Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Lexus ES300 problems

Owners filed 37 complaints about the 1999 Lexus ES300 with NHTSA between Nov 1999 and Oct 2020. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (10).

Complaints
37
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling10
  2. Vehicle speed control5
  3. Electrical system4
  4. Power train3
  5. Seat belts3
  6. Air bags3
  7. Suspension2
  8. Visibility2
  9. Steering1
  10. Wheels1
  11. Equipment1
  12. Child seat1
  13. Service brakes, air1
  14. Fuel system, gasoline1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
20004
20013
20022
20034
20043
20051
20067
20075
20081
20090
20104
20110
20120
20130
20141
20150
20160
20170
20180
20190
20201

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports
“CALL LEXUS AND MADE COMPLAIN ABOUT MY CAR AND THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING GETTING RESOLUTION HAS BEEN FRUSTRATING. THEY ARE REQUESTING THAT I TOW MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THEY DO ANYTHING TO FIX MY VEHICLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10319103

Vehicle speed control

5 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH IN THE REVERSE POSITION. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AND CRASHED INTO A RESIDENTIAL HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE OTHER VEHICLE DRIVER SUFFERED SEVERE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 35,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 19, 2010Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10321066

Electrical system

4 reports2 fires
“WIFE DROVE LEXUS 2 MILES TO BAKERY, CRUST N'CRUMBS AT 1370 N MAIN ROAD, VINELAND, NJ. WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF BAKERY, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE CALLED ME. I DROVE THERE AND RAISED THE HOOD. 2 COIL PACKS WERE ON FIRE (ABOUT A 2 INCH FLAME) AND THE HOOD INSULATION WAS SMOULDERING. I BLEW OUT THE TWO FIRES AND PUT WATER ON THE COILS AND HOOD INSULATION. THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WAS NOT REPORTED TO POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2020Electrical systemFire reportedODI 11366453

Power train

3 reports
“COMPLAINED TO DEALER ABOUT IMPROPER SHIFTING OF TRANSMISSION WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION WAS FINE, BUT CHANGED THE FLUID ANYWAY. I STILL CONTINUED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER NOT TO COME BACK. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURES RECOMMENDATIONS AND NOW AT 88,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. THIS IS AN U140E TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2008Power trainODI 10225778

Seat belts

3 reports
“ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 22, 2007 THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ON 1999 LEXUS ES300 WOULD NOT BUCKLE AS THE FEMALE(CONSOLE SIDE)PART OF THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY UP -THE RED BUTTON REMAINED PART WAY DOWN. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A LEXUS PART NO. 73240-33010-A0, BELT ASSY, FRT ST ,BY THE COMPLAINANT AND UPON EXAMINATION OF THE REMOVED PART , A BROKEN OFF PIECE OF RED PLASTIC SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THAT OF THE BUCKLE RELEASE WAS CAUGHT IN THE ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE PIECE OF RED PLASTIC WAS REMOVED FROM THE ASSEMBLY, THE LATCH(BUCKLE) AGAIN APPEARED TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. THIS FAILURE RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT COULD BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2007Seat beltsODI 10206965

Air bags

3 reports2 crashes
“AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON , AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, DEALER ATTRIBUTES THE LIGHT COMING ON TO A LOOSE WIRE LOCATED UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2003 AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES . THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 70,000 MILES AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON , I FEEL MY SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY EVERY TIME THIS LIGHT COMES. AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALER THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2006Air bagsODI 10155523
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.