1998 Lexus GS300 Problems

What owners report

Most complaints about this model year concern the electronic throttle: owners describe the car surging or revving on its own, especially at low speed with the brake applied, and sometimes losing power instead. A second recurring theme is front suspension wear, with lower ball joint failures reported at highway speeds. Many of these reports come in at six-figure mileage on a car that is now decades old, and several owners say dealers could not reproduce the throttle symptom.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration / surging at low speed

   • 13 complaints (22%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 12.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2016

   Owners describe the engine revving or the car surging forward without their foot on the accelerator, most often while stopped or creeping in traffic with the brake applied. Some say the car kept pushing through hard braking and had to be shifted into neutral or shut off. Dealers often could not duplicate the symptom; in some cases a faulty throttle body or throttle position sensor was diagnosed, and in others the problem returned after repair. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many between roughly 37,000 and 170,000 miles, often in stop-and-go traffic or parking-lot conditions.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body and throttle position sensor have been serviced and whether any prior owner reported surging; a test drive that includes slow creeping and repeated stops is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When at a stop sign or red light, with my foot on the brake pedal, the car accelerates. I press on the brake pedal and, usually, the acceleration slows down. This happened 3 times in 2 days and the third time the acceleration did not stop, the car really accelerated, I pressed on the brake pedal as hard as I could and the rear tires were smoking so I turned off the key. The dealer had the car for a week and could find no problem. Before I got the car back into my garage, it happened again but not too badly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10320103, filed 2010-03, 66,800 miles

   “Referring to a 1998 Lexus GS300, rear wheel drive car with 84,000 miles. On saturday, june 19, 2010, I was coming to a stop at an intersection with a 2 way stop sign, with my foot on the brake. My car after slowing down a bit, suddenly accelerated, almost resulting in an accident as I 'cruised' across the intersection instead of stopping. I called Lexus and they advised that I bring the car in. I drove there about 15 miles, and on the way there I stopped about 100 feet behind another car which was stopped at a red light. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10341283, filed 2010-07, 84,000 miles
2. 2
   Vehicle speed control

   Loss of power / no response from accelerator

   • 19 complaints (32%)
   • median 112,000 mi at 13.6 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners report the opposite symptom as well: pressing the accelerator with little or no response, the car slowing or stalling, sometimes with the check engine and VSC lights on. Some describe the pedal needing to be nearly floored before the car moves, followed by a sudden lurch. Complaints mention diagnosis of a throttle position sensor out of specification or an open circuit, and in some cases the issue continued after parts were replaced. Usually reported above 80,000 miles, frequently around 100,000 to 190,000 miles, and often while accelerating from a stop or at moderate speed.

   What to check: Ask for any records of throttle position sensor or throttle body replacement, and watch for check engine or VSC warning lights during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was going to go to work, an when I started to push on the thotthle/ gas pedal . Nothing engaged an then all of sudden it worked like it was back to running normal for like 10 seconds then lost almost all the power an you can push the padel to the floor almost befor it will even engage. It's my everyday driving car it not safe to be driving, when it's malfunctioning in the ecu, vsc , cruise control quit because of what happened. There a recall on the vsc for the Lexus gs 300 for having malfunction problems. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11024942, filed 2017-09, 270,038 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10095986, filed 2004-10, 101,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Front lower ball joint separation

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 152,500 mi at 12.0 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2011

   Owners describe a loud pop, then the front of the car dropping or pulling hard to one side while driving, sometimes with the wheel assembly separating and the rim or fender damaged. Several complaints note the lower ball joint was found broken or hanging, and some owners point out that earlier model years had a related recall while this year did not. Towing was sometimes declined because of the risk of further damage. Mostly reported between about 100,000 and 193,000 miles, often while driving at city or highway speed and sometimes after hitting a pothole.

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the front lower ball joints and control arms before purchase, and ask whether they have ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We own a 1998 Lexus, model gs 300. This saturday my wife was driving the Lexus and the entire wheel assembly came off the vehicle due the failure of the lower ball joint. In reviewing recall information for Lexus\toyota, it is very apparent there is an ongoing issue of quality control related to their lower ball joints. For our specific model, there was a recall in 93, 94, 95, 96 and 97 specific to this part. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10184339, filed 2007-03, 135,000 miles

   “Was on the freeway driving about 60 miles per hour, hit a pot hole, car dropped apparently the ball joint broke on the right side. But this happened on the left side a few months ago in december. That time I was not on the freeway. After researching on line I saw that previous models had been recalled for this problem but not the 1998. After the incident in december and the damage was corrected, I took my car to my mechanic and he checked it out made some adjustments, then it happens again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10323263, filed 2010-03, 193,000 miles
4. 4
   Electronic stability control

   VSC warning light and stability system behavior

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 129,200 mi at 12.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2017

   Owners report the VSC and VSC OFF lights coming on, sometimes alongside the check engine light, and describe the car losing power, becoming hard to steer, or behaving unpredictably afterward. One complaint describes an accident said to involve the yaw sensor after recall work. A recall exists for the yaw rate sensor being affected by electromagnetic interference such as a cellular phone. Reported from roughly 100,000 miles upward, including one case near 112,000 miles and another above 190,000 miles.

   Recall 98V080000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 98V080000 was performed and whether the VSC light stays off after a test drive; a scan for stored stability-control codes is inexpensive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased a 98 GS300 six months ago and my vsc, ABS, brake light and check engine warning gauges came up and will not go away. Did some research and found out the brake master cylinder, throttle position sensor and throttle position actuator were the problems. With these few items gone bad my car produces little to no power during acceleration. The car barely gets up to 45 MPH with acceleration pedal all the way down to the floor. With the vsc gone bad there is an alarm that stretches to uncomfortable hearing levels that' hurts like the devil. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11034007, filed 2017-10

   “The vsc and the vsc off lights both turn on at the same time, and the engine suddenly come to idle and the car slowly come to stop right in the middle of the freeway when I am driving at 65 MPH on the freeway.”

   NHTSA complaint #10183461, filed 2007-02, 146,400 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal or master cylinder problems

   • 10 complaints (17%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 13.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2017

   Owners describe the brake pedal not slowing the car as expected, a lurch forward during braking in a parking lot, or the pedal going down with reduced stopping power. One complaint reports the master cylinder was found failed after a low-speed impact; another describes rear brake pad hardware coming loose. Reported from low mileage up to about 111,000 miles, including a parking-lot case with no mileage given.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and pedal feel, ask for master cylinder and brake service records, and have the parking brake inspected; a service bulletin describes a special tool for that inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a vehicle off the streets and had no clue on how the system works when purchasing a salvaged vehicle that had been in a auction after a wreckless accident. Had a master cylinder malfunction that got fixed by not a Lexus professional mechanic due to budget reasons. Received a check for around $20.00 for the recall on the gas pedal getting stuck around 3 yrs. Ago. No longer have posseion of my license # plate or vehicle. I think VIN # was a scam.”

   NHTSA complaint #10970369, filed 2017-04

   “While braking in a parking lot, it seemed that the ABS braking system was activated. When braking vehicle lurched forward uncontrollably for a couple of feet, then vehicle would stop. Dealer cannot determine the problem. Please provide further information.”

   NHTSA complaint #835344, filed 1999-03

Buying note. These cars are old enough that condition and service history matter more than the model year itself, so ask for records covering throttle components, front suspension joints and brake hydraulics. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the front ball joints and a scan for stored throttle and stability-control codes is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 47 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.