1992 LEXUS ES300 Complaints

THE INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER ON THE ES300, WHICH INCLUDES THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER, USES LIGHTED NEEDLES AND GAUGES. THE LIGHTING FOR THE NEEDLES AND THE GAUGES INTERMITTENTLY DIMS OR GOES OUT. THIS CAN BE A BIT FRIGHTENING AND SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE - ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WE CONTACTED THE LEXUS WARRANTY COMPANY AND A DEALER. THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE PART AND THAT IT WOULD COST JUST UNDER $1000.00 TO REPLACE. WE HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS (EVEN VIA THIS WEB SITE) THAT THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM AMOUNG THE LEXUS ES300 MODELS. PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO GET LEXUS TO FIX WHAT IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN CRAFTMANSHIP AND DESIGN AND CERTAINLY POSES A SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & NOTICED TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATING HOT. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. HAD NO INDICATION A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS. HAD NO LEAKING NOR WAS VEHICLE OVERHEATING. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET WAS CRACKED. AK

LEXUS USES ELECTROLUMINESCENT NEEDLES ON DASHBOARDS. THESE NEEDLES INDICATE SPEED AND OTHER FUNCTIONS. WHEN THE NEEDLES FAIL, THE SPEEDOMETER AND OTHER GAUGES CANNOT BE READ. LEXUS INDICATED THIS IS NOT AN INFREQUENT OCCURENCE. NO ACCIDENT RESULTED, BUT THE SYSTEM IS UNSAFE IN THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATOR CANNOT READ THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THIS IS AN INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILURE, AND IS NOT RELATED TO MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE.

DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED SUDDENDLY WHEN PULLING AT DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATLEY 5-10 MPH, CAUSING CHEMICALS BURNS AND BRUISES. *AK

DRIVING 70MPH WHEN DRIVER LEANED TOWARDS PASSENGER'S SIDE. IN DOING SO, ARM HIT GEAR SHIFT & VEHICLE WENT FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL & THEN DECELERATEDAPIDLY AND CAME TO A DEAD STOP. CALLED DEALER & WAS INFORMED GEAR SHIFT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *AK

AFTER HITTING A CURB, WHILE MAKING A U TURN AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK

REPLACE INSTRUMENT OF THE COMBINATION METER, INVOLVING SPEEDO/TACH, TEMPERATURE GAUGE UNIT, GAS GAUGE, WHEN ON THE INDICATOR NEEDLE MALFUNCTION, CAUSING LIGHT INDICATOR NEEDLES TO BLINK OR REMAIN OFF FOR EXTENDED PERIOD.

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, AS A RESULT THE VALVE SEALS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT, HIT LEXUS PASSENGER SIDE, SPUN VEHICLE, HIT TELEPHONE POLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CUT OFF, DEALER SAID IT WAS THE TRAN AXLE BOLT THAT CAME LOOSE. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK