1997 LEXUS ES300 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
50
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
6
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 LEXUS ES300
The 1997 LEXUS ES300 has received a total of 50 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST. 6 technical service bulletins have been issued by Toyota Motor Corporation for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Vehicle Speed Control (5 complaints), Air Bags (2 complaints), and Engine And Engine Cooling (2 complaints).
Recalls for the 1997 LEXUS ES300
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 1997 LEXUS ES300, potentially affecting up to 558,783 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 →Recall 97V156000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
| 18,746 vehicles affected
Defect: 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 TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES...
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 LEXUS ES300
50 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 LEXUS ES300. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
THE STEERING WHEEL COMES COMPLETELY OFF THE COLUMN WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THEN AGAIN WHEN TURNING. THE CAR COULD NOT BE STEERED AT ALL. THE HORN AND POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 216,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER UNKNOWINGLY FELL ASLEEP AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS FULLY RECLINED ON THE TRACK FRAME WITH THE OCCUPANT BEING SECURED WITH THE SEAT BELT AS THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS KILLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FATALITY WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FEATURE, WHICH ALLOWED THE SEAT TO RECLINE SUBSTANTIALLY AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND THE VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED BRUISES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMNT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
FIRESTONE FR380 BL P205/65R15 92S TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SINGLE TIRE REPLACED WITH PRIMEWELL PS830/850 BL 205/65R15 94H. *TR
Safety Rating for the 1997 LEXUS ES300
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 LEXUS ES300 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 LEXUS ES300
Toyota Motor Corporation has issued 6 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1997 LEXUS ES300. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
22NOV99 — STEERING
SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT TO THE PROPER TORQUE SETTING. *TT
ST00498 — STEERING:LINKAGES
THE STEERING RACK BUSHING ON SOME VEHICLES HAS BEEN CHANGED TO REDUCE NOISE FROMTHE RACK HOUSING BRACKET NO. 2. *YC
NV00198 — STRUCTURE:BODY
EXPERIENCING WIND THROB NOISE COMING FROM THE MOON ROOF. *YC
980101 — STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
THE STEERING RACK HOUSING BUSHING ON SOME VEHICLES HAS BEEN CHANGED TO REDUCE NOISE FROM THE STEERING RACK HOUSING BRACKET. *YC
BO00397 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRONT ASHTRAY RECEPTACLE BUZZ NOISE. *JD
BO00496 — STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
AIR LEAK NOISE FROM FRONT DOOR GLASS AT LOWER REAR CORNER. *TW
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 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 — 44 complaints
- 1997 LEXUS ES300 (current)
- 1998 LEXUS ES300 — 61 complaints
- 1999 LEXUS ES300 — 35 complaints
- 2000 LEXUS ES300 — 78 complaints
- 2001 LEXUS ES300 — 36 complaints
- 2002 LEXUS ES300 — 194 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