1996 LEXUS ES300 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
44
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
3
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 LEXUS ES300
The 1996 LEXUS ES300 has received a total of 44 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR. 3 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Cooling (5 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (4 complaints), and Air Bagsfrontal (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 LEXUS ES300
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1996 LEXUS ES300, potentially affecting up to 540,037 vehicles.
Recall 99V307000 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
| 540,037 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 LEXUS ES300
44 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 LEXUS ES300. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagsfrontal | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| Electrical System12v24v48v Battery | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assistpump | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringrack And Pinion | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bagssidewindow | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Otherfuel Injection System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringcolumn | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steeringhydraulic Power Assist System | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspensionfront | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilityglass Siderear | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywindshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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 FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,340. UPDATED 03/24/15*LJ UPDATED 10/19/2015*JS
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 OF A BAD BUSHING BUT WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION IS ALSO BAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING NOW. *TR
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 OF A BAD BUSHING BUT WAS TOLD THE RACK AND PINION IS ALSO BAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING NOW. *TR
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE. *TR
CAR EXPLODED AND STARTED FIRE IN THE GARAGE AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES. GOT HOME FROM WORK AND STOP AT GROCERY STORE. PARKED CAR IN GARAGE AND BROUGHT IN SOME GROCERIES. ABOUT 10 - 15 MINUTES LATER WENT OUT TO GET PAPER PRODUCTS (TP AND PAPER TOWELS) OUT OF TRUNK. THERE WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, NO FIRE, NO NOISE. WENT IN SIDE PUT AWAY EVERYTHING AND STARTED TO COOK. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION NOISE. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND OPENED THE DOOR. HOT, HEAVY BLACK SMOKE AND CHEMICAL ODOR CAME POURING INTO THE HOUSE. I COULD SEE FLAMES TO THE LEFT. IT WAS VERY HOT AND THERE WAS SOME LIQUID MIXED IN, AND THE GARAGE WAS PITCH BLACK YET IT WAS A VERY SUNNY DAY WITH THE SUN POINTING AT THE GARAGE. BECAUSE IT WAS SO DARK, IT LOOKED LIKE THE GARAGE DOORS WERE CLOSED, BUT ACTUALLY, ONE SIDE WAS OPEN, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE IT WAS SO BLACK. COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING, AND MY ARM WAS SO HOT TRYING TO OPEN GARAGE DOOR AT WALL SWITCH, BURNED ALL THE HAIR OFF MY ARM. I THEN LEFT HOUSE, 911 WAS ON THE WAY. GARAGE CAUGHT ON FIRE, EVERYTHING IN GARAGE BURNED OR MELTED, INCLUDING MY CAR. INTERIOR HALL, ALL FIXTURES IN HALL AND BATH BURNT OR MELTED, EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO ENTIRE HOME. THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND ALMOST 10 MONTHS IN A HOTEL. CARS ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO EXPLODE OR START FIRE WHEN THEY ARE OFF, PARKED FOR 20 MINUTES IN YOUR GARAGE. *TR
Safety Rating for the 1996 LEXUS ES300
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 LEXUS ES300 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 LEXUS ES300
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 3 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 LEXUS ES300. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
BR00398 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NEW FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE AVAILABLE TO REDUCE FRONT BRAKE GROAN NOISE, GRINDING NOISE, SQUEAK OR VIBRATION. *YC
EG002 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CHARCOAL CANISTER ASSEMBLY SUPPLY PARTS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO SIMPLIFY PARTS PRODUCTION AND PERMIT INTERCHANGEABILITY WITH CURRENT MODEL VEHICLES. *YC
TC00197 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A541E VALVE BODY GASKET NO 2. *JD
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 LEXUS ES300
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the LEXUS ES300
- 1992 LEXUS ES300 — 46 complaints
- 1993 LEXUS ES300 — 53 complaints
- 1994 LEXUS ES300 — 50 complaints
- 1995 LEXUS ES300 — 55 complaints
- 1996 LEXUS ES300 (current)
- 1997 LEXUS ES300 — 50 complaints
- 1998 LEXUS ES300 — 61 complaints
- 1999 LEXUS ES300 — 35 complaints
- 2000 LEXUS ES300 — 78 complaints
- 2001 LEXUS ES300 — 36 complaints
Other LEXUS Models
- LEXUS ES350 — 1,531 total complaints
- LEXUS RX — 1,154 total complaints
- LEXUS RX350 — 1,065 total complaints
- LEXUS IS 250 — 938 total complaints
- LEXUS RX300 — 849 total complaints
- LEXUS ES — 817 total complaints
- LEXUS IS — 765 total complaints
- LEXUS RX330 — 659 total complaints