LexusGS3002018Overview/lexus/gs300/2018/base/

2018 Lexus GS300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 GS300.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2018 Lexus GS300 is a passenger car that delivers an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined through its automatic eight-speed transmission—a powertrain calibration favoring measured efficiency over performance posturing. As the penultimate model year of a lineage that spanned 1993 to 2019, the 2018 GS300 arrived with a reliability profile that placed it among the quieter entries in the series' history, logging just five owner complaints with zero recalls across its production run. While the single complaint area tracked (air bags) warrants awareness, that figure stands in stark contrast to the model's highest-complaint year (1998, with 69 issues) and well above its nadir (2013, with a single complaint), suggesting that while not the cleanest chapter in GS300 history, this generation maintained the model's reputation for trouble-free ownership.

Model year201920182006200520042003200220012000

Quick specs

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

EPA fuel economy22/32/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 9030179006. 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.

Tail / brake / turnBECUOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9030179006 alt 9672335028
Engine air filter1780131170
Spark plug9091901276
Battery2880038100
Front wiper blades8521230480 alt 8522230650
Serpentine belt9091602733
Thermostat9091603154 alt 9091603156
Cabin air filter8713930100

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 32 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts192.0 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)14.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)32.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)15.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts72.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts7.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
130.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
290.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
245.0 ft. lbs.45 ft. lbs
390.0

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 40,000 mi; coolant every 50,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 50,000 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.

At 5,000 miFloor Mat (inspect)
Every 5,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Floor Mat (inspect) · Fuel Tank (add fluid conditioner) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect all fluid levels) · Windshield Wiper Blade (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)
Every 40,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Intercooler (drain & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill)

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 2018 GS300 sits in the final generation (2013–2019) where federal complaints have remained near zero — just one each in 2013 and 2014, and none in 2018 or 2019 — but recall activity ticked upward from zero in the early generation years to one in 2018 and two in 2019. Technical Service Bulletins surged markedly in the later period, rising from 27 in 2013 and 23 in 2014 to 62 for the 2018 model year, the highest count in the recent arc, before easing to 56 in 2019. The 2018 record shows zero complaints yet lists four complaint categories (Air Bags, Exterior Lighting, Unknown Or Other, Engine) each with a single entry, a discrepancy the data doesn't specify; it also records one crash-related complaint and no fire complaints. With no open investigations in any recent year, the pattern suggests growing dealer-level service activity rather than widespread owner-reported failures. The high TSB volume indicates Lexus addressed numerous technical items proactively, but the rising recall count warrants verifying that the single 2018 recall has been completed. This is a reasonable year to buy provided the recall remedy is confirmed and a pre-purchase inspection checks systems highlighted in the TSBs.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
81
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1
Unknown Or Other1
Engine1
Seat Belts1

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 81 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0030-24 Rev22025-12-15StructureSome 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…
L-SB-0043-23 Rev12025-06-13Electrical SystemThe air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0017-19 Rev12025-02-07StructureSome 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of…
L-SB-0030-24 Rev12024-07-29StructureSome 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a…

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

Does the 2018 GS300 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the GS300 get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined mpg.