What breaks most · 1993 to 2006 model years
Lexus GS300 problems by year
Owners have filed 326 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Lexus GS300 across model years 1993 to 2006. One year stands out: 2006 for exterior lighting complaints. The quietest years are 1996, 1994 and 1993.
- Years to check closely: 2006
- Fewest complaints: 1996, 1994, 1993
- Complaints on file
- 3261993 to 2006, all trims
- Worst year
- 2006122 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 365 fires · 24 injuries · 1 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 86kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 7Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | 1 | Steering (2) | |
| 6 | 1 | 1 | Speed control and throttle (2) | |
| 9 | 2 | 1 | Suspension (4) | |
| 2 | 0 | 1 | Exterior lighting (1) | |
| 59 | 6 | 1 | Speed control and throttle (25) | |
| 38 | 8 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (12) | |
| 35 | 3 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (14) | |
| 16 | 2 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (3) | |
| 13 | 1 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (5) | |
| 11 | 2 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (4) | |
| 6 | 1 | 0 | Speed control and throttle (2) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (1) | |
| 122 | 9 | 2 | Exterior lighting (35) |
What fails on the 2006 Lexus GS300
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 29% |
35 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 14% |
17 | 1 | Shop engine parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 10% |
12 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 10% |
12 | 5 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 10% |
12 | 1 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 8% |
10 | 0 | Shop all steering parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 7% |
8 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 6% |
7 | 2 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2006 Lexus GS300 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
As i was driving one evening both headlights turned off alone. I turned the knob off and on and they restarted, but now continue to turn off intermittently. Sometimes one sometimes both after different amounts of time. I have had the bulbs replaced but the problem still persists.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Lexus GS300 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2006 carries the most filings on the Lexus GS300. The 2006 alone has 122 complaints, led by exterior lighting.
What is the most common Lexus GS300 problem?
On the 2006 model year, the most-reported component is exterior lighting with 35 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Lexus GS300 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Lexus GS300 complaints that include mileage is about 86,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.