1998 Lexus ES Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 16, 2020 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other ES years
Not enough data 29th of 30 for complaints
Safety recalls
None on file
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1998 Lexus ES. That ranks 29th out of 30 ES model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is electrical system (1 complaints, 100%). There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.

Lexus ES
Lexus_ES_350h_(XZ20) at Auto Zuerich 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 1998 Lexus ES problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Electrical System1
Engine1
Power Train1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Electrical System1100%———
Engine1100%———
Power Train1100%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

1998 Lexus ES recalls (0)

No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Lexus ES.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Since may of 2019 my check engine light has been on. The obd reader keeps detecting a trouble code. When moving back to california, i had to reregistered for california license plates, tags, and get my car smogged with my smog certification in order for me to complete registration. I have spent so…

Electrical System · received Jan 16, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11299662

Other Lexus ES years

← 1997 ES · 1999 ES →

See all Lexus ES problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lexus ES?

Owners most often report electrical system, engine, power train problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 1998 Lexus ES?

No safety recalls are on file for this model year.

Was the 1998 Lexus ES a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ES model years, the 1998 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.