1995 Lexus ES300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
103,283 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 32 complaints (15.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 6.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Tires: 2
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 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 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: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 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). 21 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 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 5; 2000: 7; 2001: 2; 2002: 4; 2004: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10083638 · 2004-08-19 (August 19, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 111,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323717 · 2010-04-05 (April 5, 2010)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10323717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405762 · 2011-06-09 (June 9, 2011)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 167,825 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 857576 · 2000-02-25 (February 25, 2000)
RECALL # 99V307000 TOYOTA/STEERING WHEEL; WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP BY PHONE, OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THEY WERE NOT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. RECALL LETTER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SERVICE BY LEXUS DEALERSHIPS ONLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 857576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 726941 · 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)
PLASTIC CLIP IN DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY BROKE 3 TIMES. . CAN NOT OPEN DOOR THIS WAS REPAIRED 2X RIGHT FRONT DOOR, 1X LEFT FRONT DOOR. I TRANSPORT OLDER INLAWS AND CAN NOT OPEN DOOR TO LET THEM OUT. FISRT TIME SHORTED OUT ELECTRICAL SOLENOID ALSO. POOR CHOICE OF MATERIALS FOR CLIP
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 726941 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 732797 · 2000-09-29 (September 29, 2000)
THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW HOW THE FIRE BEGAN OR WHY THERE WAS A FIRE AFTER I HAD TO PAY FOR THE TEARDOWN. THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE FACT THAT I COULD HAVE BURNED UP WHILE RIDING IN THE MOVING VEHICLE ALONG WITH MY SISTER. THERE WAS NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. NO LIGHTS WERE SHOWN ON THE DASHBOARD, NO KNOCKING SOUND BEFORE THE ROD BLEW, NO OVERHEATING INDICATGOR SHOWED, PLENTY OF OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CAR WAS VERY WELL SERVICED AND ONLY BY A LEXUS CERTIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE REPORT SHOWED THAT IN 6/99 AN OIL LEAK WAS CHECKED BY TWO DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 732797 at NHTSA ↗