROCEEDED EAST. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON HOXIE AND WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SUDDENLY. I STEPPED ON THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT STOP AND CONTINUED TO ROLL (I WAS ROLLING FORWARD AT APPROXMATELY 5MPH AT THE TIME). I STOPPED AFTER HITTING THE TRAILER HITCH OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. THE TIME WAS 11:45 AM AND THE ROAD WAS DRY. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES NEVER ENGAGED. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK CHECKED HIS VEHICLE, BUT FOUND NO DAMAGE. HE DID NOT SPEAK ENGLISH AND SHOOK HIS HEAD WHEN I SHOWED HIM MY LICENSE AND INSURANCE CARD. 6/7/1999: REPORTED ACCIDENT TO MY INSURANCE AGENT. I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD BE TAKING THE CAR TO A BODY SHOP FOR ESTIMATES AND ALSO TO THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. 6/10/1999: TOOK CAR TO LEXUS DEALER. DEALER FOUND LOOSE CONNECTION AT HYDRAULIC ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT BRAKE BOOSTER VALVE BODY. DEALER STATED THAT MFG. DECLINED TO WARRANTY BUMPER DAMAGE. STEERING WHEEL STILL VIBRATES.

NHTSA ODI #708910

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.