1998 Lexus GS400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
81,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 23 complaints (26.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 21.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Electrical System: 1; Parking Brake: 1; Seat Belts:Front: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 9 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 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007022 · 2000-10-14 (October 14, 2000)
CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50 MPH, AIR BAGS DID INTO DEPLOY. *NLM *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734324
Owner-reported narrative. 21,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046906 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
PRODUCT DEFECT WHEN THE LEXUS GS400 HIT HEAD ON A CONCRETE ANTI-TERRORIST RESTRAIN T BETWEEN 40-50 MILES A HR. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP CAUSE THE ENGINE WAS KNOWED OF ITS MOUNTINGS, HAND BREAK HANDLE BROKE AND TURNED 90+ DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE COIN CHANGE CLOSED CONTAINER BROKE OPEN AND CRACKED AS IT THROUGH ITS CONTENTS ALL OVER THE DRIVERS AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE I WAS THROWN WITH FULL FORCE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH HIT ME DIRECTLY IN THE STERNUM CAUSING BLUNT CONTUSION TO THE RIB …
Owner-reported narrative. 71,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048397 · 2003-11-20 (November 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, HAD A FRONT COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, NO AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061323 · 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068519 · 2004-05-09 (May 9, 2004)
ON THE FIRST DAY I PURCHASED MY LEXUS IN VIRGINIA I ALMOST DROVE THE CAR OVER THE CURB. I THOUGHT MY FOOT HIT THE GAS ACCIDENTALLY, BUT IT HAD NOT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD WHILE I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. LUCKILY THE PROBLEM NEVER CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SO I NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. I THOUGHT MY CAR WAS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE PROBLEM. I READ A RECENT ARTICLE IN USATODAY ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE DOING IT. MY 1998 LEXUS GS400 HAS LURCHED FORWAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068519 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099979 · 2004-11-15 (November 15, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10099979 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101069 · 2004-11-16 (November 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113378 · 2005-03-03 (March 3, 2005)
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10113378 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V080000 · Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
Reported: 1998-04-17 (April 17, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗