Total Complaints
53 filings
LEXUS ES300 · model year
53 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993LEXUSES300 carries 53 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 4 fires, 5 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1993 ES300 is air bags:frontal with 6 filings, followed by interior lighting (5) and tires (4). 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 1993 ES300. 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.
Total Complaints
53 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 6 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 5 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE DID NOT START. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED FOR A WHILE, AND THEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 293,095. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 293,095
TL* THE CONTACT 1993 ES300 LEXUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45MPH AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SMOKE. UPON PULLING OVER THE CONTACT NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND HE STATED THAT THE STEERING FLUID CAUGHT ON FIRE AND THE FIRE STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED OVER TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STILL HAS NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE DEALER AS OF THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT . THE CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WERE IN SHOCK BUT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 87,000
DD. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,400 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE NEEDLES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE ALL BURNED OUT. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB
Mileage: 84,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Mileage: 54,000
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE FAILED. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Mileage: 54,000
MALFUNCTION IN DESIGN OF DASHBOARD INSTRUMENTS. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOW ON GAS, THE NEEDLES CEASE TO LIGHT AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE HOW JUST HOW MUCH GAS IS LEFT. THE CONSUMER HAS TO FILL THE GAS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE TO SEE MUCH GAS IS LEFT, NOT ONLY CAN THE CONSUMER NOT SEE THE GAS, BUT THIS ALSO AFFECTED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND SPEED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DESIGN OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS UNSOUNDED AND PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM GETTING AN OIL LEAK REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD.DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Mileage: 105,000
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE "SURGING" THAT WAS DISCUSSED IN THE MEDIA ON MY 1993 LEXUS ES300 MANY TIMES. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR SINCE 1995. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED (AT IDLE). I HAVE THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND THE CAR ENGINE INCREASES IN RPM'S. SOMETIMES IT IS A POWERFUL SURGE THAT CAUSES THE CAR TO MOVE FORWARD. USUALLY, I NOTICE THIS OCCURRING AND PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD.
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP. IT STARTS FLICKERING WITH FULL LIGHT INTENSITY, WHICH MAKES ME USE LOWER LIGHT INTENSITY TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDLES. WITH LOW LIGHT INTENSITY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER, SPEED, TEMP, FUEL WHEN SUN IS IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE INSTRUMENT IS TO TURN THE LIGHT TO FULL INTENSITY, AND THEN THE NEEDLES START FLICKERING. THIS CREATES A LOT OF DISTRACTION AND PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, MAY RESULT INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN EARLY MODELS OF LEXUS AND IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST EVEN THOUGH IT CAUSE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY LEXUS DEARLER IN 1996 @ 40,000 MILES NOW IT IS AGAIN GIVING PROBLEMS. *LA
Mileage: 40,000
INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER: SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE DOES NOT LIGHT UP. IT STARTS FLICKERING WITH FULL LIGHT INTENSITY, WHICH MAKES ME USE LOWER LIGHT INTENSITY TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDLES. WITH LOW LIGHT INTENSITY IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE INSTRUMENT GAUGE CLUSTER, SPEED, TEMP, FUEL WHEN SUN IS IN FRONT OR ON THE SIDE OF CAR. THE ONLY WAY TO SEE INSTRUMENT IS TO TURN THE LIGHT TO FULL INTENSITY, AND THEN THE NEEDLES START FLICKERING. THIS CREATES A LOT OF DISTRACTION AND PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING, MAY RESULT INTO AN ACCIDENT. IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN EARLY MODELS OF LEXUS AND IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST EVEN THOUGH IT CAUSE PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY LEXUS DEARLER IN 1996 @ 40,000 MILES NOW IT IS AGAIN GIVING PROBLEMS. *LA
Mileage: 40,000
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A RADIATOR ALTHOUGH THE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP *LA THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 132,495
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A RADIATOR ALTHOUGH THE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP *LA THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 132,495
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A RADIATOR ALTHOUGH THE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP *LA THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 132,495
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL OVERHEAT AND SHUT DOWN . *AK CONSUMER ADDED THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONER, AND A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN BECAUSE OF POOR MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEED OF A RADIATOR ALTHOUGH THE LEAKS WERE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE WATER PUMP *LA THE OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED. *JB
Mileage: 132,495
A CLOUD OF BLUE SMOKE COMES OUT WHEN I FIRST START MY CAR IN THE MORNING. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE 3.0 LITER ENGINES HAVE SLUDGE PROBLEMS AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 123,000
INSTRUMENT BACKGROUND LIGHTING OF THE NEEDLES BLACKED OUT, CREATES DRIVING HAZARD.*AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT DASHBOARD AREA IS DIM CAUSING LOSS OF ILLUMINATION TO THE NEEDLES ON THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. *TT
CONSUMER STATES THAT DASHBOARD AREA IS DIM CAUSING LOSS OF ILLUMINATION TO THE NEEDLES ON THE SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND GAS GAUGE. *TT
ENGINE OIL IS JELLING WHICH PREVENTS OIL FROM CIRCULATING THROUGH THE ENGINE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK FIRST THERE WAS OIL FILTER GASKET LEAK AT BLOCK. DEALER REPLACED OIL FILTER HOUSING O-RING. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE OIL LIGHT WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. LASTLY, THE ENGINE SEIZED. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE AND FOUND OIL GELLING IN ENGINE. AFTER NEW ENGINE, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER OF AN OIL GELLING CONDITION THAT MAY OCCUR. CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FROM EXPENSES INCURRED FOR OIL GELLING CONDITION. *TT
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.