Fitment on this one is exact: the 1997 Lexus ES 300 service and repair manual is tied to your year, engine and trim, so every clearance, torque value and diagnostic step it lists is what Lexus specified for the 3.0L V6 (1MZ-FE) in this car rather than an approximation borrowed from a neighboring year.
Engines
- 3.0L V6 GAS Naturally Aspirated
Trims
- Base
Known issues on the 1997 ES 300. Two recalls are on federal record for this model year. The first covers the steering wheel: the steering wheel set nut may not have been tightened sufficiently, causing steering vibration and looseness, and this can result in a loss of vehicle control. The second covers the hydraulic brake power assist on cars originally sold or currently registered in nineteen listed states, where accumulated moisture can temporarily freeze in the brake vacuum hose if the car is used in extremely cold climates for an extended period; this can eliminate vacuum assist to the brakes, which can increase stopping distances and could lead to a crash. Owners have filed 48 complaints for the year, and no technical service bulletins are on record for it. The diagnostic and repair procedures behind both of those systems are here.
Whether you are chasing steering looseness, testing the brake booster and its vacuum line, or working through a scheduled service interval, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the correct specification for your specific 1997 ES 300.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS.
THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN,MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NOTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. A CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHERE ACCUMULATED MOISTURE CAN TEMPORARILY FREEZE IN THE BRAKE VACUUM HOSE IF THE VEHICLE IS USED IN EXTREMELY COLD CLIMATES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ELIMINATION OF VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES THAT CAN INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE VACUUM HOSE.
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custome
Brake Pedal Force Gauge SST for Parking Brake Inspection.
Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset.
Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset
Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset
Auto matic Transmission Replacement kPrecautions
Windshield Wiper Blade Maintenance and cleaning
Showing the 8 most recent of 48 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
VEHICLE STEERED TO THE LEFT WHEN HIT BY AN OBJECT. WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO STEER VEHICLE STRAIGHT IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION AND MINOR INJURIES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER UNKNOWINGLY FELL ASLEEP AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER TWICE, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE INJURED. THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS FULLY RECLINED ON THE TRACK FRAME WITH THE OCCUPANT BEING SECURED WITH THE SEAT BELT AS THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS KILLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FATALITY WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FEATURE, WHICH ALLOWED THE SEAT TO RECL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE LOST VEHICLE CONTROL AND DROVE INTO A FIELD. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER HE CRASHED INTO A CONDOMINIUM. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. HE RECEIVED INJURIES TO THE HEAD, BACK, AND SPINE. HIS DOG ALSO DIED DUE TO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A REPORT; HOWEVER, THE DETAILED REPORT INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE FULL COVERAGE INSURAN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER RECEIVED BRUISES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYEMNT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD BECOME JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS ES300. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UP HILL, HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND RIBS DURING THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 210,000.
SEAT BELT DOESN'T RETRACT WHEN REMOVED AFTER CRASH REPAIR. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL WHEN CAR GETS OLD! BELT MUST BE MANUALLY PUSHED BACK INTO RETRACTOR AFTER EACH TIME IT'S USED. I'M AFRAID BELT MAY NOT WORK PROPERLY IN A SEVERE CRASH.
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. POLICE INVESTIGATOR STATED FIRE STARTED FROM THE ENGINE.*AK
FOR SOME TIME, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEATER (LEFT SIDE OF SEAT) WOULD REACH A TEMPERATURE WHICH WAS UNCOMFORTABLE. SO, I WOULD TURN IT ON FOR A FEW MINUTES TO WARM UP, AND THEN TURN IT OFF WHEN IT BECAME HOT. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE CHECKED OUT AND ADJUSTED, IF NECESSARY. A FEW DAYS BEFORE I MY APPOINTMENT, I WAS RIDING IN THE CAR AND TURNED ON THE HEATER. WHEN IT BECAME HOT, I PLACED MY SCARF BETWEEN THE SEAT AND MY LEG. AT A CERTAIN POINT, IT SMELLED AS THOUGH SO
DURING STORM DROVE OVER SMALL PUDDLES. ABOUT 12 HOURS LATER, WHEN DRIVER WENT TO TURN IGINTION, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING SERIOUS EYE INJURIES. *AK
THE MIDDLE REAR SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE OCCUPANT OUT FROM THE MIDDLE SEAT. CONSUMER, THEREFORE, HAD TO CUT THE BELT IN ORDER TO GET A CHILD OUT THE REAR MIDDLE SEAT. ALSO THE SHOULDER BELT WAS AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK AND WAS COMPRESSING HIS NECK TIGHTLY. *AK
SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AUTOMATICALLY. AS A RESULT DOOR WAS CLOSED ON SEATBELT, AND DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET VEHICLE REPAIRED PROPERLY. ENGINE CONTINUED KNOCKING, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN SEVERAL REASONS BY DEALER WHY THIS WAS HAPPENING. CONSUMER SPENT APPROXIMATELY $3000.00 TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE, BUT THE REPAIRS HAD NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT DONE PROPERLY. HAD TO HAVE THE NEW FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM REPLACED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE SAME T
NO SUMMARY
NO SUMMARY
ON OING PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC ODOMETER NOT REGISTERING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Showing the 15 most serious of 48 complaints filed with NHTSA.
