RideTruth

Owner report · 1998 model year

1998 Lexus GS

View garageCompare this car
No photo available — body style shown for reference.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Driver Assistance & Speed Control

Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 31 of 95 complaints (33%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more crash reports (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 0 in 1997 to 95 in 1998.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
95
Recall campaigns
2
EPA fuel cost per year
$4,050–$4,300
Combined MPG
18–19

Complaints by model year

  1. 31996
  2. 01997
  3. 951998
  4. 591999
  5. 442000

Where owners report problems

  1. Driver Assistance & Speed Control31 (33%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires22 (23%)
  3. Brakes19 (20%)
  4. Airbags & Restraints13 (14%)
  5. Body, Seats & Latches8 (8%)
  6. Electrical8 (8%)
Advertisement

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category19961997199819992000vs. 1998 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)4,3004,3004,050–4,3003,850–4,3004,050–4,300
Combined MPG181818–1918–2018–19
City / Highway MPG16 / 2216 / 2215–17 / 21–2316–18 / 22–2316–17 / 22–23
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)494494468–494444–494468–494
Complaints filed30955944Not compared
Recalls issued11211Not compared
Crash-involved complaints0020154Not compared
Fire-involved complaints00102Not compared
Injuries reported301653Not compared
Deaths reported00000Not compared
Configurations compared11222

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 1998 Lexus GS have?

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Lexus GS?

Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 31 of 95 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Lexus GS get?

EPA rates it 18–19 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Lexus GS?

EPA estimates $4,050–$4,300 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (2)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 5-spd63.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars17 mpg (high)23 mpg (high)19 mpg (high)$4,050 (low)468 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Automatic 5-spd84.0LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars15 mpg (low)21 mpg (low)18 mpg (low)$4,300 (high)494 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine71010
Transmission & Drivetrain30000
Fuel System00000
Electrical80100
Brakes198080
Steering40000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires224030
Airbags & Restraints1311080
Driver Assistance & Speed Control313040
Body, Seats & Latches81020
Visibility & Lighting50000
Other20000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (2)

  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING

    Campaign 09E012000 · Apr 7, 2009

    Defect
    SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
    Consequence
    DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

  • ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

    Campaign 98V080000 · Apr 17, 1998

    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.
    Consequence
    SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.