Lexus LX470 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
99,651 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2007 model years. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 85 complaints (10.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 24.7% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 14.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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 | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Service Brakes: 8; Air Bags: 7; Steering: 7; Suspension: 7; Electrical System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 16
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 23 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 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2003: 8; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 5; 2010: 12; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 9; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 2; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10413515 · 2011-07-19 (July 19, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN AUDIBLE BRAKE ALARM BEGUN TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE ALARM TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, A THIRD VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH.…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083892 · 2018-04-08 (April 8, 2018)
SUDDEN COMPLETE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. NO BRAKE AT ALL. VEHICLE CAN NOT STOP WHILE DRIVING.VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS. THE DASHBOARD ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH PLUS THE ANNOYING ALARM OUT OF THE BLUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 240,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10652166 · 2014-11-03 (November 3, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VEER TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 203,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 203,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10652166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10790085 · 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)
I OWN A LX470 2000 WITH ABOUT 148,000 MILES. OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I HAVE EXPERIENCED 8 DIFFERENT TIMES WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBING HERE. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON A STRAIGHT DRY ROAD MY VSC WARNING LIGHT AND AUDIBLE ALARM CAME ON AND VEHICLE BEGAN SWERVING VIOLENTLY BACK AND FORTH APPARENTLY DUE TO LEFT AND RIGHT BRAKES ENGAGING ALTERNATELY. HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. EVERY SINGLE OCCURRENCE, THE SYSTEM ENGAGED RANDOMLY WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 148,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10790085 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034253 · 2003-08-20 (August 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS, AND WAS NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. DEALER STATED THAT TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064727 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THEN THE VEHICLE SURGED ERRATICALLY WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A PARKED VEHICLE.*AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10369972 · 2010-12-11 (December 11, 2010)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL SUDDENLY IGNORE THROTTLE INPUT, AND WILL BE IDLING ONLY. WHILE NOT STALLED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART. IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION, AND WHILE TRAVELING IN CONGESTED FREEWAY DRIVING. ONE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, BUT THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT IS GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031275 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT VEHICLE STALLED, THEN JUMPED THE CURB, HITTING A TREE. DEALER STATED ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031275 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049567 · 2003-12-11 (December 11, 2003)
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, RADIO ILLUMINATION FLASHES WHEN CD/RADIO IS ON. THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC MAKES IT A DISTRACTION FROM THE ROAD. DEALER SAYS ALL 99 LX470 HAVE SAME PROBLEM,NO ACTION TAKEN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049567 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10344192 · 2010-07-20 (July 20, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LX470. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNTIL THE CONTACT SHIFT TO A LOW GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ABS HYDRO PUMP MOTOR .THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126775 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126781.
Owner-reported narrative. 126,775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10344192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637844 · 2014-09-21 (September 21, 2014)
ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME FOUND TO HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST EFFECTING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / SAFETY, CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS (BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION STRUCTURE), FRAME, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND STEERING LINKAGE. THIS IS GENERAL ATTACK CORROSION WITH STRUCTURAL FAILURE, CORROSION FATIGUE, ETC. THERE WERE / ARE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER ANY DEFINITION OF NORMAL USE TO EXPLAIN THIS DEGREE & EXTENT OF CORROSION OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637844 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 3; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1