Most common 1998 Lexus ES300 problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus ES300 complaints by model year
Best ES300 years: 2013, 1999, 2001. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
1998 Lexus ES300 recalls (1)
Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The steering wheel set nut May not have been sufficiently tightened causing steering vibration and looseness.
Remedy: Dealers will tighten the steering wheel set nut.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Lexus ES300:
Engine seizure
What 1998 Lexus ES300 owners say
Air bags
Air bag, driver's and passenger's, failed to deploy in a frontal collision that destroyed vehicle. Driver was only person in car and from the seat/lap belt suffered sever bruising on torso, abdomen and thighs. Left knee badly bruised from contact with steering column. The seat/lap belt did not fail. The car was a 1998 Lexus ES300 with approximately 157,000 miles and in excellent condition. Had the air bags deployed, I believe I would have still had some bruising but the bruising would have been less severe and less painful and had shorter recovery time. 30 days after the accident, I still have bruises showing and have sever large lumps under the skin where the bruises existed. I still have many tender and sore areas from the bruises.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Lexus ES300. The contact was driving approximately 45-50 MPH when another vehicle side swiped his vehicle, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a cement wall. The front air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and shoulder and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. A police report was available. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was contacted and they advised that the legal department would contact him. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileage was 68,000. Updated 09/19/11
Seat belts
Vehicle was involved in an accident; vehicle was broadsided on passenger's side at approximately 35mph or more. Passenger was forced over to driver's side because seat belt did not lock properly, and both air bags failed to deploy. Vehicle at dealer at this tim.; seeking help from NHTSA in this matter.
No deployment of airbag during vehicle collision causing injuries to passengers elbow, chest, neck and back, passenger in the rear also sustain injury to the chest, neck and back from the seatbelt. Nlm
Wheels & tires
I have had my 1998 ES300 in with tom wood Lexus of indianapolis well over a dozen times since December of 2002 for the same problems. The ABS/trac off and low oil level warning lights went off randomly. After replacing the ABS pump ($1,400 for the part alone), the problem persisted. After an unacceptable amount of false diagnostics, wasted service trips (at least a week long each time) and useless but costly repairs, my car is still in the shop. They suspected that a sludge engine is the cause of my problems. But it turned out that I did not have the sludge problem. The Lexus dealer ended up finding an electrical problem with the oil sensor system. This was after they replaced the ABS/traction control actuator pump and the ABS ECU. It took them 6 months to find and fix all of my problems. …
May 17, 2014 traveling on florida turnpike after two hours had two tires separate. Replaced two tires in palm beach gardens and continued another hour when a third tire separated. Tires were all cooper cs4 p205/65r15. In key west replaced the remaining failed tire and the so far fourth remaining cooper tire. Was not able to retain the separated tires as was 200 miles from home with packed car.
1998 Lexus ES300 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Lexus ES300 a good car?
Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 ES300 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the ES300 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Lexus ES300?
The air bags — 9 complaints, 17% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the seat belts (6) and wheels & tires (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 Lexus ES300 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Lexus ES300, the most recent from November 1, 1999 (steering wheel/handle bar). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus ES300?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2013, 1999 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full Lexus ES300 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Lexus ES300 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 87,000 miles; 5% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.