Model year record
The 1992 Lexus ES300 has 1 safety recall and 37 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (9 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| City / highway | 17 / 24 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
| City / highway | 15 / 22 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,700/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainAutomatic transmission; Manual transmission | 9 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal | 6 | 141,800 mi |
| Engine and engine coolingExhaust system; Engine | 5 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Front underhood | 4 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch | 4 | — |
| StructureBody › Hood; Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments | 4 | 170,000 mi |
| Unknown or other | 3 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield; Sun/moon roof assembly | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights; Headlights › High/low beam dimmer switch | 2 | — |
| SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump | 1 | — |
| Tires | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
CAR WAS GOING 35 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, DRY, PAVED, FLAT STREET WHEN THE AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN FACIAL ABRASIONS AND SUDDEN HEARING LOSS IN BOTH EARS WHICH CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. TOYOTA MAINTAINS CAR WAS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR WAS INITIALLY TAKEN TO A LEXUS SPECIALIST WHO BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE MOISTURE ON FLOOR OF BACKSEAT. I ADVISED HIM TO STOP AND SO VEHICLE WAS PARTIALLY DISASSEMBLED AT TIME OF SUBSEQUENT FIELD TECHNICAL SPECIALIST'S INSPECTION. LEXUS HAS REMAINED UNRESPONSIVE IN LIGHT OF ABOVE EXPLANATION. CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND WE ARE FORCED TO DRIVE CAR WITHOUT AN AIRBAG. HEARING LOSS REMAINS IN SPITE OF EXPENSIVE NEW HEARING AIDS.
AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE GOING APPROX 30 MPH ON A FLAT DRY PAVED ROAD. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE DRIVER SWERVED AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED, EMITTING A SMOKEY SUBSTANCE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACE AND EAR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,800.
DRIVING NORTHBOUND FROM GILROY ON THE 101 FREEWAY, I WAS IN THE SECOND LANE FROM THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN THE HOOD SPRUNG OPEN BLINDING MY VIEW AND SCARING THE CRAP OUT OF PASSENGERS AND I. I STARTED TO IMMEDIATELY PULL TO THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY EVEN THOUGH I HAD NO VISUAL OF WHAT WAS IN FROM OF MY VIEW, THE SURROUNDING CARS IMMEDIATELY TOOK NOTICE OF MY FULLY EXTENDED WHITE HOOD DUE TO IT WAS STANDING STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR, THE WINDSHIELD INSTANTLY SHATTERED OUTWARDS AND THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED HOME, WINDSHIELD REPLACED, THE HOOD WAS A USED HOOD THAT IN NOT SAFE FOR USE IF ACCIDENT THE HOOD WOULD SLICE MY HEAD OFF. A LOT OF PARTS ARE STILL DAMAGED FROM THE INCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS ES 300. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT HOOD RELEASED IN AN OPEN POSITION WITHOUT WARNING. IMMEDIATELY, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142366.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 55-60 MPH WHEN THE HOOD SUDDENLY POPPED OPEN DAMAGING THE HOOD AND WINDSHIELD. *TR
WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE I NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ACTING A LITTLE FUNNY. AFTER ABOUT TWO WEEKS THE SPEEDOMETER NO LONGER GAVE AN ACCURATE READING AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE MILEAGE WAS SLOW. I COMPARED A FEW DISTANCES AND THE CAR'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY RECORDED HALF OF THE ACTUAL MILEAGE TRAVELED. THE LIGHTS ON THE NEEDLES ARE FLICKERING AND THE GAS LIGHT NEEDLE IS COMPLETELY OUT. IT IS VERY HARD TO KNOW AT WHAT SPEED I AM TRAVELING, AS WELL AS EVEN KNOW IF I HAVE ENOUGH FUEL, WITHOUT TURNING ON THE CABIN LIGHT. THIS SPEEDOMETER ISSUE HAS BECOME A REAL PROBLEM, I CAN'T CONTROL MY SPEED AND I AM CONSTANTLY DISTRACTED. *JB
NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V039000 CONCERNING HOOD LATCH. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE HOOD FLEW UP, BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE. CONSUMER WAS LATER ADVISED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE HOOD LATCH. CONSUMER MADE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.