1998 Lexus ES300 Problems, complaints & recalls

Since may of 2019 my check engine light has been on. The obd reader keeps detecting a trouble code. When moving back to california, I had to reregistered for california license plates, tags, and get my car smogged with my smog certification in order for me to complete registration. I have spent so much money into my car that it's affecting me from getting to work/ school and taking driving my daughter to school as well. Every time I get something fixed and drive the miles I'm supposed to be driving, that check engine light comes back on with a trouble code. This is affecting me because I'm unable to drive my car because it still won't pass smog. It's been going on quite for some time.

May 17, 2014 traveling on florida turnpike after two hours had two tires separate. Replaced two tires in palm beach gardens and continued another hour when a third tire separated. Tires were all cooper cs4 p205/65r15. In key west replaced the remaining failed tire and the so far fourth remaining cooper tire. Was not able to retain the separated tires as was 200 miles from home with packed car. *Tr

Both left and right rear seat belt buckles have failed. I am unable to insert belts into the buckle. Cleaning and lube had no affect. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lexus es300. The contact stated that the engine failed with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed. The failure was located at the engine evap canister. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 115,000.

The day before the accident happened all the tail light were off and I found the fuse for tail light was blew. So I replaced the fuse. Next day,when I turned on headlight while driving on highway 680, the "r" indicator on the dashboard became on as well -- now both "d" and "r" were on. It puzzled me for awhile so I decided to turn off the headlight. As soon as the headlight was turned off , the car "hesitated" on freeway. I took the car to dealer for service who claimed they have never seen this before. After 3...

Fuel pressure regulator (damper) failed allowing fuel to flow into engine compartment and fumes through air intake into passenger compartment. Could have been a serious fire if not detected in time and repaired.

Seat belt retraction failure. The seat belt on my 1998 lexus had been slow to retract, sometimes not retract at all. It appears this problem is not unique to this model or year. Many other vehicles made by toyota and lexus have the exact same problem (based on searching on the internet). This is probably due to a defect in components of the seat belt assembly. *Tr

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lexus es300. The contact was driving approximately 45-50 mph when another vehicle side swiped his vehicle, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a cement wall. The front air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and shoulder and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised that the legal department would contact him. The vin was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 68,000. Updated 09/19/11

My 1998 lexus hit a cement wall and the air bag did not deploy. I called and wrote to lexus headquarters three times and they never responded. I want to hear from lexus about this problem. *Tr

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 lexus es300. While driving approximately 5 mph pressure was applied to the brake pedal but the vehicle would not stop until colliding with another vehicle in a minor crash. He continued driving and the brakes began to function as normal. Later in the day while driving approximately 10 mph he applied pressure to the brake pedal and the vehicle would not stop until being involved in a crash with a fence. A police report was filed but no injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair shop but was not examined for the cause of failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 33,000.

I experienced unintended acceleration in my 1998 lexus es while backing into my garage. I had my foot on the brake, but the vehicle took off in reverse and crashed into the back of the garage, damaging both the car and the garage. I was not injured, but was certainly frightened by the incident. I am certain it had nothing to do with floor mats. I am also certain that I did not place my foot on the accelerator accidentally, because this happened from a complete stop while pressing on the brake with the car in gear. *Tr

Tl*the contact owns 1998 lexus es300. While approaching an intersection with her foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a pole causing extensive damage to the vehicle and the passenger. The air bags deployed breaking her hand in two places. The driver and passenger were transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was destroyed. A police report is available if needed. The toyota manufacturer was not called. The failure mileage was 54753 updated 03/24/10 *bf ...

Over the last few years, I have periodically complained to my toyota of tucson (auto mall) service dept. That my '98 es300 periodically produces intense gasoline odor in the passenger compartment. It can happen at any time, many months apart. The fumes seem to be swept in through a/c or heating vents, and can continue for the duration of a local drive, only to disappear the next time the car is started. The problem does not seem to follow any pattern -- not just after fill-up; not just at start-up; not just when...

Headlights turn off by themselves intermittently while driving. This also occurs intermittently when you use the directional signals to signal for a right or left turn. This electrical failure makes this car unsafe to drive at night at any speed. Driving at night without headlights on could result in an accident with bodily injury or death to the occupants of this vehicle or other vehicles and/or property damage. The jm lexus' service department diagnosed this problem as a defective wiper switch assembly. *Tr

The accident was due to unintended-acceleration as the car lurched forward fighting the brake. It seemed as though the accelerator had a life of its own overriding the braking actions I tried to implement. I was proceeding slowly up the long narrow driveway. I made a right turn into a parking place that was perpendicular to the walk-way. I slowly tapped the gas on my lexus es 300 and then the brakes. As I moved my foot over to the higher level brake pedal, the car lurched forward accelerating on its own--the...

Air bag, driver's and passenger's, failed to deploy in a frontal collision that destroyed vehicle. Driver was only person in car and from the seat/lap belt suffered sever bruising on torso, abdomen and thighs. Left knee badly bruised from contact with steering column. The seat/lap belt did not fail. The car was a 1998 lexus es300 with approximately 157,000 miles and in excellent condition. Had the air bags deployed, I believe I would have still had some bruising but the bruising would have been less...

I have a 1998 lexus es300 with approximately 115,000 on the car. The check engine light recently came on stating that it was emissions code p0466, which is a common charcoal cannister problem for lexus es300 1996 and up. There was an extended warranty issued for 1996-1998 lexus es300 for the emission problem which includes the p0466 problem. I went to the lexus dealer to get that emissions problem fix, but they said that not all of the 1998 lexus es300 was included in this warranty and my car was one of the cars...

I have a 1998 lexus es300. In november 2003, my car was serviced under lexus' spa program due to engine oil gelling/sludge. Now, 3 years later, the engine seized. This is a direct and consequential result of driving the car for 76k miles with a gelling issue. The damage had been done and this was a latent defect. We took the car to the lexus dealer and had it serviced three weeks ago, spent $700 on it, drove it off the lot and 20 minutes later the engine seized. They now want $5k to put a used engine in it with...

Consumer 1998 lexus 300 es check engine light illuminated knocked and died while pulling to the side of the road. *Ts ***nar*** the consumer was informed the engine had completely seized. The repair facility recommended a new engine. After the replacement engine was installed in dec 2004, the vehicle was inspected on february 11, 2005 and the mechanic noticed oil leaks around the valve cover and oil pan areas. The brakes and calipers had to be replaced. *Jb

Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 65 mph the accelerator pedal was depressed to pass another vehicle and the vehicle would not accelerate. The contact managed to pull the vehicle off the road. Upon inspection gasoline was pouring out onto the engine. The vehicle was towed to a dealership, and the fuel pressure damper was replaced. The manufacturer was contacted.*Ak updated 03/17/06. *Jb

I have a 1998 lexus es300. The driver's heated seat stopped working. Balise lexus, of west springfield, ma, explained there was a broken wire in heating grid and wanted to charge me $500.00, For parts and labor. My mechanic disassembled the seat and found the wire had frayed and shorted out when it started on fire. It had burnt part of the heating grid, the foam it was attached to and the inside of the leather upholstery. I showed this heating grid to the lexus dealer, who replied, " the heating grids are...

While parking vehicle surged, jumped a curb, and ran into an apartment building. *Ak

This complaint is in regards to the airbags in my wife's 1998 lexus es300 not deploying when in a full frontal accident at 35-45 mph. *Jb

Defective rims that allow the tires to leak air. After that happened many times, we bought new tires thinking that would solve the problem. It has continued . This is a concern and want to prevent an accident due to this . Other than that the lexus is a great car. *Ak *mr

Electricity discharges from ignition key area on steering column and door after turning off and exiting vehicle. I took car in to superior lexus to determine the problem and they could not figure it out. I continue to get electrical shocks from my 1998 lexus es300 today.