2004 Lexus LS 430 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10125625 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
2004 LEXUS LS430 WITH 15,000 MILES LOST BRAKING TWICE. FORTUNATELY NO CRAASH. CAR AT DEALER FOR 3 DAYS. SAID TO BE DEFECTIVE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177307 · 2006-12-29 (December 29, 2006)
I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS DEALER MY 2004 LS430, WITH 27,000 MILES NEEDS BRAKE PADS REPLCEMENT. HAVING DRIVEN SIMILAR CARS FOR 16 YEARS UNDER SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS, TO ME THIS REPRESENTS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137716 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
UNEXPLAINED RANDOM SURGES SPEED ON THE 2004 LEXUS LS 430.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE RMPS' WERE HIGH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED COLD (40 DEGREES) THEN ONCE THE VEHICLE WARM UP THE RPM'S DECREASED. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING WARMER TEMPERATURE THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE RPM'S SURGED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY OR MODIFY THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS MAY BE A NORMAL CONDITION. *NM THE CONSUMER STAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10313107 · 2010-02-23 (February 23, 2010)
I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS LS 430 THAT HAS A RANDOM PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERS TELL ME IS NORMAL. ON OCCASION WHEN I ROLL TO A STOP THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD ON ITS OWN FORCING ME TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATES JUST FOR A SPLIT 2ND THEN STOPS. I HAVE LEARNED TO STOP APPROX. 20' BEHIND A VEHICLE JUST IN CASE THE CAR DECIDES IT WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 6 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 10/2003. I HAVE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY TELL …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10313107 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357208 · 2010-09-23 (September 23, 2010)
OUR 2004 LEXUS LS430 HAS STALLED (OR DIED) 4 TIMES (WHILE DRIVING) IN SIX MONTHS, TAKEN TO LEXUS DEALER 3 TIMES, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. STALLS OCCUR AFTER DRIVING 30 TO 40 MINUTES, COULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY ALTHOUGH STARTER CRANKED WELL. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. COULD USUALLY RESTART AFTER 20 TO 30 MINUTES. ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUEL. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF RELAY WAS REPLACED, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THEY SINCE IT IS OUT OF WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10648137 · 2014-10-16 (October 16, 2014)
THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 OTHER TIMES, HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS. THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT EXACTLY LEVEL, TIRES STRAIGHT. I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL OVER AND OVER AND OVER TO TRY TO MOVE IT AN INCH SO IT WILL START. THIS TIME TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, AND IT MIRACULOUSLY STARTED. HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT DOES THIS AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. MOST IRRITATING AND DANGEROUS IF I AM ALONE AWAY FROM HOME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10648137 at NHTSA ↗