1997 LEXUS ES300 Recalls, Complaints & Safety

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.

Crash 1 injured 1 deaths

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.

Crash 1 injured

FIRESTONE FR380 BL P205/65R15 92S TREAD SEPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SINGLE TIRE REPLACED WITH PRIMEWELL PS830/850 BL 205/65R15 94H. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UP HILL, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND RIBS DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 210,000.

Crash 1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE LOST VEHICLE CONTROL AND DROVE INTO A FIELD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A CONDOMINIUM. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND SPINE. HIS DOG ALSO DIED DUE TO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT; HOWEVER, THE DETAILED REPORT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE THAT THEY WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO HELP HIM. THE CONTACT SPECULATED THAT THE FLOOR-MAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE POLICE REPORT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. HE RECEIVED A FINE FOR RECKLESS DRIVING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,000.

Crash 1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RETRACT EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,708 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 03-09-09 *BF THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT WHEN IT WAS UNLOCKED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS DIFFICULTIES FASTENING THE SEATBELT AT TIMES. UPDATED 03/10/09.*JB

FOR SOME TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER (LEFT SIDE OF SEAT) WOULD REACH A TEMPERATURE WHICH WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. SO, I WOULD TURN IT ON FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM UP, AND THEN TURN IT OFF WHEN IT BECAME HOT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT AND ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY. A FEW DAYS BEFORE I MY APPOINTMENT, I WAS RIDING IN THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATER. WHEN IT BECAME HOT, I PLACED MY SCARF BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY LEG. AT A CERTAIN POINT, IT SMELLED AS THOUGH SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I TURNED OFF THE HEATER. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE SEAT, THERE WAS A HOLE BURNED RIGHT THROUGH THE LEATHER AS WELL AS THROUGH MY SCARF. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY DISCONNECTED THE HEATER AND DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT NEEDS A NEW HEATER PAD AND LEATHER PAD, WHICH WOULD COST ME $1,326.00. THE REPAIR HAS NOT YET BEEN MADE. *TR

Fire

DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER BECAME UNCOMFORTABLY HOT. WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED IN 2002 THE CONSUMER SHUT OFF THE SEAT HEATER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEATING UNIT BECAUSE OF A SHORT IN THE HEATER WIRING. IN 2005 THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEATING MATERIAL. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND A SHORT IN THE HEATER WIRING. THE HEATER WAS DISCONNECTED AT THE CONSUMERS REQUEST. *JB UPDATED 02/28/06

THE TRANSMISSION ON THE LEXUS ES300 WHICH I DROVE FAILED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. HAD IT HAPPENED A TWENTY MINUTES EARLIER WHILE I WAS ON THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY (I-695) I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN KILLED . IN THE SPIRIT OF FULL DISCLOSURE, THE CAR IS EIGHT YEARS OLD, IS WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN 113,000 MILES. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THAT FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

PROBLEM HSA NOT BEEN FIXED YET. DEALER IS OFFERING 50% OF THE TOTAL COSTS WHICH PROBABLY INCLUDEDS THEIR PROFIT. OIL GELLING IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE 4 RECEIPTS FOR FIVE YEARS WORTH OF SERVICE. THE BALANCE WERE DONE AT AN STABLISHMENT THAT PURGED ITS OLDER RECORDS AND ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I ALSO CHANGED THE OIL NUMEROUS TIMES MYSELF BUT DID NOT KEEP RECEIPTS FOR THE OIL AND FILTER. THEY SAY I CAN NOT PROVE THAT I PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE CAR. TOO MANY INSTANCES OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO COULD PROVIDE THE PROOF BUT STILL HAD GELLED OIL FOR ME TO THINK THAT THE ENGINE IS NOT TO BLAME. ESPECIALLY BEING THAT I KNOW WE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE CAR. ANY HELP?

THEY WANT 1/2 OF 6246.96 TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK. I HAVEN'T DECIDED WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED (NOT FROM LEXUS). I HAVE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS FROM THE DATE I PURCHASED THE CAR, BUT LEXUS SAYS THEY WILL ONLY PAY 1/2 OF THE COST.

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SLUDGE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY. ENGINE CONTINUED KNOCKING, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL REASONS BY DEALER WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. CONSUMER SPENT APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE, BUT THE REPAIRS HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. HAD TO HAVE THE NEW FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REPLACED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. ALSO, CONSUMER SPOKE TO THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT. HE FELT THAT HE WAS BEING RIPPED OFF. *AK

LEXUS ES300 WHEN I WAS STOPPED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE MY CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD WITHOUT ANY GAS PRESSED DOWN, THE CAR PROCEEDED FORWARD KNOCKING INTO MY SIDE OF MY HOUSE CAUSING SOME DAMAGE TO MY HOUSE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS INJURED, BUT THERE VERY WELL COULD HAVE BEEN. *NLM

WHILE TRAVEING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ONE OF PASSENGER'S TIRES TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A FIRESTONE, BRIDGESTONE TIRE, P20565/R15 . *AK

ALL FOUR SIDE DOOR WINDOWS LEAK IN HEAVY RAINS AND IN A CAR WASH. SEALS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER ONCE, WHILE SIDE WINDOWS WERE ADJUSTED BY DEALER TWICE; ALL TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE WINDOWS LEAK AIR AT SPEEDS ABOVE 65 MPH.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. POLICE INVESTIGATOR STATED FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE.*AK

Fire

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN NEUTRAL KEY CAN BE REMOVED FROM IGNITION. CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN IN NEUTRAL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CAR ACCELERATED TO MORE THAN 80 MPH DESPITE TURNING OFF CRUISE AND USING BRAKES. CORRECTED SPONTANEOUSLY. DEALER MESSED WITH ACCELEATOR CABLES BUT DID NOT COME UP WITH DEFINITIVE CAUSE.*AK

ENGINE OIL IS JELLING WHICH PREVENTS THE OIL FROM CIRCULATING THROUGH ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS IS DUE TO A DEFECT WITHIN THE ENGINE. *SLC

SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT DOOR WAS CLOSED ON SEATBELT, AND DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. *AK

SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT WHEN REMOVED AFTER CRASH REPAIR. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL WHEN CAR GETS OLD! BELT MUST BE MANUALLY PUSHED BACK INTO RETRACTOR AFTER EACH TIME IT'S USED. I'M AFRAID BELT MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN A SEVERE CRASH.

Crash

ON OING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC ODOMETER NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE FAILURE OF BRAKE PADS ON REAR BRAKES RESULTING IN NOISE. NLM

VEHICLE STEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN HIT BY AN OBJECT. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE STRAIGHT IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION AND MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

Crash 2 injured

NO SUMMARY

DURING STORM DROVE OVER SMALL PUDDLES. ABOUT 12 HOURS LATER, WHEN DRIVER WENT TO TURN IGINTION, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS EYE INJURIES. *AK

2 injured

RADIO AMPLIFIER IS NOT WORKING. YH

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT.

SUNROOF WON'T CLOSE.

TURN SIGNAL BULB.

ENGINE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED. NLM

BRAKE VACUUM HOSE FAILED. NLM

AIR CONDITIONER ASSEMBLY PANEL FAILED.

ACCIDENTALLY LEFT CAR IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO RELEASE KEY FROM IGNITION, UNFORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN THE DRIVEWAY RESULTING IN HITTING A TREE.

WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE, IT ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE GARAGE AND HIT A TREE, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE SHIFT LOCK ACTUATOR FUSE.

REAR BUMPER HIT AT 2 MPH AND BUMPER WAS BASHED IN. QCAW

THE FLOOR PEDALS ARE LOCATED TOO HIGH AND ARE TOO FAR APART FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

CONSUMER IS DISATISFIED WITH THE FACT THAT AIRBAGS ARE DANGEROUS FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.

THE OWNER IS SIX FEET TALL AND HIS VISION IS IMPAIRED BY THE LARGE YELLOW/BLACK AIR BAG WARNING LABEL WHICH REFLECTS ONTO WINDSHIELD. LEXUS CORPORATION SAYS THIS IS THE WAY THE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

THE MIDDLE REAR SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE OCCUPANT OUT FROM THE MIDDLE SEAT. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, HAD TO CUT THE BELT IN ORDER TO GET A CHILD OUT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT. ALSO THE SHOULDER BELT WAS AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK AND WAS COMPRESSING HIS NECK TIGHTLY. *AK

1 injured

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH AT NIGHT.