1999 Lexus ES300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
88,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 26 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 7.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 7.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.8% |
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 And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Frontal: 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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 13 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 2; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 4; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000862 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
MY BRAKES CONSTANTLY SQUEAKS. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING PROBLEM FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A FACTORY PERSON COME CHECK MY BRAKES LAST MONTH ON 12/12/02 AND DIDN'T DETECT A PROBLEM. MY BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING AND I FEEL THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAD THEIR LOANER SAME MODEL AND DIFFERENT YEAR-THE BRAKES DIDN'T SQUEAK AT ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE A POSSIBLE DEFECT OR MALFUNCTION. IS IT SAFE MY CAR TO SQUEAK CONSTANTLY WHENEVER I STEP ON THE BRAKES IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001920 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010655 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
JUST BOUGHT A 1999 LEXUS ES 300, TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED OUT BECAUSE THE ENGINE SOUNDED ROUGH IN THE REVERSE GEAR. FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING BADLY AND HAS TO BE REPLACED, THE LEXUS SPECIALIST SAYS HE HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSIONS IN THE ES 300 MODELS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE RL MODELS BUT HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANY RECALLS. INFORMATION IS FOUND REGARDING THIS PROBLEM IN THE TSB DATABASE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 81,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039306 · 2003-09-22 (September 22, 2003)
NONE OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS HOLD THE CHILD SEAT FIRMLY. WHEN THE CAR TURNS OR SWERVES LIGHTLY THE CHILD SEAT TILTS ACCORDINGLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039306 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070114 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE LEXUS SPECIALIST AT THE REPAIR SHOP INFORMED ME THAT HE HAS SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH OTHER ES 300 MODELS AS WELL AS THE RL MODELS AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. THE ONES WITH THE TOYOTA CAMRY ENGINES HAVEN\\\\\\'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS. THERE IS A TSB ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT THERE.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072092 · 2004-05-04 (May 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONSUMER COULD TAKE THE BATTERY OUT AND REPLACE IT, AND THE LIGHT WOULD STAY ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON MORE THAN EIGHT TIMES IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TWICE, BUT COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 62,790 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072092 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073061 · 2004-05-24 (May 24, 2004)
I OWN A 1999 LEXUS ES-300 AUTOMOBILE THAT WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2002. THE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE ATLANTA AIRPORT AND WOULD NOT RESTART. JUST PRIOR TO STOPPING THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THEN SIMPLY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BY LEXUS MECHANICS I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS "OIL GEL" IN THE ENGINE AND THAT A NEW ENGINE WOULD BE REQUIRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073061 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115619 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)
THE IAC VALVE IN THE CONSUMER'S 1999 LEXUS ES300 FAILED. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE NOT STARTING AFTER BEING DRIVEN A SHORT DISTANCE. *NM *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115619 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.