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U.S. public vehicle records

Lexus LS430 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

136 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

57,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 102 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 136 complaints (16.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2820.6%
Steering behavior75.1%
Transmission and shifting32.2%
Engine operation32.2%
Electrical and battery issues32.2%
Fuel system concerns21.5%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
23
Latches/Locks/Linkages
13
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
12
Structure:Body
9
Air Bags
8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
7
Structure
6
Unknown Or Other
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control23
Latches/Locks/Linkages13
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid12
Structure:Body9
Air Bags8
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Structure6
Unknown Or Other6

Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 13; Structure:Body:Trunk Lid: 12; Structure:Body: 9; Air Bags: 8; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 7; Structure: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
16
25,000 to 49,999
26
50,000 to 74,999
26
75,000 to 99,999
16
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00016
25,000 to 49,99926
50,000 to 74,99926
75,000 to 99,99916
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 26; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 2

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 34 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.

2000
1
2001
1
2002
10
2003
8
2004
4
2005
4
2006
8
2007
6
2008
13
2009
13
2010
29
2011
14
2012
5
2013
2
2014
3
2015
4
2016
4
2017
2
2018
1
2019
2
2022
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20011
200210
20038
20044
20054
20068
20076
200813
200913
201029
201114
20125
20132
20143
20154
20164
20172
20181
20192
20222

2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 10; 2003: 8; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 8; 2007: 6; 2008: 13; 2009: 13; 2010: 29; 2011: 14; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 3; 2015: 4; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10132817 · 2005-08-15 (August 15, 2005)

DT: THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE BRAKES WERE SOFT AND MUSHY. IT WAS LIKE PUSHING ON A PILLOW. IT WAS HARD TO JUDGE IF THEY WERE GOING TO WORK. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. HAVE ANOTHER LEXUS AND IT DID NOT DO THIS. STARTED NOTICING THIS ON MARCH 30, 2005. REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 39,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10132817 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10148577 · 2006-01-25 (January 25, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED BACKWARDS WHILE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. THE ENGINE ROARED LOUDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK AND LURCHED FORWARD 5 FEET STRIKING A CONCRETE PILLAR. A BYSTANDER INTERVENED AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CRASH, THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AFTER STRIKING THE DASH. BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALER TO AWAIT INSPECTION BY A MANUFA…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148577 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10220952 · 2008-03-12 (March 12, 2008)

TILT STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. NOW ONLY TELESCOPIC FEATURE WORKS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 88,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220952 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10252660 · 2008-12-23 (December 23, 2008)

2001 LEXUS LS430 - POWER TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL TILT UP/DOWN SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING (MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252660 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 764399 · 2002-07-18 (July 18, 2002)

FIRST, THIS COMPLAINT APPLIES TO BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS. IN THE SALES BROCHURE FOR THIS CAR ON PAGE 63, UNDER "SAFETY & SECURITY" THE FOLLOWING APPEARS: "POWER-ADJUSTABLE, AUTO-FOLDING OUTSIDE MIRRORS WITH DEFOGGERS, PUDDLE LAMPS AND AUTO TILT-DOWN IN REVERSE". UNFORTUNATELY, THE FUNCTION DOESN'T WORK TOO WELL! BOTH OUTSIDE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS ARE POSITIONED AND SET INTO MEMORY. WHEN MIRRORS UNFOLD (E.G., WHEN STARTING CAR) OR WHEN THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO RETURN TO THEIR MEMORY POSITION (E.G., AFTER SHIFTING FROM REVERSE) THEY RETURN TO A POSIT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764399 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10144000 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)

SEVERE LOSS OF POWER (TRANSMISSION HESITATION) DURING FULL-THROTTLE DOWNSHIFT. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN IMMEDIATE POWER IS NEEDED, SUCH AS ENTERING A HIGH-SPEED EXPRESSWAY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147657 · 2006-01-12 (January 12, 2006)

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED NO FURTHER STALLING PROBLEMS UNTIL THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED. AFTERWARDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS PREVIOUSLY STATED. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND DID NOT ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A DEALER.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 41,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147657 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032132 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THIS WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE THAT PREMATURELY SHORTED OUT THE BATTERY .*AK *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032132 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10214223 · 2008-01-08 (January 8, 2008)

WHILE DRIVING, TEMPERATURE POINTS UP AND THEN DOWN TO BOTTOM, AND STAY DOWN. STOP THE CAR, CHECK RADIATOR, IT'S COLD. RESTART THE CAR, VSC OFF SIGN CAME OUT. CONTINUNE DRIVING, AFTER 25 MIN. NOTICED SOUND IN FRONT WHEELS, GET OFF FREEWAY. BATTERY OFF SIGN SHOWED UP. PUSH THE CAR ACROSS THE STREET, SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDERHOOD. FIRE CAME OUT FROM UNDERNEATH OF ENGINE. WITNESS PULL ME AWAY FROM THE CAR. CALL 911, AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. FULL INVESTIGATION REPORT THRU AAA AVAILABLE, WHICH SHOWED: "ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS SHORTED AND STARTED A FIRE CO…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214223 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030470 · 2003-07-30 (July 30, 2003)

THE GAS TANK ON THE 2003 LEXUS LS430 CAN BE EASILY DAMAGED BY CARELESS PLACEMENT OF THE JACK AT THE REAR MOUNTING POINT. MY CAR WAS RECENTLY DAMAGED THIS WAY AT DORSCHEL LEXUS (ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF SUCH CARS ON THE ROAD. PARTLY CRUSHED GAS TANKS MAY NOT BE NOTICEABLE TO THE OWNER UNLESS ONE LOOKS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY PREDISPOSE THESE VEHICLES TO FUEL LEAKS AND EARLY CORROSION AROUND THE GAS TANKS.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030470 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10437928 · 2011-12-01 (December 1, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AND SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V295000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT I…

Owner-reported narrative. 100,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437928 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.

2001
0
2002
0
2003
0
2004
0
2005
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20010
20020
20030
20040
20050

2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0; 2004: 0; 2005: 0

Year-by-year records

Lexus LS430 model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2001520Not available
20023000
20032300
20041000
20052100