1997 Lexus ES300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other ES300 years
- About as many complaints as other years 5th of 12 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Lexus ES300. That ranks 5th out of 12 ES300 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (8 complaints, 18%), typically at around 96,500 miles. Complaints mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 45owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 6complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Lexus ES300 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 18% | 96,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 5 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 11% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 11% | 17,708 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 3 | 7% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 4% | 113,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 4% | 180,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 4% | 110,968 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Lexus ES300 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut may not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.
Risk: This can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan,minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, noth dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. A condition can occur where accumulated moisture can temporarily freeze in the brake vacuum hose if the vehicle is used in extremely cold climates for an extended period of time.
Risk: This can result in the elimination of vacuum assist to the brakes that can increase stopping distances and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a new design brake vacuum hose.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Engine seizure (DP02004) — opened Apr 30, 2002, closed Jun 20, 2002.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The steering wheel comes completely off the column while driving on the freeway. Then again when turning. The car could not be steered at all. The horn and power steering no longer work.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 lexus es300. While driving approximately 50 mph, the vehicle accelerated independently without warning. The failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was towed but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 lexus es300. While driving approximately 40 mph, the driver unknowingly fell asleep and crashed into a guard rail. The vehicle flipped over twice, causing the driver to be injured. The front passenger's seat was fully reclined on the track frame with the occupant being…
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 lexus es300. The contact stated that while shifting into drive, the vehicle suddenly accelerated and crashed into a tree. The driver received bruises from the air bag deployemnt and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the contact was advised that the…
Firestone fr380 bl p205/65r15 92s tread seperated at highway speed. Single tire replaced with primewell ps830/850 bl 205/65r15 94h. *tr
Other Lexus ES300 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 ES300 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 ES300 | 3 | 0 |
| 2005 ES300 | 1 | 0 |
| 2003 ES300 | 116 | 0 |
| 2002 ES300 | 153 | 2 |
| 2001 ES300 | 29 | 0 |
| 2000 ES300 | 56 | 0 |
| 1999 ES300 | 27 | 0 |
| 1998 ES300 | 52 | 1 |
| 1997 | 45 | 2 |
| 1996 ES300 | 37 | 1 |
| 1995 ES300 | 38 | 1 |
See all Lexus ES300 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 1997 Lexus ES300?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, electrical system, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Lexus ES300?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Lexus ES300 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other ES300 model years, the 1997 has about as many complaints as a typical year. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.