1995 Lexus ES300

Routine

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control5
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
200
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel4
000
Tires2
000
Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood2
020
Air Bags › Frontal2
101
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar99V307000
Filed Nov 1, 1999540,037 vehiclesToyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 30, 2016100,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1995 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FRACTURED BONES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jul 29, 2015103,283 milesME

ACCELERATED AROUND A VEHICLE THAT HAD PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED ITSELF. I PUMPED BREAKS. TRIED TO DEACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL UNSUCCESSFULLY. WHILE HEAVILY PUMPING BREAKS, VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL AND CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WENT OUT.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 26, 201395,000 milesGA

TWO GAUGES HAVE STOPPED ILLUMINATING. A THIRD IS ABOUT TO GO. I AM UNABLE TO SEE THE SPEED AT NIGHT WHICH LIMITS USE OF THE VEHICLE THE CAR IS 18 YEARS OLD WITH 118,000 MILES AND RIDES BEAUTIFULLY BUT IT SEEMS THAT IS TOO SOON FOR A LUXURY CAR TO LOSE USE OF SUCH VITAL FUNCTIONS. FROM RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE,IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MODEL. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT LATER MODEL CLUSTERS CAN BE REPAIRED BUT THE 1995'S HAVE TO BE REPLACED EXCLUSIVELY BY LEXUS AT AN EXORBITANT COST. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 9, 2011167,825 milesCA

TL* LEXUS SUDDEN ACCELERATION COMMENTS: MY 1995 LEXUS ES300 HAD SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM ON NOVEMBER 1, 2010. AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY CHANGING A PART THE ENGINE SEEMED TO BE OK, HOWEVER, ON FEBRUARY 28, 2011, WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED NORMALLY WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK, THE ENGINE ROARED SUDDENLY FOR A SECOND AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,825. THE CONTACT WANTS TO USE THE COMPLAINT THAT WAS SENT VIA EMAIL. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 3/01/2012 *LN *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Apr 5, 2010CA

IN APRIL 2008, DRIVER WAS DRIVING HOME IN A 95 LEXUS ES300 AND WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE GARAGE. AS SHE PULLED UP TOWARDS THE GARAGE WHILE WAITING FOR THE GARAGE TO OPEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR. IT CONTINUED RACING FORWARD AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. DRIVER TRIED TO BRAKE BUT THAT SEEMED TO HAVE NO EFFECT AND THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER THAN NORMAL RPM. DRIVER THEN TRIED TO GET THE GEAR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK, UNFORTUNATELY, IT ENGAGED IN REVERSE AND THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL BACKWARDS AND INTO THE STREET. AS IT REVERSING OUT OF CONTROL AFTER HITTING THE FIRST PARKED VEHICLE IT SEVERELY DAMAGED A MAIN COLUMN OF THE HOUSE ON ITS WAY OUT AND HIT ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS PARKED IN THE STREET. AFTER WHICH IT CAME TO A STOP. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED THIS TO THE AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE COMPANY (RESIDENTIAL MUTUAL). GEICO RULED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLES WE OWNED AT THE TIME THE LEXUS ES300 AND THE PARKED VAN IN THE GARAGE THAT WAS HIT WERE A TOTAL LOSS. IN ADDITION, THE NEIGHBOR'S CAR WAS ALSO BADLY DAMAGED BUT THE EXACT DISPOSITION OF THAT VEHICLE IS NOT KNOWN. THE POLICE WAS CALLED BUT THEY DID NOT CREATE A REPORT BECAUSE THE WAY THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IT WAS NOT CONSIDERED A POLICE MATTER. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed May 18, 200980,000 milesCA

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDLES BURNED OUT. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Sep 30, 200893,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NONE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES ILLUMINATE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THE VEHICLE NEEDS FUEL, WHAT SPEED HE IS TRAVELING, OR IF THERE IS ANY FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND SENT TO THE FACTORY. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. HE BELIEVES THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE ALL OF THE GAUGES SHOULD NOT BE FAILING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. UPDATED 10-29-08 *BF U[DATED 10/30/08. *JB

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jun 5, 2008138,000 milesIA

CURRENTLY HAVE 1995 LEXUS ES300. THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY HAS STOPPED ILLUMINATING WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING THE DAYLIGHT HOURS, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. BEING A PHYSICIAN I SEE MANY PATIENTS WHO HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS WITH FULLY FUNCTIONAL CARS. SEEING YOUR SPEED AT NIGHT IS IMPERATIVE, AND I BELIEVE IT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEXUS TO SUBMIT A RECALL TO HAVE THE THOUSANDS OF UNITS REPAIR BEFORE COUNTLESS ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATHS OCCUR. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Nov 7, 2007200,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING. AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 200,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Nov 28, 2006IL

I HAVE 95 LEXUS ES300. THE ELECTRO SPEEDOMETER POINTER(NEEDLE) HAS FADED AND I CAN NOT SEE MY SEED ANY MORE. I CHECKED WEB SITE AND I FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THERE ARE NO ANSWERS. IT SEEMS TOYOTA IS IGNORING THIS PROBLEM WHILE CREATING VERY UNSAFE CARS. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 24, 200671,200 milesAZ

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT MEASURE THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. ALSO, THE GAUGE PANEL SURROUNDING THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 19, 2004111,000 milesMD

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SURGING WHEN DRIVING. THE CONSUMER HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. NOTHING WOULD STOP THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION. *AK THERE WAS CARBON BUILD UP AROUND THE THROTTLE, THE REAR MAIN SEAL WAS WORN OUT, THE FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN, THE STEERING HOSE WAS CRACKED, THE TEMPERATURE WOULD STAY THE SAME REGARDLESS OF THE TEMPERATURE SETTING, AND THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY OIL PUMP DID NOT SHOW THE PRESSURE. *SC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 11, 2004122,563 milesMD

OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. CONSUMER CALLED DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE MECHANIC IT MADE A FUNNY NOISE. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT PROBLEM WAS THE OIL PRESSURE AND ITS HAD AFFECT ON THE ENGINE. VEHICLE NEEDED AN ENGINE OVERHAUL. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER/MECHANIC. THEY TOLD CONSUMER THE SAME THING THAT IT WAS THE OIL PRESSURE, AND THAT IT WOULD COST CONSUMER $10,000-15,000.00 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. *AK LOW OIL PRESSURE CAUSED THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A DEFECT WITH THE TIMING OF THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 23, 2004MD

LOW OIL PRESSURE - ENGINE DAMAGE. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Aug 23, 2002GA

CONSUMER RECEIVED A LETTER CONCERNING OIL GELLING PROBLEMS IN REGARD TO HER 1998 ES300, HOWEVER THIS IS THE EXACT PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITH HER 1995 ES300, WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, ENGINE CUT OFF AND CONSUMER HAD TO COAST INTO A GORE BETWEEN THE INTERSTATE AND AN INTERSTATE ENTRANCE RAMP. *SLC

Electrical System › Wiring › Front UnderhoodFire
Filed Aug 16, 2002PA

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Jan 25, 2002NJ

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15MPH ON SLIGHTLY WET ROAD, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES LIGHTLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO SPIN AND JUMP THE CURB, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE ROTORS WERE BROKEN INTO PIECES, AND THEY WERE REGROUNDED TWICE BEFORE THE INDCIDENT. *AK. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE BEING REPLACED FREQUENTLY, AND ALSO EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS FREQUENTLY, AND THE BUSHINGS WERE ALSO REPLACED.*SLC

Equipment
Filed Jan 10, 2002CA

VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH AN ANCHOR BRACKET, CONSUMER REQUESTED TO THE DEALER THAT IT BE ADDED, HOWEVER WAS INFORMED IT COULD NOT BE, CONSUMER LATER FOUND IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT IT IN FACT COULD BE ADDED AND INSTALLED THE BRACKET HIMSELF. *SLC

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Oct 31, 2001FL

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE A GRAUDAL STOP PEDAL GOES TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Oct 31, 2001FL

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE WEARING EXCESSIVELY. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKES PADS AND ROTORS FOUR TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

20 of 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2002
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20135000Routine
20063000Routine
20051000Routine
2003116042Fatalities reported
2002153250Routine
200129010Routine
200056010Routine
199927000Routine
199852110Routine
199745221Fatalities reported
199637133Fatalities reported
1995 — this page38120Routine
199439100Routine
199343041Fatalities reported
199237110Routine

Compare every ES300 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 1, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.