LexusGS3002001Overview/lexus/gs300/2001/base/

2001 Lexus GS300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 GS300.

The 2001 Lexus GS300, a model requiring 5.7 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, sits within the broader complaint history spanning 1993 to 2019, where the highest number of owner complaints (69) occurred in 1998 and the lowest (1) in 2013; for this specific year, the vehicle recorded 17 total owner complaints—with the top issue being Vehicle Speed Control—and notably carries zero recalls, positioning it as a relatively stable entry in the GS300’s reliability timeline.

Model year201920182006200520042003200220012000

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD1. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-60VR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780146080
Fuel filter233000A020 alt 2321746090
Spark plug9091901219
Front wiper blades8522230560 alt 8521253061
Serpentine belt99366H1930
Thermostat9091603093 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8713950030

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.7 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.7 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs14 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts243 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub147 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub213 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.70-.94 Diamond ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6,800-11,700 ohms
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21-1.43 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.20 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.014 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket87 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle76 ft-lbs / 77 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.472 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.181 in / 0.413 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9022 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9033 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record for this generation shows a pronounced spike in 1998 with 69 complaints, one recall, and 73 TSBs, followed by a steady downward trajectory in owner complaints through the turn of the decade. The 2001 model lands near the bottom of that post-spike arc with just 17 complaints—roughly half the volume of the 2000 model and well below the 1998 peak—alongside zero recalls and zero investigations. Technical service bulletins did climb to 67 from 49 the prior year, though the data does not specify underlying causes, and the year recorded only two crash-related complaints with zero fire complaints. Top complaint areas are distributed thinly across Vehicle Speed Control, Engine & Engine Cooling, and Steering with no dominant failure pattern emerging. Relative to its bookend years, 2001 represents a low-water mark for complaints and enforcement activity, making it one of the more favorable model years to purchase in this federal dataset.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
67
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
17
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 17 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control2
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Steering2
Power Train,Engine1
Electrical System1
Engine1
Steering,Air Bags1
Power Train,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 67 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev2020-08-05EngineTSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain…
L-SB-0002-20 Rev2020-08-05Power TrainTSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific GS300. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2001 GS300 take?

5.7 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2001 GS300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.