Total Complaints
19 filings
LEXUS ES250 · model year
1991 LEXUS ES250
19 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1991LEXUSES250 carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1991 ES250 is structure:body:hatchback/liftgate:support device/strut with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1991 ES250. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20040930VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPEED. SHIFTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER PRODUCED THIS PART ANYMORE. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
20040616VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *AK
20040616LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POWER WINDOWS AND LOCKS DO NOT WORK. *AK
20040325FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND GET OUT. THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *JB THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE UNLESS THE CONSUMER PAID FOR IT. THE DEALER HAD RECENTLY DONE WORK ON THE DISTRIBUTOR, TRANSMISSION AND BRAKES. THERE WERE NO BURN MARKS AROUND THE ENGINE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE PASSENGERS DOOR WHERE THE BRAKES WERE LOCATED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE DEALER DID NOT SEAT THE BRAKES PROPERLY AND THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *SC *JB
20031125VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER. *LA
Mileage: 40
20031125LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
ON A VERY SUNNY DAY THE POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR CONTROLS STOP WORKING. WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR FOR 8 TO 10 MILES AND STOP THE CAR AND TRY OPENING THE DOOR AND THEN TRY THE POWER WINDOW IT STARTS TO WORK. IT FEELS THAT AS IF THE HEAT BUILDS UP IN THE CAR ON A HOT DAY AND CONTROLS STOP WORKING BUT WHEN I DRIVE AROUND THE CAR COOLS OFF AND CONTROLS SEEM TO WORK. I DID NOT NOTICE THIS BEHAVIOR IN THE COLD WEATHER. *LA
Mileage: 40
20001219LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE KEY DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK DOORS. *CJ
20000421STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM FAILED TO RELEASE REAR LEFT SIDE DOOR. WOULD TRY MANUALLY & IT STILL FAILED TO RELEASE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT E ENTIRE LOCKING SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
19961106ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
19960808SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
19960808POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
19960808POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
19960808SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLES HAS HAIR LINE FRACTURE IN CV JOINT AND RIGHT FRONT AXLE.*AK
19960307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAK IN SPARK PLUG WELLS.
19960307ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LEAK IN SPARK PLUG WELLS.
19960222STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
SUPPORT RODS OF TRUNK LID FELL DOWN ONTO PASSENGER'S NECK WHEN RETRIEVING GROCERIES. *SD
19960104STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT
TRUNK GAS CYLINDER BROKE AND FELL ON CUSTOMER HEAD CAUSING HEAD INJURIES. TT
19951201VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN DRIVING CAR ACCELERATES AND CUT OFF . TT
19950629POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN AUTO WAS PLACE IN PARKED IT JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND ROLLED INTO THE FREEWAY. TT
Compare 1991LEXUSES250 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1991 LEXUS ES250 have?▼
The 1991 LEXUS ES250 has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 LEXUS ES250?▼
The most-complained component for the 1991 LEXUS ES250 is STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1991 LEXUS ES250 safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.