Lexus GS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
156 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
100,200 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 87 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 25 of 156 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 13.5% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 12.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 25 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Steering | 19 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 14 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 13 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 |
Engine: 25; Unknown Or Other: 23; Steering: 19; Service Brakes: 14; Visibility/Wiper: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Air Bags: 12; Exterior Lighting: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 20
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 69 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 10 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 14 |
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 13; 2015: 10; 2016: 10; 2017: 7; 2018: 2; 2019: 11; 2020: 27; 2021: 10; 2022: 3; 2023: 14; 2024: 15; 2025: 8; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 11268373 · 2019-10-14 (October 14, 2019)
WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES ILLUMINATED, AND AUDIBLE CHIMES SOUNDED. BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED. NO BRAKES, NO ADVANCE WARNING. THIS OCCURRED ON LOCKWOOD ROAD, ELGIN TX ON OCTOBER 4, 2019 AROUND 8 PM. LEXUS PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL ON THEIR 2019/2020 VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FMVSS NO.126 BACK IN JULY 24, 2019
Owner-reported narrative. 249,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268373 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11365645 · 2020-10-21 (October 21, 2020)
FAILED BRAKE ACTUATOR
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11365645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11324419 · 2020-05-13 (May 13, 2020)
STEERING WENT OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11324419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452678 · 2012-03-22 (March 22, 2012)
THE VEHICLE LOST THE POWER ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON. AFTER TOWING THE VEHICLE TO NEAR BY AUTO REPAIR SHOP, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WERE OFF; HOWEVER THE STEERING WHEEL IS 90 DEGREE OFF THE CENTER PLUS WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AFS LIGHT (BLINKING), TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WERE ALL ON. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DETECT OR CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SO I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DETECT WHAT CAUSED THE WHEEL TO TURNED AND LIGHTS…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,316 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193788 · 2007-06-20 (June 20, 2007)
1995 LEXUS GS300 4-DOOR SEDAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE GEAR,IGNITION COULD BE TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED , RESULTING IN UNSAFE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLE. NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT, CLASHES, INJURIES: DRIVER TURNED IGNITION OFF, REMOVED KEY, LOCKED ALL THE DOORS AND WENT INSIDE A STORE. UPON RETURN THE DRIVER DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE PROTRUDING INTO THE INTERSECTION OF A 4-LANE INTERSECTION. GEAR SHIFT HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE DRIVE POSITION AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND KEY REMOVED. OF COURSE, WITNESSES RE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10193788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565554 · 2014-02-24 (February 24, 2014)
WHEN BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE RPMS SURGED CAUSING SPEED TO INCREASE SUDDENLY. I PLACE THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPMS CONTINUED TO SURGE FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE RPMS SUDDENLY SURGED AND I AGAIN PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE SURGE CONTINUED FOR ABOUT THREE SECONDS AGAIN. ON ONE OTHER OCCASION, WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHILE EXITING A PARKING SPACE, THE RPMS SURGED FOR ABOUT TWO SECONDS AND THEN RETURNED TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10630272 · 2014-09-03 (September 3, 2014)
IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A U-TURN ON A PRIVATE NARROW STREET THE AUTOMOBILE RPM JUMPED FROM AN ALMOST IDLE CONDITION TO OVER 3000 RPM. EVERY EFFORT TO BRAKE THE CAR AND SHIFT TO NEUTRAL PROVED INEFFECTIVE WITHIN THE DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET. THE AUTOMOBILE JUMPED THE CURB AND STRUCK A LOW GARDEN WALL FORCING AN ENGINE STOP. THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY ESTIMATE OF THE SPEED WHEN STRIKING THE WALL WAS 30 TO 35 MPH. I HAVE PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE BRAKE STREAKS AS WELL AS TOTAL DAMAGE SCENE. IN ADDITION A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR HEARD THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10630272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11631543 · 2024-12-19 (December 19, 2024)
car stalls when trying to accelerate like its going to turn off...The Wheel alighnment is not correct.Doors will not lock Bad lighting i cant see because front lights are doll
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11631543 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823128 · 2016-01-29 (January 29, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS GS. WHILE REVERSING AT APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A POLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT START AND THE CHECK HYBRID INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER 40 MINUTES, BUT THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11417496 · 2021-05-17 (May 17, 2021)
2008 GS350 - 129k miles - 1 owner Looking for input on whether/how to proceed as this is now a multi-year problem (2019- 2021). My 2008 Lexus GS350 had the following recalls (All fuel and engine related): NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 18V432000; NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V647000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 09V020000; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 10V309000 Before the last fuel assembly recall work was out of warranty 2019, I started experiencing an extreme fuel odor after a decline AND each time car was started (noticeable only with windows down). No warning lights, system…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11417496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11544330 · 2023-09-13 (September 13, 2023)
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus GS350. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the catalytic converter had failed and needed to be replaced due to a fuel leak. The contact was advised to contact the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11544330 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 6; 2007: 2; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2013: 0; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 1