1992 Lexus ES300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
141,818 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1992 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 28 complaints (10.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
1995: 5; 1996: 2; 2000: 5; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 3
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10096210 · 2004-10-22 (October 22, 2004)
BOUGHT THIS CAR USED, AND WHAT SEEMED TO BE VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH UP TO DATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR THREE MONTHS. ALL BUT ABOUT 1 WEEK HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP.. THE INSTRAMENT LIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY $1000 TO FIX,,, JOKE... THE POWER STEERING PUMP AMD SENSORS WENT OUT CAUSING THE RADIATOR TO FAIL CAUSED THE CAR TO SEVERLY OVERHEAT,, CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AND THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS FAILED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR CONTROLS CAUSING CARBON BUILDUP IN THE FUEL INJECTORS, IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE BIGGEST PEICE OF JUNK I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10096210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 768748 · 2002-10-23 (October 23, 2002)
THE LIGHTS , CHECK ENGINE AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGES I FELT DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE ENGINE WAS GETTING HOT AND OVERHEATING, CUTTING OUT DYING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. THEN THE TEMP GUAGE NEVER BOBBLED OR MOVED UNTIL THE CAR TRIED TO DIE AT 45 MPH. THEN IT BOBBLED, JUST SLIGHTLY THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL. THE RADIATOR WAS FRIED DRIED. AND THE PISTON RINGS ARE FRIED AND TOAST AND I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP, THEY CHANGED THE RADIATOR AND ADVISED ME OF THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHICH I KNEW NOTHI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 768748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726841 · 2000-08-06 (August 6, 2000)
THE ELECTROCHROMIC DISPLAY LIGHTING THAT LIGHTS UP THE SPEEDOMETER HAVE FAILED, THERE IS NO WAY TO KNOW WHAT SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING AT NIGHT. ALSO THE ODOMETER HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT @82,500 MILES, SMOKE FROM THE ODOMETER SHORT CAUSED DRIVER TO PANIC, AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC, AND I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT TO REPLACE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER WOULD COST AT LEAST $2,000. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ABSORB ALL OF THIS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487715 · 1995-11-08 (November 8, 1995)
INNER PART OF POWER STEERING PUMP BROKE, ALLOWING DEBRIS TO ENTER POWER STEERING RACK, CAUSING RESISTANCE IN STEERING. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 885859 · 2001-04-13 (April 13, 2001)
VEHICLE STALLS WHENEVER CONSUMER DECELERATES WHILE GOING DOWN A HILL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 885859 at NHTSA ↗