LEXUS GS300 · model year

1999 LEXUS GS300

56 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999LEXUSGS300 carries 56 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 0 fires, 4 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 1999 GS300 is vehicle speed control with 11 filings, followed by electrical system (6) and service brakes (6). 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 1999 GS300. 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.

56
Complaints
13
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

56 filings

Crashes Reported

13 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
SERVICE BRAKES6
SUSPENSION5
SUSPENSION:FRONT3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC3
STEERING3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR1
TIRES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES1
WHEELS:RIM1

Recent Complaints

20190506ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"TAKATA RECALL" ALL DOOR LOCKS MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED AT EACH DOOR....WINDOWS OPEN AT TIMES WHEN KEY UNLOCKS CAR....BOTH KEYS ARE LOOSE AT THE BASE AND ARE HELD TOGETHER BY TAPE.

Mileage: 101,000

20190506UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"TAKATA RECALL" ALL DOOR LOCKS MUST BE MANUALLY LOCKED AT EACH DOOR....WINDOWS OPEN AT TIMES WHEN KEY UNLOCKS CAR....BOTH KEYS ARE LOOSE AT THE BASE AND ARE HELD TOGETHER BY TAPE.

Mileage: 101,000

20161118SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

Mileage: 197,000

20161118FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ABS AND VSC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A FUEL ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

Mileage: 197,000

20161112SERVICE BRAKES

I GOT BRAKES PUT ON AT THE LEXUS OF PALM BEACHES OFF OF OKEECHOBEE BLVD LAST YEAR AND PAID OVER 475 DOLLARS FOR ALL PARTS. AS A RESULT 7 MONTHS LATER MY BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK SO I CALLED THEM AND I WAS NOT ASSISTED WITH NEW PARTS EXCEPT JUST BRAKE SPRAY WHICH IS NOT GOOD. THE PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND I HAVE A 1 YEAR WARRANTY WHICH ENDS IN ONE MONTH WHICH I FEEL THAT IS WHY THEY DONT WANT TO FIX IT UNTIL THE WAARANTY IS UP

Mileage: 170

20150826ENGINE

WHILE CAR NEWLY MADE REMOTE KEY CRANK CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN 30 +DAYS , I CRANK CAR AND ALARM SOUNDED AND FLASHING LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN CAR KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO CRANK ALL BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION!!! I UNHINGED THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE CAR WRNT DEAD. ALSO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BACK ENGINE AREA!! I TOWED CAR TO LEXUS DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND THE CAR DROVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPORTING ELECTRICAL/OXYGEN SENSOR CODE. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING CHIRPING LOW SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND DASH BOARD. I REPORTED IT TO LEXUS DEALER SERVICE A AGAIN BUT NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FAULTY ALTERNATOR.

Mileage: 170,000

20150826ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHILE CAR NEWLY MADE REMOTE KEY CRANK CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN 30 +DAYS , I CRANK CAR AND ALARM SOUNDED AND FLASHING LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN CAR KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO CRANK ALL BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION!!! I UNHINGED THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE CAR WRNT DEAD. ALSO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BACK ENGINE AREA!! I TOWED CAR TO LEXUS DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND THE CAR DROVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPORTING ELECTRICAL/OXYGEN SENSOR CODE. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING CHIRPING LOW SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND DASH BOARD. I REPORTED IT TO LEXUS DEALER SERVICE A AGAIN BUT NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FAULTY ALTERNATOR.

Mileage: 170,000

20150826UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE CAR NEWLY MADE REMOTE KEY CRANK CAR THAT HAD BEEN SITTING WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN 30 +DAYS , I CRANK CAR AND ALARM SOUNDED AND FLASHING LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF WHEN CAR KEY TAKEN OUT OF IGNITION. THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO CRANK ALL BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION!!! I UNHINGED THE BATTERY CABLES AND THE CAR WRNT DEAD. ALSO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BACK ENGINE AREA!! I TOWED CAR TO LEXUS DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. THE GEAR SHIFT LOCKED AND THE CAR DROVE FOR ABOUT A MONTH WHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPORTING ELECTRICAL/OXYGEN SENSOR CODE. THE CAR STARTED MAKING A CLICKING CHIRPING LOW SOUND COMING FROM BEHIND DASH BOARD. I REPORTED IT TO LEXUS DEALER SERVICE A AGAIN BUT NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR FAULTY ALTERNATOR.

Mileage: 170,000

20150309SERVICE BRAKES

PREPARING TO STOP WHILE ENTERING ACCESS GATE SLOWING TO AROUND 10 - 15 MPH, AFTER APPLYING BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO REAPPLY BRAKE AGAIN AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HIGH LEVEL ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH BEFORE I HAVE NOTICED OCCASIONALLY A LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION WHEN PREPARING TO STOP. *TR

Mileage: 201,000

20150309FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PREPARING TO STOP WHILE ENTERING ACCESS GATE SLOWING TO AROUND 10 - 15 MPH, AFTER APPLYING BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO REAPPLY BRAKE AGAIN AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HIGH LEVEL ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH BEFORE I HAVE NOTICED OCCASIONALLY A LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION WHEN PREPARING TO STOP. *TR

Mileage: 201,000

20150309VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

PREPARING TO STOP WHILE ENTERING ACCESS GATE SLOWING TO AROUND 10 - 15 MPH, AFTER APPLYING BRAKE CAR ACCELERATED FORCING ME TO REAPPLY BRAKE AGAIN AND SHIFTING TO PARK. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS HIGH LEVEL ACCELERATION HAS HAPPENED ALTHOUGH BEFORE I HAVE NOTICED OCCASIONALLY A LOW LEVEL ACCELERATION WHEN PREPARING TO STOP. *TR

Mileage: 201,000

20141203SERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATION WHEN I BRAKE,GOING FROM 10MPH TO 60MPH IN SECONDS. *JS

Mileage: 169,000

20141203VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE BEEN HAVING ACCELERATION WHEN I BRAKE,GOING FROM 10MPH TO 60MPH IN SECONDS. *JS

Mileage: 169,000

20141203SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS 300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP, SO THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. UPDATED 010915*LJ UPDATED 02/02/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. A REPRESENTATIVE TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT IT OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. UPDATED 06/3/2015 *JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

20131101SERVICE BRAKES

THE ABS WILL ACTIVATE BELOW 5 MPH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE CAR WILL HAVE LITTLE STOPPING ABILITY AND ABS WILL ACTIVATE. THE ROAD SURFACE IS DRY AND CLEAR OF DEBRIS. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20130920SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ENTIRE FRONT END DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO MONTHS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BALL JOINT WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 163,000. RETURNED BY USPS ON 11-19-2013. SECOND ATTEMPT ON 11-20-2013 FAILED. *KB

Mileage: 163,000

20130901VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE, I PRESSED THE BRAKE REAL HARD BUT THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AHEAD. QUICKLY, I PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL. IT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO OVER 7500 AND THEN WENT BACK DOWN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE PERSON AT THE INTERSECTION SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND HE SWERVED AWAY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. IN MY 45 YEARS OF DRIVING MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES, THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SCARIEST FEELING. *JS

Mileage: 155,900

20130722STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING 60 MPH OR ABOVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE TECHNICIANS WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. *TR

Mileage: 20,000

20130430SEAT BELTS

THE SAFETY BELT FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE BROKEN. THERE IS NO RESTRAINT, MEANING IT DOESN'T STOP THEREFORE WEARING A SEATBELT IS USELESS. *TR

Mileage: 176,000

20120429SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN I WENT TO START MY CAR. I HEARD A LOUD BUZZING SOUND, MY BRAKE LIGHT, VSC ON AND OFF LIGHT CAME ON. I ALSO HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKING CAPABILITY. *TR

Compare 1999LEXUSGS300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 LEXUS GS300 have?
The 1999 LEXUS GS300 has 56 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 LEXUS GS300?
The most-complained component for the 1999 LEXUS GS300 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 1999 LEXUS GS300 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.