NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Lexus ES Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Lexus ES has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Lexus ES. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1998 Lexus ES owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1998 Lexus ES, describing incidents dated May 1, 2019.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11299662 · Filed January 16, 2020
SINCE MAY OF 2019 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THE OBD READER KEEPS DETECTING A TROUBLE CODE. WHEN MOVING BACK TO CALIFORNIA, I HAD TO REREGISTERED FOR CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATES, TAGS, AND GET MY CAR SMOGGED WITH MY SMOG CERTIFICATION IN ORDER FOR ME TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION. I HAVE SPENT SO…

Read the full complaint

FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS

NHTSA #09E012000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported April 7, 2009 · SABERSPORT

Potentially affected: 16,270 vehicles

Owners notified May 11, 2009

Defect description

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Safety consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Lexus ES. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Lexus ES.

Power Train; Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11299662

Incident: May 1, 2019 · Filed: January 16, 2020

SINCE MAY OF 2019 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON. THE OBD READER KEEPS DETECTING A TROUBLE CODE. WHEN MOVING BACK TO CALIFORNIA, I HAD TO REREGISTERED FOR CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATES, TAGS, AND GET MY CAR SMOGGED WITH MY SMOG CERTIFICATION IN ORDER FOR ME TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY INTO MY CAR THAT IT'S AFFECTING ME FROM GETTING TO WORK/ SCHOOL AND TAKING DRIVING MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL AS WELL. EVERY TIME I GET SOMETHING FIXED AND DRIVE THE MILES I'M SUPPOSED TO BE DRIVING, THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON WITH A TROUBLE CODE. THIS IS AFFECTING ME BECAUSE I'M UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT STILL WON'T PASS SMOG. IT'S BEEN GOING ON QUITE FOR SOME TIME.

Other Lexus ES model years

Check your 1998 Lexus ES VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus ES at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Lexus VIN