1996 Lexus ES300 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Lexus ES300, and owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Lexus ES300
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
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.
37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Lexus ES300 have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA; 9 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 9 injuries and 3 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 113,797 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lexus es300. The contact stated that while parked, a strong odor of fuel was coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 29, 2014 · Fuel/propulsion system
“Was driving home from shopping and went to turn left and all of a sudden the car did not respond smoothly and i almost lost control. Took it to the mechanic and had a lower control arm put in because”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 12, 2014 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Lexus ES (ES 300). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 21 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 18 / 26 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Lexus ES300 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus ES300 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 37 |
| 1993 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 43 |
| 1994 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 39 |
| 1995 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 38 |
| 1996 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 37 |
| 1997 Lexus ES300 | 2 | 45 |
| 1998 Lexus ES300 | 1 | 52 |
| 1999 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 27 |
| 2000 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 56 |
| 2001 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 29 |
| 2002 Lexus ES300 | 2 | 153 |
| 2003 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 116 |
| 2005 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 1 |
| 2006 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 Lexus ES300 | 0 | 5 |
Checking a specific 1996 Lexus ES300
How do I know if my 1996 Lexus ES300 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Lexus ES300; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lexus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 99V307000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lexus models
- ES3501,365 complaints
- RX957 complaints
- RX350808 complaints
- RX300722 complaints
- IS 250719 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 complaints
- RX330526 complaints
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.