2003 Lexus GX470: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
33,102 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 46 complaints (10.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 32.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.5% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Power Train: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 8
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2003: 12; 2004: 11; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020954 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE MAKES A THUMPING NOISE. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS TAPPING ME IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD IT IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE." *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038237 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VENTS SPEW OUT A HORRIBLE SULFUR ODOR. THE ODOR IS SO BAD THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE ROLLED DOWN. CONSUMER'S 14 MONTH OLD CHILD RIDES IN VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038237 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038467 · 2003-09-09 (September 9, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND AT ANY BRAKING CONDITIONS WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS HITTING THE REAR OF VEHICLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10041648 · 2003-10-11 (October 11, 2003)
A SULFUR ODOR OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR, IS PRESENT IN THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL AT MY 1,000 MILE CHECK UP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WOULD BE GONE BY MY 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. THE CAR STILL HAS THE ODOR AT THE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER "SULFUR SMELL HAS NOT BEEN UNCOMMON DUE TO HIGH SULFUR CONTENTS IN RECENT FUEL PRODUCTION. NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR, SUGGEST USING DIFFERENT FUEL SUPPLIER." I TRIED SWITCHING GASOLINES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LEXUS SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL AND IS BECAUSE O…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042653 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE VEHICLE SHAKES. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WAS A PERSISTENT VIBRATION IN THE STEERING AND IT WAS HARD TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10042653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043526 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
WHENEVER GIVING THE VEHICLE MODERATE TO HIGH ACCELERATION, A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT MAKES ME DIZZY AND I FEEL LIKE VOMITING. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALER THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR CONTENT IN FUEL. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODELS OF LEXUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043661 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
WHENEVER GIVING THE VEHICLE MODERATE TO HIGH ACCELERATION, A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT MAKES ME DIZZY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10043661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044658 · 2003-10-24 (October 24, 2003)
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON, A SULFUR LIKE ODOR ENTERED THROUGH THE A/C VENT. THE CONDITION CAUSED HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE DRIVER ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TURNED THE A/C OFF TO ALLOW THE FRESH AIR TO REMOVED ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044658 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V031000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) DATA WAS PRINTED ON THE CERTIFICATION REGULATION LABEL. THE GVWR IS INCORRECTLY REFLECTED ON THE LABEL AS 6,100 LBS. THE CORRECT GVWR SHOULD BE 6,000 LBS.
Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT MEET THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS.
Remedy: AS EACH LABEL IS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC, OWNERS WILL BE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LEXUS DEALER FIRST TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR THE CORRECTED LABEL. ONCE THE LABEL HAS ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE OWNER WILL BE CONTACTED FOR LABEL REPLACEMENT. OWNER BEGAN APRIL 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V088000 · Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly
Reported: 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO LOCK ONE OF THE TWO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MIDDLE ROW LEFT REAR SEAT (LARGER SIDE OF THE BENCH SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER). DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM STORAGE CASE, THE STOPPER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. THIS ELEVATED POSITION MISALIGNS THE LATCH TO THE STRIKER.
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH ONLY ONE LATCH LOCKED, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE LLS CASE PANELS AROUND THE SEAT STOPPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.
NHTSA campaign record ↗