RecallMyCar

Lexus ES300 Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 681 owner complaints across 15 model years of the Lexus ES300 (1992–2013). The most-complained-about year is 2002.

5
safety recalls, all years
681
owner complaints, all years
1997
year with most recalls
2002
year with most complaints

Pick your Lexus ES300 model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2013 Lexus ES30005
2006 Lexus ES30003
2005 Lexus ES30001
2003 Lexus ES3000116
2002 Lexus ES3002153
2001 Lexus ES300029
2000 Lexus ES300056
1999 Lexus ES300027
1998 Lexus ES300152
1997 Lexus ES300245
1996 Lexus ES300137
1995 Lexus ES300138
1994 Lexus ES300139
1993 Lexus ES300043
1992 Lexus ES300137

What Lexus ES300 owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 681 complaints with NHTSA. The 2002 model year has the most, with 153.

All Lexus ES300 recalls (5)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Lexus ES300, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 01V371000 Reported 1,697 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The left front brake tube may have been deformed prior to vehicle delivery due to improper installation of a coil spring spacer that was installed to prevent damage to the vehicle during transportation.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front brake line and, if necessary, replace the line. Owner notification began january 1, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…

    Model years: 2002

  2. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 01V372000 Reported 19,587 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with a three-spoke style steering wheel. During air bag deployment, it is possible that the bottom seam of the front driver's side air bag module cover (horn pad) could be torn away allowing the bottom portion of the cover to completely detach from the air bag module.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag module. Owner notification began december 28, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…

    Model years: 2002

  3. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 99V307000 Reported 540,037 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.

    Remedy: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.

    Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

  4. Power assist (service brakes)

    NHTSA 97V156000 Reported 18,746 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan,minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, noth dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. A condition can occur where accumulated moisture can…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a new design brake vacuum hose.

    Model years: 1997

  5. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 94V039000 Reported 16,036 vehicles potentially affected TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.

    The secondary hood latch mechanism has a narrow clearance between internal parts which, over time, accumulate dust or other foreign matter and cause the latch to not engage properly.

    Remedy: Lexus dealers will replace the secondary hood latch.

    Model years: 1992

Other Lexus models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.