Used Lexus GS Buying Guide (GS 350, GS 200t, GS F)

The best used Lexus GS for most buyers is a 2016-2020 GS 350, the 311-hp V6 car, with clean fuel-pump recall paperwork. There is one problem with that advice right now: recall 26V222 covers the low-pressure fuel pump on every 2016-2020 GS, and when I checked NHTSA on October 16, 2026, owners had only received interim letters while Toyota worked on a final remedy. You can still buy one; just price in the open recall and accept that a pump failure is the known risk until it is fixed.

The GS is a used-only car now. Car and Driver reported that Lexus ended U.S. GS sales after the 2020 model year, citing slow sales; the ES outsold it 48,484 to 6,604 in 2019. The current fourth generation had been on sale since 2012, so most of what you will find is a 2013-2020 car.

Which GS is which

Four versions matter. The GS 350 carries the 3.5-liter V6; C/D's 2016 GS350 F Sport test lists 311 hp and 280 lb-ft, an eight-speed automatic on rear-drive cars and a six-speed on AWD cars, and 5.8 seconds to 60 mph. The four-cylinder turbo arrived later; C/D's GS200t test measured 241 hp, 258 lb-ft and 6.6 seconds to 60, and noted AWD was reserved for the V6. NHTSA files that turbo car as GS 200t through 2017 and as GS300 for 2018-2019, so do not let the badge confuse you.

The GS F is the V8 car: 467 hp at 7,100 rpm from a non-turbo 5.0-liter, per C/D's 2016 GS F feature, with an eight-speed and a torque-vectoring differential. There was also a GS 450h hybrid. C/D said both the four-cylinder and hybrid were gone before 2020, leaving only the GS 350 and GS F. The send-off was the 2020 GS 350 F Sport Black Line; Lexus's April 2020 release announced 210 cars, while C/D reported 200 for the U.S. Either way, a seller asking a big premium for one should show you the window sticker.

What reviewers did not like

The GS was never the driver's pick in its class. C/D's GS350 test listed a "sleep-inducing demeanor" and subpar handling and acceleration as lows, called the material quality mediocre for the segment, and kept complaining about the Remote Touch mouse controller. The GS200t test added short on thrills, awkward infotainment and tight rear seating, and pointed out that the rear seats do not fold even though the 18-cubic-foot trunk is big. What both tests praised was the ride, the quiet and the brakes. If that trade sounds right, it is a very easy car to live with.

For a softer, front-drive Lexus, our used Lexus ES buying guide is the obvious comparison, and it usually costs less to run. The smaller rear-drive option is in our used Lexus IS buying guide, and the big flagship is covered in the used Lexus LS buying guide. Outside Lexus, the closest modern equivalent is probably the car in our used Genesis G80 buying guide.

GS recalls I checked on October 16, 2026

The recall API is picky about names here. Every 2016-2020 car comes back under plain "GS" for the newest campaign, while older campaigns use "GS 350," "GS300" or "GS F," so try each one:

• 26V222, 2016-2020 GS: the low-pressure fuel pump inside the tank may fail. The NHTSA record says dealers will replace the pump assembly, interim letters went out June 5, 2026, and more letters follow once the final remedy is available. That means the fix may not exist yet for your car.
• 20V012 and 20V682: earlier fuel pump campaigns covering 2013-2015 GS 350s and 2017-2019 GS 350, GS 200t and GS300 cars. Check each campaign separately; one being closed does not tell you the other is.
• 18V107, 2016-2018 GS F: the pulsation damper in one of the two high-pressure fuel pumps can crack the pump cover. Dealers replace the pumps.
• 14V270 and 12V221, some 2013 GS 350s: a brake pedal load-sensing switch and a steering control software update.

Our Lexus recall check by VIN guide shows how to confirm the status for the exact car. If 26V222 is open, ask the dealer whether parts are in yet and get the answer in writing.

Before you pay

Confirm the engine and drivetrain with our Lexus VIN decoder walkthrough, since an AWD GS 350 and an RWD GS300 can look nearly identical. On the drive, note any hesitation or long cranking, since fuel pump trouble is the theme of this car's recall file. C/D's F Sport test car rode on staggered 19-inch summer tires, so check tread on all four and budget for a set if you live where it snows.

History report and price

Check title brands through NMVTIS and read the full history for accidents, owner count and odometer readings. A GS F with several owners in a short span deserves a hard look at what each one did with it. CarVins is a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller and is not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, Experian or Lexus. Pricing in mid October 2026 was near $5.50 per report for guests, $4.50 for members and about $6.75 for the pair, compared with about $39.99 to $44.99 from the brands. Confirm the number when you check out.

Sources

• Car and Driver: Lexus GS ends after 2020
• Lexus newsroom: GS Black Line
• Car and Driver: 2016 GS350 F Sport test
• Car and Driver: 2017 GS200t test
• NHTSA: recall 26V222
• NMVTIS