1999 Lexus GS300

Routine

Owners filed 38 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
98,099 milesMedian miles at failure

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 150,000200,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control6
301
Service Brakes6
000
Electrical System5
101
Suspension › Front3
100
Suspension3
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
100
Steering2
000
Wheels › Rim1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages1
000
Tires1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed May 6, 2019101,000 milesTX

"TAKATA RECALL" ALL DOOR LOCKS MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED AT EACH DOOR....WINDOWS OPEN AT TIMES WHEN KEY UNLOCKS CAR....BOTH KEYS ARE LOOSE AT THE BASE AND ARE HELD TOGETHER BY TAPE.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 2016197,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 2016170 milesFL

I GOT BRAKES PUT ON AT THE LEXUS OF PALM BEACHES OFF OF OKEECHOBEE BLVD LAST YEAR AND PAID OVER 475 DOLLARS FOR ALL PARTS. AS A RESULT 7 MONTHS LATER MY BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK SO I CALLED THEM AND I WAS NOT ASSISTED WITH NEW PARTS EXCEPT JUST BRAKE SPRAY WHICH IS NOT GOOD. THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND I HAVE A 1 YEAR WARRANTY WHICH ENDS IN ONE MONTH WHICH I FEEL THAT IS WHY THEY DONT WANT TO FIX IT UNTIL THE WAARANTY IS UP

Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2015170,000 milesAL

WHILE CAR NEWLY MADE REMOTE KEY CRANK CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN 30 +DAYS , I CRANK CAR AND ALARM SOUNDED AND FLASHING LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN CAR KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO CRANK ALL BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION!!! I UNHINGED THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE CAR WRNT DEAD. ALSO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BACK ENGINE AREA!! I TOWED CAR TO LEXUS DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND THE CAR DROVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPORTING ELECTRICAL/OXYGEN SENSOR CODE. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING CHIRPING LOW SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND DASH BOARD. I REPORTED IT TO LEXUS DEALER SERVICE A AGAIN BUT NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FAULTY ALTERNATOR.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 9, 2015201,000 milesTN

PREPARING TO STOP WHILE ENTERING ACCESS GATE SLOWING TO AROUND 10 - 15 MPH, AFTER APPLYING BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO REAPPLY BRAKE AGAIN AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HIGH LEVEL ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH BEFORE I HAVE NOTICED OCCASIONALLY A LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION WHEN PREPARING TO STOP. *TR

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2014169,000 milesAL

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATION WHEN I BRAKE,GOING FROM 10MPH TO 60MPH IN SECONDS. *JS

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 3, 2014AL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, SO THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 010915*LJ UPDATED 02/02/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. A REPRESENTATIVE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT IT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 06/3/2015 *JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2013130,000 milesNY

THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE BELOW 5 MPH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WILL HAVE LITTLE STOPPING ABILITY AND ABS WILL ACTIVATE. THE ROAD SURFACE IS DRY AND CLEAR OF DEBRIS. *TR

Suspension
Filed Sep 20, 2013163,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 11-19-2013. SECOND ATTEMPT ON 11-20-2013 FAILED. *KB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 1, 2013155,900 milesOH

I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I PRESSED THE BRAKE REAL HARD BUT THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AHEAD. QUICKLY, I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 7500 AND THEN WENT BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE PERSON AT THE INTERSECTION SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HE SWERVED AWAY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. IN MY 45 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SCARIEST FEELING. *JS

Steering
Filed Jul 22, 201320,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH OR ABOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 30, 2013176,000 milesCA

THE SAFETY BELT FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE BROKEN. THERE IS NO RESTRAINT, MEANING IT DOESN'T STOP THEREFORE WEARING A SEATBELT IS USELESS. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 29, 2012GA

WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR. I HEARD A LOUD BUZZING SOUND, MY BRAKE LIGHT, VSC ON AND OFF LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPABILITY. *TR

Steering
Filed Jan 3, 201267,586 milesVA

WHEN EXCEEDING 60MPH, THE GS 300'S STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES QUITE NOTICEABLY. THE FASTER YOU ACCELERATE, THE MORE NOTICEABLE THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES. THIS CAUSES THE THE CAR TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE, BRAKE IN A STRAIGHT LINE, SWITCH LANES AND CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN A CURVE, OVER BUMPS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. EVEN AFTER THE TIRES WERE BALANCED AND ALIGNED, THE NOTICEABLE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS CONTINUED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SINCE IT MAKES THE CARE MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE DURING EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN THE THE VEHICLE IS BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *TR

Electrical System1 injured
Filed Feb 10, 20118,000 milesNJ

IN LATE SEPTEMBER1999 WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC WITH THE CAR IN AND MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SURGED FORWARD. I REACTED IMMEDIATELY BY SHIFTING THE CAR INTO PARK. THIS ALLOWED ME TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED IN EARLY NOVEMBER 1999, WHEN I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP A STOP SIGN. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE CAR ONCE AGAIN ATTEMPTED TO SURGE THROUGH THE INTERSECTION. ANOTHER EPISODE OCCURRED IN EARLY DECEMBER 1999 WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY SON HOME FROM SCHOOL. WE APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SO INTENSELY THAT THE SEAT BELT TIGHTENED AROUND HIM SO TIGHT I WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE HIM. HE WAS COMPLETELY HORRIFIED AND HIS SHOULDER WAS BRUISED WHEN I CUT THE SEAT BELT OFF WHEN WE ARRIVED HOME. AT THAT POINT I CONTACTED LEXUS AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON APRIL 14, 2003 I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND SURGED FORWARD. AS WITH THE PRIOR INCIDENTS I REACTED BY SHIFTING INTO PARK. I CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY COULD FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. O APRIL 21, 2003 I SENT A LETTER TO [XXX], CEO OF LEXUS SEEKING ASSISTANCE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEIR HAS BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS OVER THE YEARS. I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN LEXUS ABILITY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I STILL O

Suspension
Filed Aug 4, 2010100,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKES ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE TIRES WERE REPLACED TWICE, A LOWER BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS RE-ALIGNED AND BALANCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 11/03/10. *LJ

Electrical System
Filed Apr 29, 201072,900 milesMA

WHILE DRIVING FOR FIRST TIME AFTER LEXUS REGIONAL TECHNICIAN INVESTIGATED PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED IN PREVIOUS NHTSA COMPLAINTS 10323826 AND 10317084, ALL BRAKE RELATED PANEL LIGHTS CAME ON AND BRAKE ALARM SOUNDED. I DID NOT LOSE BRAKES SO DIAGNOSTIC MAY BE FALSE. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE NOW INVESTIGATING THIS CONDITION. IT IS HIGHLY COINCIDENT THAT THIS PROBLEM, WHICH HAS NEVER APPEARED BEFORE, OCCURRED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE EXAM BY THE REGIONAL TECHNICIAN. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 6, 201070,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AFTER HE DOWN SHIFTED. HE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SPEED UP WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL; A SHORT WHILE AFTER, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE RPMS INCREASED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH WERE UNRESPONSIVE SO HE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE SO HE TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,100.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 5, 201066,567 milesMA

SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION AFTER BRINGING CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IN A PARKING LOT. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD ONTO AN ISLAND BEFORE I COULD STOP IT AGAIN. THIS INCIDENT IS RELATED TO A PREVIOUS INCIDENT,ODI NUMBER 10317084, WHICH OCCURRED IN JUNE 2007. *TR

Electrical SystemCrash
Filed Mar 5, 201058,230 milesMA

SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION RESULTED IN COLLISION. DRIVER APPLIED BRAKES WITH MAXIMUM FORCE BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE. DRIVER DID NOT HAVE FOOT ON GAS PEDAL. FLOOR MAT WAS NOT INTERFERING WITH GAS PEDAL. *TR

20 of 38 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20190200Routine
20180100Routine
20141000Routine
20131000Routine
20070100Routine
2006124210Routine
20052000Routine
20046000Routine
200312010Routine
200213001Fatalities reported
200117000Routine
200035020Routine
1999 — this page38000Routine
199860110Routine
19970100Routine
19962100Routine
19959100Routine
19946100Routine
19937100Routine

Compare every GS300 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.