Problem: THE SPHERICAL PORTIONS OF CERTAIN LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD FINISHED SURFACES THAT WERE NOT SMOOTH CAUSING FRICTION WITH THE SURFACE OF THE BALL JOINT CAP.
Risk: THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SEPARATION OF THE BALLJOINT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.
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.
Crash test ratings
1994 Lexus GS 300 4-DR
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
GS 300
18mpg combined
City / highway
16 / 21 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Suspension Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
2
0
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control
2
1
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components
1
0
0
0
—
Electrical system
1
0
0
0
—
Engine
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Nov 25, 2014 · 163,000 milesSuspension VEHICLE STARTED LEANING CLOSURE TO THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND IT WAS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM, THE BALL JOINTS, THE STEEL WHEEL WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE LOWER CONTROL AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT AFFECT THE SUSPENSION OF A VEHICLE. OVER THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVEABLE. *JS
Nov 18, 2014 · 278,000 milesEngine TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 LEXUS GS300. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, WHILE PARKED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 278,000.
Feb 5, 2011 · 177,800 miles · crashVehicle speed control SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I WAS DRIVING IT ON US-101 WESTBOUND BEFORE KANAN ROAD EXIT (~4 MILES BEFORE DESTINATION EXIT), SLOWED DOWN AND CHANGED ONE LANE TO MOST RIGHT LANE. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I APPLIED THE BRAKES IMMEDIATELY. THE CAR TURNED TO THE LEFT, MADE A SPIN COUNTERCLOCKWISE AND TRAVELED FROM MOST OF THE RIGHT LANE TO MOST OF THE LEFT LANE. FINALLY, I GOT IT STOPPED IN THE LEFT LANE, AFTER ITS REAR HIT THE FREEWAY CENTER DIVIDER. IT WAS IN THE OPPOSITE TRAFFIC DIRECTION. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS HIT. THE CAR HAS SEVERE DAMAGE IN THE REAR BUMPER, TRUNK, 2 REAR SIDE BODY, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL/TIRE AND SOME DAMAGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE BODY. IT'S NON-DRIVABLE,…
Nov 29, 2002 · 214,600 milesSuspension › Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint LOWER LEFT FRONT BALL JOINT FAILED, AND WHEEL FELL ON ITS SIDE, DROPPING THE FRONT END OF THE CAR TO THE PAVEMENT.
Jan 11, 2002Electrical system CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE, DASHBOARD BECAME ILLUMINATED, AND VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Apr 28, 1998Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHEELS. DEALER HAS SEEN TWICE, AND CAN'T FIND PROBLEM. *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.