NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Lexus ES Recalls & Complaints

The 1999 Lexus ES has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 8 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Lexus ES. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 Lexus ES owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Lexus ES, describing incidents dated June 10, 2003 to October 17, 2020.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 2 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint
Seat Belts 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Of the 8 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 3 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11366453 · Filed October 26, 2020
WIFE DROVE LEXUS 2 MILES TO BAKERY, CRUST N'CRUMBS AT 1370 N MAIN ROAD, VINELAND, NJ. WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF BAKERY, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE CALLED ME. I DROVE THERE AND RAISED THE HOOD. 2 COIL PACKS WERE ON FIRE (ABOUT A 2 INCH FLAME) AND THE HOOD INSULATION WAS SMOULDERING. I BLEW…
ODI #10206965 · Filed October 26, 2007
ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 22, 2007 THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ON 1999 LEXUS ES300 WOULD NOT BUCKLE AS THE FEMALE(CONSOLE SIDE)PART OF THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY UP -THE RED BUTTON REMAINED PART WAY DOWN. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A LEXUS PART NO. 73240-33010-A0, BELT ASSY, FRT ST ,BY THE…
ODI #10192907 · Filed June 11, 2007
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS ES 300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ROD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT…

Read all 8 complaints

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 1999 Lexus ES. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Lexus ES.

Electrical System

ODI #11366453

Fire

Incident: October 17, 2020 · Filed: October 26, 2020

WIFE DROVE LEXUS 2 MILES TO BAKERY, CRUST N'CRUMBS AT 1370 N MAIN ROAD, VINELAND, NJ. WHEN SHE CAME OUT OF BAKERY, SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE CALLED ME. I DROVE THERE AND RAISED THE HOOD. 2 COIL PACKS WERE ON FIRE (ABOUT A 2 INCH FLAME) AND THE HOOD INSULATION WAS SMOULDERING. I BLEW OUT THE TWO FIRES AND PUT WATER ON THE COILS AND HOOD INSULATION. THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WAS NOT REPORTED TO POLICE OR FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

Seat Belts

ODI #10206965

Incident: October 22, 2007 · Filed: October 26, 2007

ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 22, 2007 THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT ON 1999 LEXUS ES300 WOULD NOT BUCKLE AS THE FEMALE(CONSOLE SIDE)PART OF THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY UP -THE RED BUTTON REMAINED PART WAY DOWN. IT WAS REPLACED WITH A LEXUS PART NO. 73240-33010-A0, BELT ASSY, FRT ST ,BY THE COMPLAINANT AND UPON EXAMINATION OF THE REMOVED PART , A BROKEN OFF PIECE OF RED PLASTIC SIMILAR IN NATURE TO THAT OF THE BUCKLE RELEASE WAS CAUGHT IN THE ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE PIECE OF RED PLASTIC WAS REMOVED FROM THE ASSEMBLY, THE LATCH(BUCKLE) AGAIN APPEARED TO BE WORKING NORMALLY. THIS FAILURE RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL IT COULD BE REPLACED. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10192907

Crash

Incident: May 22, 2007 · Filed: June 11, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS ES 300. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ROD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.

Equipment

ODI #10174242

Incident: November 12, 2006 · Filed: November 25, 2006

AUDIO DISPLAY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY FADED OUT. THIS PROBLEM IS HAVING TO A LOT OF 98-99 LEXUS ES300 MODELS. CONTACTED DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS EVEN THEY KNOW THIS IS A FAILURE TO MANY VEHICLE OWNERS. *JB

Electrical System

ODI #10162264

Fire

Incident: June 6, 2006 · Filed: July 12, 2006

DURING A DRIVE HOME, THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED COMING TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. THE PANEL LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE ABS. IT THEN RETURNED TO RUNNING SMOOTHLY> I RETURNED HOME WITHIN I MILE WITHOUT FURTHER PROBLEMS, NO ODOR OR PANEL SIGNS SHOWING. THE CAR WAS PUT INTO OUR GARAGE AND TURNED OFF, WITHIN MINUTES MY HUSBAND SAW THE CAR ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPT PUT OUT THE FIRE AND THE CAR BECAME A TOTAL LOSS. CALLS TO LEXUS AND FOLLOW-UP WITH TOYOTA WERE NOT ANSWERED AT ALL, NO COMMENT. HAS THERE BEEN A PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS WITH THAT MODEL CAR? THANK YOU. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10160844

Incident: March 23, 2006 · Filed: June 27, 2006

SUDDEN ACCELERATION - CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED, IT WOULD NOT TURN-OFF BUT INSTEAD THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN FROM 55 TO 90 MPH. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control

ODI #10157263

Fire

Incident: March 9, 2006 · Filed: May 11, 2006

THE FOLLOWING LETTER TO LEXUS & THEY DENIED FAULT OR OBLIGATION TO ASSIST ME: I SPOKE WITH HEATHER STAFFORD WHO ASKED ME TO CALL 800-348-2788 TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED BY A LEXUS IN CHARLESTON SC. I WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE CAR HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SERVICE MNGR: DARYL WOULD CALL ME BACK BUT I NEVER HEARD FROM ANYONE. LIFE-THREATENING EXPERIENCE INVOLVED THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONING ON MY 1999 LEXUS ES300, THURSDAY, 3/9/06. I HAD SET MY CRUISE ON 50 MPH AND IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN UP TO 88 MPH. I DEPRESSED THE CRUISE TO TURN IT OFF WHILE PRESSING THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND HELD THE BRAKES DOWN, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH AND THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP. FEARING FOR MY LIFE AND LOOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR, I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND HEARD THE ENGINE MAKE A LOUD, DISTRESSING NOISE. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO A STOP AND WOULDN'T RESTART, SO I CALLED THE ONLY TOW TRUCK IN THE AREA. TOWED TO CONWAY, BUMPER TO BUMPER IMPORT AUTOS AND THE MECHANIC: DALE SAID I HAD BLOWN THE MOTOR. I ASKED HIM, WHAT CAUSED IT, HE SAID IT'S OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THE OVER-STRESSED ENGINE BEING STOPPED SO ABRUPTLY WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. HE MENTIONED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE THAT AND HE ADDED HIS STATEMENT ON THE INVOICE: CRUISE CONTROL WIRING CAUSED STICKING THROTTLE. LEXUS VEHICLES HAD REPORTED PROBLEMS IN NY TIMES FOR RECALLS FOR THE SAME MALFUNCTION, SO MY CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. THEREFORE, I EXPECT LEXUS TO REFUND ME THE TOTAL EXPENSES BELOW INCURRED DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT: CAR INFO:[XXX]ENGINE: V6 MOTOR REPLACED $2400.00 LABOR/ADDITIONAL PARTS $1500.00 RENTAL CARS $ 288.00 TIME LOSS FROM WORK 3DAYS X 8HRS = 24HRS @ 31.84 =$ 764.00 TOTAL REFUND REQUESTED=$4952.00. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Air Bags

ODI #10155523

Incident: June 10, 2003 · Filed: April 17, 2006

AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON , AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, DEALER ATTRIBUTES THE LIGHT COMING ON TO A LOOSE WIRE LOCATED UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2003 AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES . THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 70,000 MILES AND THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO COME ON , I FEEL MY SAFETY IS IN JEOPARDY EVERY TIME THIS LIGHT COMES. AFTER REPEATED VISITS TO THE DEALER THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES. *JB

Other Lexus ES model years

Check your 1999 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.

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