1998 Lexus ES300 problems & reliability
52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Lexus ES300. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
8 complaints report injuries (11 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 9 | 17% |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 12% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 10% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 10% |
| Electrical System | 4 | 8% |
| Seats | 4 | 8% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 8% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 6% |
| Tires | 3 | 6% |
| Wheels | 3 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Mileage when problems occurred
Half of the failures with a reported odometer reading occurred by 78,565 miles (middle 50% between 58,500 and 112,025 miles), based on 22 complaints that included mileage.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“May 17, 2014 traveling on florida turnpike after two hours had two tires separate. Replaced two tires in palm beach gardens and continued another hour when a third tire separated. Tires were all cooper cs4 p205/65r15. In key west replaced the remaining failed tire and the so far fourth remaining cooper tire. Was not…”
Tires · filed May 24, 2014
“Both left and right rear seat belt buckles have failed. I am unable to insert belts into the buckle. Cleaning and lube had no affect. *tr”
Seat Belts · filed Aug 23, 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lexus es300. The contact stated that the engine failed with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed. The failure was located at the engine evap canister. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made…”
Engine · filed Jun 11, 2013
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- ENGINE SEIZURE
Defect Petition DP02004 · opened Apr 30, 2002 · closed Jun 20, 2002
Technical service bulletins
50 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1998 Lexus ES300. The 10 most recent:
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be…
Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2022
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Lexus Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2020
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
L-SB-0179-17 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01…
L-SB-0008-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.
L-SB-0048-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 5, 2017
TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased.
L-SB-0025-14 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 7, 2015
LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
L-SB-0066-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
L-SB-0066-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
TSB: The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased.
L-SB-0025-14 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Nov 14, 2014
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1998 Lexus ES300 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1998 Lexus ES300?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.
- · Owners most often reported problems around 78,565 miles — budget accordingly if the car is approaching that mileage.