Lexus GS400 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 to 2000 model years. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 49 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 28.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 4.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Air Bags:Frontal: 7; Electrical System: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Suspension: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 21 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 9; 2001: 4; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 6; 2012: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10068519 · 2004-05-09 (May 9, 2004)
ON THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED MY LEXUS IN VIRGINIA I ALMOST DROVE THE CAR OVER THE CURB. I THOUGHT MY FOOT HIT THE GAS ACCIDENTALLY, BUT IT HAD NOT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. LUCKILY THE PROBLEM NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SO I NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. I READ A RECENT ARTICLE IN USATODAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE DOING IT. MY 1998 LEXUS GS400 HAS LURCHED FORWAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313693 · 2010-02-24 (February 24, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ONTO A RAMP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE DEPRESSED HIS BRAKES THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED A TRUCK PUSHING HIM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR KNEES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,867. UPDATED 04/13/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/22/10
Owner-reported narrative. 184,867 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046906 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
PRODUCT DEFECT WHEN THE LEXUS GS400 HIT HEAD ON A CONCRETE ANTI-TERRORIST RESTRAIN T BETWEEN 40-50 MILES A HR. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP CAUSE THE ENGINE WAS KNOWED OF ITS MOUNTINGS, HAND BREAK HANDLE BROKE AND TURNED 90+ DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE COIN CHANGE CLOSED CONTAINER BROKE OPEN AND CRACKED AS IT THROUGH ITS CONTENTS ALL OVER THE DRIVERS AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE I WAS THROWN WITH FULL FORCE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH HIT ME DIRECTLY IN THE STERNUM CAUSING BLUNT CONTUSION TO THE RIB …
Owner-reported narrative. 71,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10205292 · 2007-10-09 (October 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 400. WHILE DRIVING 17MPH IN A PARKING LOT, HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SEAT BELT NEVER LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CONTACTS CHEST TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN INTO THE SEAT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS CONFIRMED BUT IS LISTED AS INVALID.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10205292 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099979 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10341638 · 2010-07-06 (July 6, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING A VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10341638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065365 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)
WHILE BACKING OUT AND SHIFTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. *AK *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10916373 · 2016-10-16 (October 16, 2016)
BATTERY DRAIN AND DAMAGING ALTERNATER . HEADLIGHTS FLICKERS AND GAS LEAK AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10916373 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
1994: 0; 1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0