LEXUS GS · model year

1996 LEXUS GS

2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996LEXUSGS carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 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 1996 GS is structure:body with 1 filings, followed by visibility:rearview mirrors/devices (1). 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 1996 GS. 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.

2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

2 filings

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

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1

Recent Complaints

20140422STRUCTURE:BODY

THIS SERIES OF LEXUS APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT OF THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT CAUSE THE MIRROR INSIDE SURFACE TO CLOUD UP TO THE POINT OF BEING INOPERATIVE. MY UNIT BEGAN TO FAIL EARLY IN THE CAR'S LIFE BUT JUST AS THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED IT BECAME NEARLY USELESS. LEXUS NOR THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

20140422VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

THIS SERIES OF LEXUS APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT OF THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR THAT CAUSE THE MIRROR INSIDE SURFACE TO CLOUD UP TO THE POINT OF BEING INOPERATIVE. MY UNIT BEGAN TO FAIL EARLY IN THE CAR'S LIFE BUT JUST AS THE WARRANTY PERIOD EXPIRED IT BECAME NEARLY USELESS. LEXUS NOR THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THIS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

Compare 1996LEXUSGS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 LEXUS GS have?
The 1996 LEXUS GS has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 LEXUS GS?
The most-complained component for the 1996 LEXUS GS is STRUCTURE:BODY with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES.
Is the 1996 LEXUS GS 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.