LexusES3001995Overview/lexus/es300/1995/base/

1995 Lexus ES300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 ES300.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

Equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, the 1995 Lexus ES300 delivers EPA fuel economy figures of 18 mpg in the city, 26 on the highway, and 21 combined. Routine maintenance for its engine requires exactly 5 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil to keep the powertrain properly lubricated. Within the model's broader 1990–2005 complaint history, this specific year sits firmly on the lower end of the spectrum with only 44 total owner grievances and a single recall, primarily centered around the electrical system. This low volume of complaints—especially when contrasted with the generation's peak of 186 complaints in 2002—indicates that the 1995 model represents a notably stable and reliable chapter in the vehicle's lifecycle for researchers to evaluate.

Model year200320022001200019991998199719961995

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 360 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 35 · 360 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-65VR15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD1
Engine air filter1780103010
Fuel filter2330029045
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades852221G090 alt 8521217071
Serpentine belt9091602401 alt 909160238683
Thermostat90916A3003 alt 1632562010

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume92 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, ATF in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilATF
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts61 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.87 lbs
Optional BCI Group Number24F
Optional BCI Cranking Performance585 cca
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test12.1-16.4 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12.1-16.4 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure43-78 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79 ft-lbs / 34 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.394 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.024 in / 0.354 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9018 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
116 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9016 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
110MM Bolts14 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) · Final Drive (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
At 45,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (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 1995 Lexus ES300 logged 44 federal complaints, 1 recall, and 33 technical service bulletins, closely mirroring the 1994 model year's 44 complaints and 1 recall. Across this generation, complaint volumes remained low in the early years (5 in 1991) before rising to a sustained plateau from 1992 to 1995; the 1995 model sits at the tail end of this initial arc, preceding a slight dip in 1996 and massive spikes in later years like 2002. For 1995 specifically, the primary complaint categories were the Electrical System (8), Air Bags (5), Vehicle Speed Control (4), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (4), accompanied by 8 crash and 2 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes. Because 1995 represents a stabilized point in the generation's early lifecycle with complaint volumes significantly lower than the later, more problematic years, it implies a relatively mature but untroubled build. As long as you secure a pre-purchase inspection specifically focused on the electrical and airbag systems, the 1995 ES300 is a good year to buy.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
44
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 44 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System8
Air Bags5
Vehicle Speed Control4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic4
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Seat Belts3
Equipment2
Tires2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

99V307000Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle BarReported 01/11/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED CAUSING STEERING VIBRATION AND LOOSENESS. Remedy: DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE STEERING WHEEL SET NUT.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 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…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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 ES300. 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 1995 ES300 take?

5 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 ES300 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the ES300 get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.