1996 Lexus LS400 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
116,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 11 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 3 | 27.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
1996: 1; 2000: 2; 2002: 1; 2004: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10808803 · 2015-12-07 (December 7, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/18*JB *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10808803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816137 · 2015-12-09 (December 9, 2015)
THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR REPORTING/DISPLAYING VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS FOR MY 96 LEXUS LS400 (SAFERCAR.GOV) SHOWS THERE WERE ONLY 12 SERVICE BULLETINS, YET IN FACT THERE WERE MANY MANY MORE NOT SHOWN ON THE NHTSA SITE. GOING TO THE SITE WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/96310210.HTML ONE CAN SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF SERVICE BULLETINS, 108 BY MY COUNT. A SIMILAR DISPARITY IN LISTS APPLIES TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THE 95 LS400, WHICH ON WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/95310210.HTML SHOWS 128 SERVICE BULLETINS APPLY, BUT A NHTSA WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV SEARCH ONLY SHO…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515276 · 2013-06-05 (June 5, 2013)
DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN FREEWAY STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR. DROVE STRAIGHT TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE SEAMS OF THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT OPEN. SINCE THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK THE FUEL DRAINED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WAS SPILLING OUT ON THE DRIVE OF THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I ARRIVED. TEJAS TOYOTA IN HUMBLE, TX. THE DEALER PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REMOTE LOCATION ON THEIR LOT DUE TO THE GREAT POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION. I CONTACTED LEXUS TO NOTIFY OF THE SITUATION, RECEIVED …
Owner-reported narrative. 109,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8004289 · 2002-02-20 (February 20, 2002)
THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER 5 TIMES BEFORE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8004289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558282 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)
THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WARPING. *MJS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394168 · 2011-04-04 (April 4, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE POSITIVE POST. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V016000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STARTER ASSEMBLY). HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM T…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394168 at NHTSA ↗