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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Lexus GS300: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1125.6%
Steering behavior37.0%
Transmission and shifting12.3%
Engine operation12.3%
Electrical and battery issues12.3%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control17
Suspension:Front3
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint3
Tires3
Air Bags2
Electrical System2
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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9992
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9999
150,000 and above9

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20009
20012
20021
20031
20043
20051
20063
20073
20081
20092
20105
20112
20123
20131
20141
20161
20173
20191

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.

Examples from the source records

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 10091768 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)

NOTICE OF CLAIMS REGARDING TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT BREACH OF CONTRACT. *MR THE TRUNK BUTTON WOULD UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE, THE RADIO SHUT OFF, AND THE DRIVER REAR DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AT TIMES. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091768 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10095986 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)

AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR WOULD TRAVEL FORWARD VERY SLOWLY WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NORMALLY. IT WOULD SUDDENLY "CATCH" AND LURCH FORWARD IF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. CAR WOULD THEN HANDLE NORMALLY FOR A FEW MOMENTS BUT UPON STOPPING WOULD REPEAT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN EFFORT TO "REBOOT" THE CAR'S ELECTRONIC ACCELERATION SYSTEM BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER. AFTER SITTING ON THE LOT FOR 1 DAY, VEHICLE STARTED AND OPER…

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095986 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10097030 · 2004-10-18 (October 18, 2004)

AFTER OPENING THE TRUNK AND PLACING CONTENTS INTO THE VEHICLE, THE TRUNK FELL ONTO THE CONSUMERS HEAD. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BLACK EYE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 56,699 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097030 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 10148427 · 2006-01-23 (January 23, 2006)

POWER LOCK FAILURE. FROM FORUMS, NUMBER OF GS300 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. DID NOT REALIZE MY REAR DOOR HAD FAILED TO LOCK UNTIL MY 3 YEAR OLD MANAGED TO OPEN IT. DEALER STATES THE ENTIRE LOCK ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED AT OVER $600 PER DOOR. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148427 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10162526 · 2006-07-16 (July 16, 2006)

I WAS RECENTLY IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON JULY 9, 2006 AT 3:30 AM. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FLAT, MY ABS SYSTEM DIDN'T WORK AND MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MYSELF AND ANOTHER PASSENGER WAS HURT VERY BADLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162526 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 ↗

Recall history

1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

98V080000 · Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)

Reported: 1998-04-17 (April 17, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.

NHTSA campaign record ↗