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Lexus ES300Model year report

1999 Lexus ES300 Problems

Complaints
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
88,000miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 24 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 Lexus ES300 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lexus ES300. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 10 complaints (37% of the total), followed by other or unknown (3) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 88,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 33 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “Call Lexus and made complain about my car and the problems I am having getting resolution has been frustrating. They are requesting that I tow my car to the dealership before they do anything to fix my vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #10319103, filed 2010-03, 245,000 miles

Other or unknown: “The Lexus specialist at the repair shop informed me that he has seen similar problems with other es 300 models as well as the rl models at about the same mileage. The ones with the toyota camry engines haven\\\\\\'t had any problems. There is a TSB on the NHTSA website and I have also filed a complaint there.”

NHTSA complaint #10070114, filed 2004-01, 80,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Complained to dealer about improper shifting of transmission while under warranty. Dealer advised the transmission was fine, but changed the fluid anyway. I still continued to have issues with the transmission, but was told by the dealer not to come back. The vehicle has been serviced according to manufactures recommendations and now at 88,000 miles the transmission has failed. This is an u140e transmission, which has had numerous complaints.”

NHTSA complaint #10225778, filed 2008-04, 88,000 miles

Air bags: “While driving on a recently oiled and chipped rural road, I had to veer to the right in order to avoid an oncoming vehicle driving in the center of the road. Upon said vehicle passing, I slightly turned the wheel to the left in order to fully return to the road. At this point, the vehicle started to fish tail terribly, no matter how much I tried to regain control, and eventually turned head on toward the opposite side of the road, directly toward trees lining the opposite side. …”

NHTSA complaint #10150951, filed 2006-02, 100,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

8% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 80,000 and 108,920 miles.

0%0–100%10–258%25–5015%50–7531%75–10031%100–15015%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 88,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20002002420042006200842014
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Lexus ES300. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
ES300 · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 Lexus ES300 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 300 FWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic172419$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 1999 Lexus ES300 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. 33 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 33 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus ES300

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201353,50005——Not enough data
200311634,9500—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200215330,0002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20012960,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20005677,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19992788,0000—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19985278,5641—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199745100,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199637109,0001—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199538103,2831—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199439110,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19934396,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199237141,8181—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Lexus ES300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 Lexus ES300 have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 1999 Lexus ES300 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 Lexus ES300 is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 10 complaints (37% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 3.

Has the 1999 Lexus ES300 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 1999 Lexus ES300 get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Lexus ES300 (ES 300, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 24 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 1999 Lexus ES300 reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 88,000 miles and the middle half falls between 80,000 and 108,920 miles; 8% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.