2004 Lexus GX470: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
87,702 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 32 complaints (37.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 15.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
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 | 12 |
| Structure | 4 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
Air Bags: 12; Structure: 4; Structure:Body: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Suspension: 3; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2010: 3; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 7; 2015: 2; 2016: 8; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10326065 · 2010-04-16 (April 16, 2010)
PROBLEM WITH VSC ON MY 2004 LEXUS GX470. I WAS DRIVING FROM A SKI RESORT ON SNOW COVERED ROAD AT APPROX 35-37 MPH. THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL HIT A POTHOLE AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOT SIDEWAYS AND WE WERE HEADED OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, THEN TRACTION CONTROL OR SOMETHING KICKED IN AND WE SHOT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I TRIED TO STEER BACK INTO OUR LANE AND THE REAR LEFT AGAIN SENT US INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE AND HEADED OFF OF THE ROAD UNTIL THE RIGHT REAR HIT A POLE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE AND SHOT US BACK INTO THE RIGHT TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342845 · 2010-07-13 (July 13, 2010)
ARRIVING AT THE BANK DRIVE THROUGH, I PULLED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR DOWN AND ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT. LATER, AFTER MY HUSBAND INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM, HE FOUND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE SUN VISOR WIRING. HE HAD TO REMOVE THE SUN VISOR FROM THE ROOF TO PREVENT THE FUSE FROM BURNING EVERY TIME THE VISOR IS MOVED. THIS PREVENTS ME FROM USING THE VISOR WHEN THE SUN IS DIRECTLY IN MY EYES. IF I LEAVE THE VISOR IN, THE FUSE FOR THE INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL BURN AND RESULT IN THE LOSS OF LIGHTS AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,132 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10365928 · 2010-11-16 (November 16, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT. DURING THE FAILURE THE VSC LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10375321 · 2011-01-09 (January 9, 2011)
THUMP FROM DRIVE TRAIN WHILE COMING TO A STOP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10375321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378747 · 2011-01-26 (January 26, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND UNEVEN. THE BRAKE CALIPERS PISTONS WERE CEASING. THE RADIATOR COIL AND THE FRONT SV JOINT DRIVE SHAFT ALSO LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT DUPLICATE OR CONFIRM ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE AND THEN HE WOULD BE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10410748 · 2011-07-06 (July 6, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10410748 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432770 · 2011-10-25 (October 25, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAT SHIELD HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BOLTS WERE WORN. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE HEAT SHIELD LOCATED ABOVE THE MUFFLER HAD …
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480321 · 2012-10-09 (October 9, 2012)
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR SUV AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IT IN A BANK PARKING LOT IN NILES, IL. THE SUV ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT MY WIFE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING HER TO DRIVE OVER A GREEN SPACE, HIT A SIGN ON BANK'S PROPERTY, DRIVE OVER A LARGE BUSH AND A WIRE FENCE AT AN ADJACENT PARK AND FINALLY STOP AFTER REPEATEDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND FROM THERE TO A BODY SHOP. WE HAD THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DAMAGE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,237 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480321 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.
16V065000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
NHTSA campaign record ↗