vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Lexus LS400 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

283 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

103,187 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 147 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 283 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3713.1%
Electrical and battery issues134.6%
Steering behavior134.6%
Engine operation103.5%
Fuel system concerns72.5%
Transmission and shifting41.4%

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.

Electrical System
62
Vehicle Speed Control
35
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
23
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel
22
Interior Lighting
15
Seat Belts
14
Unknown Or Other
12
Air Bags:Frontal
10
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System62
Vehicle Speed Control35
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash23
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel22
Interior Lighting15
Seat Belts14
Unknown Or Other12
Air Bags:Frontal10

Electrical System: 62; Vehicle Speed Control: 35; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 23; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 22; Interior Lighting: 15; Seat Belts: 14; Unknown Or Other: 12; Air Bags:Frontal: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
13
75,000 to 99,999
34
100,000 to 149,999
49
150,000 and above
35
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,99934
100,000 to 149,99949
150,000 and above35

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 34; 100,000 to 149,999: 49; 150,000 and above: 35

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (49). 136 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.

1995
11
1996
7
2000
20
2001
20
2002
25
2003
40
2004
23
2005
8
2006
15
2007
9
2008
18
2009
13
2010
18
2011
10
2012
7
2013
2
2014
15
2015
10
2016
4
2017
4
2018
2
2019
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
199511
19967
200020
200120
200225
200340
200423
20058
200615
20079
200818
200913
201018
201110
20127
20132
201415
201510
20164
20174
20182
20192

1995: 11; 1996: 7; 2000: 20; 2001: 20; 2002: 25; 2003: 40; 2004: 23; 2005: 8; 2006: 15; 2007: 9; 2008: 18; 2009: 13; 2010: 18; 2011: 10; 2012: 7; 2013: 2; 2014: 15; 2015: 10; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 10307216 · 2010-02-07 (February 7, 2010)

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND ENGINE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I CAN ONLY STOP IT BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE HARD, PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL OR TURNING OFF ENGINE. SOMETIMES IF I HAVE ROOM IN FRONT OF MY CAR, I CAN STOP IT BY PUMPING THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I CANNOT TELL WHAT CAUSES IT. DEFINITELY NOT FLOOR MAT. *TW

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307216 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10916975 · 2016-10-17 (October 17, 2016)

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - ENCLOSING AN AGENDA REPORT SERVICE HISTORY MAY 2014 - MAY/JUNE 2016 ON BLACK 1990 LEXUS LS 400. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED EACH TIME THE REPAIR SHOP PERFORMED SERVICES ON HER VEHICLE, IT LED TO ANOTHER PROBLEM(S). A CLAMP WAS MISSING. A WIRE LEFT DANGLING, A HOSE WAS NOT PLACED ON CORRECTLY OR IT WAS THE WRONG HOSE AND/OR A GOOD HOSE WAS TORN, BROKEN OR TATTERED. A SCREW WAS LEFT MISSING. A PART OR COMPONENT WAS NOT PUT IN PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE MORE THAN 10 MILES, BECAUSE IT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10916975 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 711179 · 2000-04-07 (April 7, 2000)

THE WIRING HARNESS ALONG THE TRUNK KEEPS BREAKING. DEPENDING ON WHICH WIRE BREAKS EACH TIME, THE EFFECTS RANGE FROM LOSS OF REAR TAILIGHT FUNCTIONS TO JERKING OF CAR WHEN TOUCHING THE BRAKES TO SUDDEN JUMP IN RPM WHEN MOVING GEARSHIFT. I HAVE HAD THE HARNESS REPAIRED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 711179 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 898319 · 2001-10-26 (October 26, 2001)

WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM STARTER MOTOR. SMOKE WOULD DISAPPEAR ONCE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FOR SOME TIME. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN WIRING HARNESS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 898319 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10189177 · 2007-04-28 (April 28, 2007)

I HAVE A 1990 LEXUS LS 400 AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP 3 TIMES DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVING A LEAK AND THERE ARE MILLIONS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY I THINK LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THEIR PUMPS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM PLEASE HELP ME THIS IS BECOMING RIDICULOUS. EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO CHANGE MY PUMP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THEY COST 600 DOLLARS JUST THE PART SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE SOME KIND OF NOTICE TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,398 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189177 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10764167 · 2015-09-16 (September 16, 2015)

IN APPROXIMATELY 1995, I EXPERIENCED THE "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" PROBLEM TWICE WITH MY LEXUS LS. AT THE TIME, NO ONE HAD EVER HEARD OF IT AND THE DEALER SAID HE COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT AND COULD DO NOTHING. AFTER THAT I WAS MORE CAREFUL WITH THE FLOOR MATS AND THOUGHT I HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM. FOR THE LAST 7 TO 8 YEARS, THE CAR SUDDENLY SLOWS AND STALLS. I HAVE REPEATEDLY COMPLAINED TO NEW COUNTRY LEXUS BUT THEY JUST SAY THAT THEY CANNOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. IN JUNE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I HAD TO BE TOW…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10764167 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10067491 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

AFTER DRIVING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DECREASING THE SPEED DUE TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067491 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10780156 · 2015-10-06 (October 6, 2015)

MY CAR, MADE BY TOYOTA, HAS ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS, FAULTY PARTS, AS THE CARS THAT WERE RECALLED FOR SUDDEN ACCELERATION. I HAVE HAD THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAPPEN TWICE AND I AM CURRENTLY UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF A FAULTY RESISTOR THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL FEED TOT THE FUEL PUMP KEEPS CAUSING THE CAR TO ACT LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. VERY DANGEROUS. LEXUS HAS REFUSED TO FIX IT EVEN THOUGH I AM WILLING TO PAY. THEY WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH CARS WITH THE SAME PARTS AS SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10780156 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10221077 · 2008-03-13 (March 13, 2008)

NO LIGHT IN INSTRUMENTAL CLUSTER. EMPTY FUEL TANK. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OFF. ODOMETER AND TRP OFF. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10221077 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 503636 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

TRANSMISSION MAIN BEARING FAILED. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *DH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503636 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

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.

1990
1
1991
0
1992
0
1993
0
1994
0
1995
1
1996
1
1997
1
1998
0
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19901
19910
19920
19930
19940
19951
19961
19971
19980
19990
20000
20010

1990: 1; 1991: 0; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 1; 1996: 1; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0

Year-by-year records

Lexus LS400 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
1990201Not available
1991130-1
1992700
19936300
19946500
1995361+1
19961110
1997810
1998250-1
19992100
20001200
2001200