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Vehicle safety record

1994 Lexus ES300 Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 1994 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA, most often about the seats & seat belts (9) and the acceleration & cruise control (4). Those complaints describe 6 crashes and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in November 1999 for the steering wheel / handle bar. For comparison, the 1993 has 43 and the 1995 has 38.

NHTSA data checked

BFewer problems than a typical ES300 year, for its age

#90 most complained-about 1994 vehicle

Complaints
39
Recalls
1
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Deaths
0

Most common 1994 Lexus ES300 problems

Share of all 39 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

1994 Lexus ES300 recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Steering wheel / handle bar

99V307000540,037 vehicles affected

The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.
The risk
THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The fix
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

What owners say

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39 complaints about the 1994 Lexus ES300

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.

Transmission & drivetrain

2004 Lexus es330-car hesitates when attempting to accelerate. Very unsafe when trying to merge into highway traffic. Almost had serious accident because of this problem. Computer chip for transmission has been replaced that was supposed to fix problem. Used premium gas as suggested by mechanic- nothing helped. *Tr

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 10339990
Electrical system

1994 Lexus es300 instrument panel (speedometer,tachometer,fuel,and temp),needles have gone out and impossible to read gauges at night or in low light conditions. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10324629
Acceleration & cruise control

Bought lexus es300 in 1994. Kept for car for 5 years. Even brand new it would occasionally lunge forward when my foot was on the brake. Reported the problem to dealership over and over; wrote letters; kept complaining about this sporadic lunging forward of the car but I was not even taken seriously. At a stop light I would have to stay 10+ feet behind the car in front just in case my lexus lunged forward even with my foot on the brake. I finally got rid of this car since I felt it was a not safe and the dealership nor the company took me serious about this racing of the engine and the lunging forward. *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10304767
Electrical system

1994 Lexus es300. Electroluminescent gauges for speedometer and tachometer fail to illuminate. This makes it very difficult or impossible (especially with glare or at night) to determine rpm's or speed. A search on the web will show this is a common problem among 1992 - 1996 es300's. It is a safety hazard and is something that should be reviewed. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10280573
Seats & seat belts

Driver's seatbelt assembly repeatedly unlatches arbitrarily posing serious safety concern. Has occurred while vehicle is stationary and in motion. Flow lexus of kernersville, nc, refuses to make complimentary repair.*Ak

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10104842
Seats & seat belts

Front seat belt may not latch properly and can un-latch itself. Has occurred occasionally without warning since the original incident date. *Jb

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10056255
Seats & seat belts

Passenger's side seat belt will extend outward, but will not retract back in place. Consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and mechanic replaced the seat belt mechanism. *Ak

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 10051801
Electrical system

Consumer states that the battery is leaking acid through positive post. Consumer states that the vehicle would shut off without warning. Dealer notified.*Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10026170
Acceleration & cruise control

While backing up the vehicle suddenly accelerated into a chain fence then the gear changed and the vehicle accelerated forward into a wall. *Nlm *scc

Filed Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10016086
Electrical system

While car was running battery exploded.*Ak consumer had driven the vehicle and parked in a parking lot. The vehicle sat for about 30 minutes before consumer attempted to start the vehicle again. Consumer inserted the key and hwen turning the ignition the battery exploded creating fumes and smoke. All the electrical power was gone. The dealer made the necessary repairs. A few days later the electrical system warning light illuminated. *Jg

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 8017043
Seats & seat belts

Seatbelt will not retract, causing it to fail in the event of a vehicle crash. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.*Ak consumer states the entire seat belt assembly had to be replaced. *Jb

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 8014154
Suspension

The 4 inch piece that connects the rr arm assembly stripped, causing the wheel to buckle inward - the piece had to be welded together just to pull to car into the garage.*Ak

Filed Incident SuspensionNHTSA 756750
AirbagsAcceleration & cruise controlCrash

While pulling into a parking space traveling less than 5 mph, engine accelerated unexpectedly, and crashed into a concrete wall at an unknown speed. Both frontal air bags deployed, and consumer sustained no injuries. Insurance company categorized vehicle as a total loss, and no determination has been made as to cause of problem. Please provide any additional information / documentation.*Ak

Filed Incident Air bags · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 899627
Steering

Dealership sent consumer recall 99v307000 notice. Vibration was felt inside of vehicle. *Ak

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 895609
Visibility & wipers

While driving at approx 25-30 mph left rear window shattered for unknown reason. Dealer notified, and was unwilling to assist with this matter. Feel free to provide any further information.*Ak

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 892778
Engine & cooling

EXCESSIVE SMOKING AND ENGINE RUNNIG ROUGHLY. *AK

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 748411
SteeringSuspensionWheels & tires

Had a side blowout ( ripped 180 degrees on the side where the sidewall is), or the wheel axle had collapsed. Also the nut to steering wheel (due to recall) locked tighter at about 1000 prior to accident.

Filed Incident Steering · Suspension · TiresNHTSA 9000987
Lights

The plastic lens covers are so opague as to make seeing at night difficult and no other japaneses car has that problem, at leat the honda. Dangerous to drive and now it is barely able to relfect light, dealer wants $1000 pllus labor to rreplace whle units!!

Filed Incident Exterior lightingNHTSA 746370
Suspension

FRONT AXLE BROKE, CAR FLIPPED OVER

Filed SuspensionNHTSA 730252
Seats & seat belts

The driver's side seatbelt would arbitrarily unbuckle. It would happen while the car was stationery or moving. It did not seem to be prompted by a sudden stop or a bump. After it would unsnap, I would rebuckle and try to pull the buckle undone, but I could not pull it open. *Ak

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 726096
Visibility & wipers

Rear passenger's window blew out in the middle of the night. Vehicle parked in garage. Was no warning. Nothing had hit it window. Taking vehicle to dealership. *Ak

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 859115
Steering

The nut fastning a side rod to a knuckle arm came off when driving on a freeway. The nut is suppose to be securely placed with a cotter pin. It could be possible that the pin was not installed at all.

Filed Incident SteeringNHTSA 718581
Other & unknown

Request you provide any information you have available as to whether this vehicle has ever been crashed/wrecked.

Filed Unknown or otherNHTSA 712065
Seats & seat belts

Passenger-side seat belt unlatched under hard braking.

Filed Incident Seat beltsNHTSA 710891
Body, doors & structure

A connection between the external door handle and the door latch fails and the door won't open from the outside. Three of the doors on this car have failed. Two happened under warranty. The last happened after the warranty expired at a cost of $90. Why is the manufacturer not responsible (financially) for replacing all of these defective parts, that are breaking, at each point of use? *Ak

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 710848

Lexus ES300: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
1998551131Seats & seat beltsD
199745262Seats & seat beltsC
199640193Engine & coolingD
199538152Electrical systemB
199439160Seats & seat beltsB
199343054Electrical systemC
199237141Transmission & drivetrainC
19913000BrakesA
19909061AirbagsA
All ES300 years

1994 Lexus ES300 vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 1994 Lexus ES300

Does the 1994 Lexus ES300 have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1994 Lexus ES300: steering wheel / handle bar (November 1999). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 1994 Lexus ES300?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the seats & seat belts (9), acceleration & cruise control (4), electrical system (4).

How many complaints has the 1994 Lexus ES300 had?

39 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 15, 1995 and the latest on June 25, 2010. Of these, 6 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 1994 Lexus ES300 a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 62 out of 100 (grade B: fewer problems than a typical Lexus ES300 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Lexus ES300 years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 1994 Lexus ES300 has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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