3.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,967 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Lexus GS 300 engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Lexus GS 300 Owner Comments

problem #3

Oct 162004

GS 300

  • Automatic transmission
  • 101,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After stopping at an intersection, the car would travel forward very slowly while depressing the accelerator pedal normally. It would suddenly "catch" and lurch forward if the accelerator pedal was depressed. Car would then handle normally for a few moments but upon stopping would repeat the problem. Vehicle was shut off and restarted several times in an effort to "reboot" the car's electronic acceleration system but the problem persisted. Car was towed to the local Lexus dealer. After sitting on the lot for 1 day, vehicle started and operated normally in the dealer's service lot. Dealer has reported that the problem calls for the replacement of the vehicle's throttle body and gasket.

- Sprague, AL, USA

problem #2

Feb 022003

GS 300

  • Automatic transmission
  • 39,900 miles
This letter is to report a very unsafe condition that exists with my 1998 Lexus gs 300. On 2/02/03 I was waiting at a car wash in a line of traffic with my foot on the brake, when all of the sudden my engine advanced to what seem like full throttle. The rear tires began to spin on the wet pavement but my full pressure on the brake kept the car from lunging forward. My wife leaned over to see what was going on and saw my foot on the brake and not on the gas! at that time I started to shift the car into neutral but decided it would be best to turn of the ignition. Before I got my hand on the key the engine went back to idle! this whole event lasted 5 to 10 seconds. My foot was definitely not on the gas! at that time my wife told me what happened to her the week before this scary event. She was driving down the road at about 55 mph when the car began to accelerate rapidly with out pressing on the gas peddle. She said she had to apply a lot of brake pressure to keep the car from accelerating over the speed limit. This also lasted about 5 to 10 seconds! service from the Lexus dealer is great but they told me my car couldn't do that, and that all computers checked out ok! also a factory service rep said this same thing! I explained to them that it did happen and that I was afraid to drive a car that had a mind of its own. Their answer was, no error codes in the cars computer so nothing is wrong! this could have been a deadly situation both times! something must get done before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

- Allenwood,, NJ, USA

problem #1

Feb 021999

GS 300

  • miles
While driving throttle was stuck, causing vehicle to accelerate unexpectedly in which the occupant had to press hard on the brakes in order to slow down the vehicle. Consumer turned off vehicle in order to stop, the vehicle was restarted and it was idling at high RPM. Turned off the vehicle again and restarted and the vehicle was at normal RPM. Vehicle has been to dealer, however dealer unable to determine problem.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

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