LexusGS3001996Overview/lexus/gs300/1996/base/

1996 Lexus GS300

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 GS300.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 5-spd

Defined as a passenger car, the 1996 Lexus GS300 utilizes a 5-speed automatic transmission to achieve EPA fuel economy ratings of 16/22/18 mpg and requires 5.7 quarts of 10W-30 or 5W-30 API oil. In the context of the model's history spanning 1993 to 2019, this specific year accrued only 5 total owner complaints with suspension identified as the top complaint area and one recall issued. This figure places the 1996 model well below the 69 complaints recorded at the history's peak in 1998, marking it as a stable variant within the lineage even though it does not reach the lowest complaint count achieved in 2013.

Model year201920182006200520042003200220011996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/22/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 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 24F · 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 filter1780150020
Fuel filter2330050050
Spark plug9008091184
Front wiper blades852221G090 alt 8521217071
Serpentine belt9091602310
Thermostat9091603093 alt 1632562010
Cabin air filter8888030040

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 22 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.7 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 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 Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.7 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs14 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts243 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission64.0 ft-lbs
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.21-.33 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance6400-11,100 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.80-1.90 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression145-218. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure47-84 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs / 87 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.181 in / 0.591 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) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · 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 Filter (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 1996 Lexus GS300 marks a notable inflection point in its generation’s federal record, particularly in complaints. After a steady rise from 7 complaints in 1993 to 20 in 1995, the 1996 model year sees a sharp decline to just 5 complaints—one of the lowest figures across the entire production run. This drop suggests Lexus addressed early build-quality or design concerns, though the data doesn’t specify root causes. The year maintains a consistent recall count (1) and a moderate number of TSBs (29), aligning with the broader trend of minimal investigations (0) throughout the generation. However, the 1998 model year’s subsequent spike to 69 complaints indicates later issues, likely unrelated to the 1996’s improvements. The 1996’s complaint profile is evenly distributed across minor areas (suspension, lighting, and structure), with no fire or crash incidents reported. Given its position as a low-complaint, post-refinement year with no red flags in the federal data, the 1996 GS300 emerges as a comparatively strong choice within this generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
29
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
5
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 5 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Suspension2
Visibility,Structure1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

99V125000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball JointReported 19/05/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INADEQUATE LUBRICATION OF THE INSIDE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS, EXCESSIVE WEAR CAN OCCUR CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. SEPARATION OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS FROM… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER BALL JOINTS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 29 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 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 1996 GS300 take?

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

Does the 1996 GS300 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the GS300 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.