Check a VIN

1999 Lexus ES problems

The most common problem on the 1999 Lexus ES is acceleration and speed control. It has fewer complaints than a typical ES model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
8
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
12
Worst area
Acceleration

The worst 1999 Lexus ES problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Acceleration
    2
  • Electrical
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Acceleration
    2
  • Electrical
    2
  • Airbags
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Suspension
    1

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Technical service bulletins for the 1999 Lexus ES 12

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 12 bulletins for the 1999 Lexus ES

What 1999 Lexus ES owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 26, 2020 · Electrical · 175,000 miles · NJ · fire

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.

Filed Oct 26, 2007 · Seat belts · 48,000 miles · NY

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.

Filed Jun 11, 2007 · Suspension · 85,000 miles · TX · crash

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.

Filed Nov 25, 2006 · CA

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.

Filed Jul 12, 2006 · Electrical · 31,000 miles · IN · fire

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.

Filed Jun 27, 2006 · Acceleration · 113,000 miles · SC

Sudden acceleration - cruise control malfunctioned, it would not turn-off but instead the vehicle accelerated on its own from 55 to 90 MPH.

Filed May 11, 2006 · Acceleration · 113,000 miles · SC · fire

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)

Filed Apr 17, 2006 · Airbags · 35,000 miles · NY

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.

Used buying checklistWhat to check on a 1999 Lexus ES before you buy

Compare the 1999 Lexus ES

Other model years

199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Questions about the 1999 Lexus ES

Is the 1999 Lexus ES reliable?

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 1999 Lexus ES, fewer than a typical ES model year.

What is the most common problem with the 1999 Lexus ES?

Acceleration and speed control, with 2 complaints. Next is electrical (2).

How many recalls does the 1999 Lexus ES have?

No recalls on record.

Share your experience with the 1999 Lexus ES

Tell other buyers what went wrong and what it cost. We review every report before it appears, and we never publish names, emails or VINs.

No names, contact details or links. Reports about a dealer or a person are not published.

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1999 Lexus ES?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history
Is this car on a recall?Check VIN