1997 Lexus Es300: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 50 complaints
50
Total Complaints
100,000mi
Median Mileage
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Top Issue
6
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

67,000 25th Percentile
100,000 Median Mileage
146,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
STEERING
2
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
2
AIR BAGS
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
1

Severity Assessment

6
Crashes
2
Fires
9
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH AT NIGHT."
"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"
"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"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28