2004 Lexus LS 430: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 18 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Equipment | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Equipment: 1; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2008: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10098804 · 2004-11-14 (November 14, 2004)
I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NEW "BLUE" HID HEADLIGHTS ON SOME CARS. THE GLARE I EXPERIENCE FROM THIS IS TERRIBLE. IF ONE VEHICLE PASSES, THE LOSS OF SIGHT IS TOLERABLE, BUT IF 2 OR MORE HID EQUIPPED VEHICLES COME AT ME AT NIGHT, THE GLARE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF VISION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117822 · 2005-05-06 (May 6, 2005)
THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THERE WERE SEVEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE TPWS (TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM) HAD EITHER PROVIDED A FALSE POSITIVE OR NOT INDICATED REAL TIRE PRESSURE LOW CONDITION THAT THE MILEAGE SINCE TPWS INITIALIZATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING: THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FAILURE, REASON FOR THE FAILURE, WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN AND TO BE WALKED THROUGH A TEST PROTOCOL THAT VALIDATES TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125625 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
2004 LEXUS LS430 WITH 15,000 MILES LOST BRAKING TWICE. FORTUNATELY NO CRAASH. CAR AT DEALER FOR 3 DAYS. SAID TO BE DEFECTIVE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10137716 · 2005-09-09 (September 9, 2005)
UNEXPLAINED RANDOM SURGES SPEED ON THE 2004 LEXUS LS 430.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE RMPS' WERE HIGH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED COLD (40 DEGREES) THEN ONCE THE VEHICLE WARM UP THE RPM'S DECREASED. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING WARMER TEMPERATURE THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE RPM'S SURGED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY OR MODIFY THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS MAY BE A NORMAL CONDITION. *NM THE CONSUMER STAT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145358 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)
THE CONSUMER'S 2004 LEXUS LS 430 HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO LEARN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVING HABITS AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. THEY ALSO SAID THE WOULD BURN SOMETHING INTO THE COMPUTER BOARD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A VERY LOW SPEED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE FINALLY ACCELERATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177307 · 2006-12-29 (December 29, 2006)
I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS DEALER MY 2004 LS430, WITH 27,000 MILES NEEDS BRAKE PADS REPLCEMENT. HAVING DRIVEN SIMILAR CARS FOR 16 YEARS UNDER SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS, TO ME THIS REPRESENTS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10177307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10229298 · 2008-05-30 (May 30, 2008)
I HAVE PURCHASED TWO SETS OF LEXUS CHROME LS 430 WHEELS FROM LEXUS AND IN FOUR YEARS BOTH SETS ROTTED FROM THE CENTER OUT. LEXUS WHAT'S ME TO BUY ANOTHER SET. I BELIEVE LEXUS HAS A PRODUCT VENDOR PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17,859 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233489 · 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)
MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 6/3/08. VEHICLE - 2004 LEXUS LS5430. VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON DRIVERS SIDE. SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 46,954 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233489 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.
04V295000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2004-06-25 (June 25, 2004)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE IMPELLER INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR. ALCOHOL IN SOME FUELS MAY DEFORM THE IMPELLER AND CAUSE IT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUMP HOUSING.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL RESISTANCE OF THE IMPELLER AND, IN THE WORST CASE, MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN JULY, 2004. 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 ↗04V317000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2004-07-01 (July 1, 2004)
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM.
Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗