1998 Lexus GS300 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
43 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
123,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 43 complaints (39.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 25.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 7.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.3% |
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 | 17 |
| Suspension:Front | 3 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Suspension:Front: 3; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 3; Tires: 3; Air Bags: 2; Electrical System: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10005823 · 2003-02-13 (February 13, 2003)
THIS LETTER IS TO REPORT A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION THAT EXISTS WITH MY 1998 LEXUS GS 300. ON 2/02/03 I WAS WAITING AT A CAR WASH IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE ADVANCED TO WHAT SEEM LIKE FULL THROTTLE. THE REAR TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN ON THE WET PAVEMENT BUT MY FULL PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE KEPT THE CAR FROM LUNGING FORWARD. MY WIFE LEANED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND SAW MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND NOT ON THE GAS! AT THAT TIME I STARTED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT DECIDED IT WOULD BE BEST…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10139646 · 2005-10-14 (October 14, 2005)
1998 LEXUS GS 300 HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ES 300 THROTTLE CONTROL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND I PRESUMED THAT I HAD SOMEHOW HIT THE PEDAL, WHEN MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10139646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177077 · 2006-12-27 (December 27, 2006)
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED STATING THAT SHE HAD A CRASH ON 07/09/06 IN HER 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF HE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE THE VEHICLE STARTING GOING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS ON A CLEAR NIGHT AND, THAT WHEN SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WAS MORE DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE ALSO SEEMED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT MADE THAT STATES SHE…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10371021 · 2010-12-17 (December 17, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 186,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10371021 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11034007 · 2017-10-17 (October 17, 2017)
PURCHASED A 98 GS300 SIX MONTHS AGO AND MY VSC, ABS, BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING GAUGES CAME UP AND WILL NOT GO AWAY. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AND THROTTLE POSITION ACTUATOR WERE THE PROBLEMS. WITH THESE FEW ITEMS GONE BAD MY CAR PRODUCES LITTLE TO NO POWER DURING ACCELERATION. THE CAR BARELY GETS UP TO 45 MPH WITH ACCELERATION PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. WITH THE VSC GONE BAD THERE IS AN ALARM THAT STRETCHES TO UNCOMFORTABLE HEARING LEVELS THAT' HURTS LIKE THE DEVIL. …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11034007 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442688 · 2012-01-06 (January 6, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOSE POWER AND STALL SPORADICALLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 192,380. UPDATED 02/09/12*LJ THE DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THERE WAS AN OPEN CIRCUIT. UPDATED 02/27/12
Owner-reported narrative. 190,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442688 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10202535 · 2007-09-11 (September 11, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN EVEN AFTER THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY AND BELT ON APRIL 16, 2006, THE DEALER S…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202535 at NHTSA ↗