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Lexus ES250Model year report

1990 Lexus ES250 Problems

Complaints
9filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
117,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 2.5L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Lexus ES250 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1990 Lexus ES250. The part named most often is air bags, with 6 complaints (67% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and fuel system (1). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 117,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 20 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Air bags: “While pulling inside a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly accelerated into a brick wall. Upon impact, the air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to the dealership requested by the insurance company.”

NHTSA complaint #10071980, filed 2004-06, 74,000 miles

Brakes: “Vehicle's ABS braking system failed while driving 15-20mph, driver crashed into a parked car .the master cylnder is leaking air into brake line and contaminated brake fluid.”

NHTSA complaint #809195, filed 1997-02

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 74,000 and 160,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5050%50–750%75–1000%100–15050%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 117,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

1995199619974199820042014
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1990 Lexus ES250 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
ES 250 FWD2.5L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172319$3,550
ES 250 FWD2.5L 6-cyl5-speed manual172419$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1990 Lexus ES250 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 20 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 20 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES250

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
199113400—19—Not enough data
19909117,0000—19—Not enough data

All Lexus ES250 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Lexus ES250 have?

NHTSA recorded 9 consumer complaints for the 1990 Lexus ES250 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1990 Lexus ES250 is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 6 complaints (67% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 1990 Lexus ES250 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Lexus ES250 get?

The EPA rates the 1990 Lexus ES250 (ES 250, 2.5L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Lexus ES250 reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 117,000 miles and the middle half falls between 74,000 and 160,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.