Lexus GS300
Registered from 1994 to 2009.
About this model
The Lexus GS is an executive car manufactured by Toyota and marketed by Lexus across four generations — launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan and as the Lexus GS for markets outside the Japanese market beginning in February 1993. It continued with the Toyota Aristo name for the Japanese market until January 2005, following the introduction of the Lexus marque in Japan.
From the Wikipedia article Lexus GS, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2005 3.0 petrol. 193 of 942 tests failed, 20%.
Better than 86% of 2005 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 837 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 54% | 105 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 35% | 67 |
| Lights and electrics | 33% | 64 |
| Suspension | 33% | 63 |
| Tyres and wheels | 21% | 41 |
| Body and structure | 10% | 19 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
Where it stands out against its peers
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 93% of 2005 cars — 35% of its 193 failed tests, where an ordinary 2005 car has 14%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 54% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Exhaust and emissions — 35% of its failures
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Suspension — 33% of its failures
- A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage
- Tyres and wheels — 21% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 33% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Body and structure — 10% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 20% of its inspections, against the 30% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40–60k miles | 14% | 21% | 65 | |
| 60–80k miles | 18% | 26% | 115 | |
| 80–100k miles | 18% | 28% | 187 | |
| 100–120k miles | 22% | 29% | 193 | |
| 120–140k miles | 23% | 30% | 168 | |
| 140–160k miles | 24% | 30% | 106 | |
| 160–180k miles | 20% | 30% | 51 |
885 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/0512/16
The sealing performance of the gasket seated between the fuel pressure sensor and the engine fuel delivery pipe could degrade over time. If this occurs, fuel could leak which, in the presence of an ignition source, could lead to a vehicle fire.
Recall of the product from end users