Most common 1998 Lexus GS300 problems
Share of the 60 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus GS300 complaints by model year
Best GS300 years: 2019, 2004. Years to avoid: 2006, 1998, 2000. Compare all years →
1998 Lexus GS300 recalls (1)
Electronic stability control › Automatic (asc)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to a manufacturing defect of the yaw rate sensor for the vehicle stability control (vsc), the vsc can operate improperly if the sensor is affected by certain electromagnetic waves, such as from a cellular phone.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the yaw rate sensor.
What 1998 Lexus GS300 owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 25 →
I was going to go to work, an when I started to push on the thotthle/ gas pedal . Nothing engaged an then all of sudden it worked like it was back to running normal for like 10 seconds then lost almost all the power an you can push the padel to the floor almost befor it will even engage. It's my everyday driving car it not safe to be driving, when it's malfunctioning in the ECU, vsc , cruise control quit because of what happened. There a recall on the vsc for the Lexus gs 300 for having malfunction problems. But it only let's the you use only the last 25 percent of the gas padel, it don't do anything in till almost to the floor. This happened in brookville pennsylvania, when I was turing left on to route 36 south. I also had to replace my thottle body because when this all happened, my thottle it was stuck in wide open thottle. …
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Lexus GS300. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated when the accelerator pedal was released. The vehicle finally stopped after several minutes of depressing the brake pedal. The issue recurred several times in one day. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 112,000.
Suspension
Was on the freeway driving about 60 miles per hour, hit a pot hole, car dropped apparently the ball joint broke on the right side. But this happened on the left side a few months ago in December. That time I was not on the freeway. After researching on line I saw that previous models had been recalled for this problem but not the 1998. After the incident in December and the damage was corrected, I took my car to my mechanic and he checked it out made some adjustments, then it happens again. I'm afraid someone could get killed, luckily I didn't, especially the second time when I was on the freeway. Why would this happen, I always thought a Lexus was a very dependable car.
We own a 1998 Lexus, model gs 300. This Saturday my wife was driving the Lexus and the entire wheel assembly came off the vehicle due the failure of the lower ball joint. In reviewing recall information for Lexus\Toyota, it is very apparent there is an ongoing issue of quality control related to their lower ball joints. For our specific model, there was a recall in 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97 specific to this part. Given we have a 98 and a recall has not been issued (yet), the Lexus dealership refused to provide us with any accommodation towards fixing the failed part, or the resulting body damage related to the vehicle traveling down the road on only three wheel. Fortunately, we were not traveling on the highway, but a side street when this incident occurred. But moreover, regardless of our financial loss, in my opinion, this is a public safety concern.
Brakes
Tl contact owns a 1998 Lexus GS300. The contact stated that while attempting to apply the brakes, the vehicle did not slow down and crashed into a wall. There were no injuries. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who stated that the master cylinder failed. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileages were approximately 111,000.
Purchased a 98 GS300 six months ago and my vsc, ABS, brake light and check engine warning gauges came up and will not go away. Did some research and found out the brake master cylinder, throttle position sensor and throttle position actuator were the problems. With these few items gone bad my car produces little to no power during acceleration. The car barely gets up to 45 MPH with acceleration pedal all the way down to the floor. With the vsc gone bad there is an alarm that stretches to uncomfortable hearing levels that' hurts like the devil. My car will literally stop in the middle of cruising and won't pick up any speed unless I have my foot pedal all the way down to the floor, which also often times causes it to turn off on highways, all types of streets and other areas. …
1998 Lexus GS300 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Lexus GS300 a good car?
Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 GS300 rates avoid: 3.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the GS300 at the same age. It is one of the GS300 years we suggest avoiding. 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 GS300?
The speed control & acceleration — 25 complaints, 42% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the suspension (10) and brakes (7).
How many recalls does the 1998 Lexus GS300 have?
There is 1 recall for the 1998 Lexus GS300, the most recent from April 17, 1998 (automatic (asc)). 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 GS300?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006, 1998 and 2000. See the full Lexus GS300 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Lexus GS300 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 135,000 miles; 8% 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.