2009 Lexus LS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 23.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 15.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Wheels: 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 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10424347 · 2011-09-08 (September 8, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS LS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD A HOLE ON THE SIDE WALL THAT ALLOWED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10424347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547734 · 2013-10-13 (October 13, 2013)
AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, USING FULLY SYNTHETIC OIL PER STERLING MCCALL LEXUS OF HOUSTON, THE LEXUS LS460 SHOWS HESITATION IN ACCELERATION. AT LOCAL ROAD AND AT SPEED OF 15 MPH, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND PUSHED GAS PEDAL TO FLOOR, THE ENGINE RPM REACHED MORE THAN 5000 BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED. WHILE IN THEORY THE ENGINE POWER REACHES PEAK OF 386 HORSE POWER AT 4200 RPM. IN ONE WORD, THE ACCELERATION IS NOT LINEAR TO THE PUSH ON GAS PEDAL AT ALL. FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE POWER DOES NOT CORRESPONDS TO THE GAS PEDAL TRAVEL DISTANCE, AS I…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616667 · 2014-07-27 (July 27, 2014)
2009 LEXUS LS 460 AWD THE CAR LOST POWER UPON ACCELERATION AFTER THE 90,000 MILE SERVICE. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER (LEXUS OF NAPERVILLE) THEY SAID THAT THEY REFLASHED THE CONTROLLER. THE CAR LOST PERFORMANCE BUT DID NOT LOOSE POWER UNTIL THE NEXT OIL CHANGE. AT 94000 MILES A FEW DAYS AFTER SERVICE THE CAR LOST POWER ON ACCELERATION AGAIN, I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER AT WHICH TIME THEY REBUILT THE TOP OF THE ENGINE FOR A COST OF $11,500.00 UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE NEXT SERVICE ON 7/03/14. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALER ON T…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10862728 · 2016-05-03 (May 3, 2016)
SEVERAL INTERIOR PARTS ARE MELTING. LEXUS IS AWARE AND AUTHORIZED A REPAIR IN CERTAIN MODELS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IN FORCING THE ISSUE. FINALLY, I JUST REMEMBERED TO GOOGLE THIS TODAY AND WAS VERY SURPRISED BY WHAT I DISCOVERED.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,540 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862728 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11246415 · 2019-08-26 (August 26, 2019)
THE SAFETY ISSUE OUR CAR HAS IS DELAYED ACCELERATION. THIS IS A VERY CONCERNING SAFETY HAZARD. AFTER READING MANY ONLINE FORUMS, THERE ARE MANY OTHER '09 LS OWNERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROPERLY FIX OR EVEN DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. THERE ARE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD INDICATING WHERE THE PROBLEM LIES. ALL WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IS THAT IT'S IN THE KNOCK SENSOR. WE HAVE ONLY BEEN TOLD THAT LEXUS HAS DESIGNED THE KNOCK SENSOR IN SUCH A WAY THAT A CHECK ENG…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11246415 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11322245 · 2020-04-25 (April 25, 2020)
I PURCHASED MY 2009 LS460 IN 2017 AT LEXUS OF HUNTSVILLE, AL WITH 115K MILES. IT BEGAN HAVING POOR ACCELERATION 1 MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED IT. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND EXPRESSED MY CONCERN. THEY ASKED ME TO START USING PREMIUM GAS FORM THE SAME STATION. NOTHING CHANGED AND 3MO LATTER I MOVED TO INDIANAPOLIS AND HAD MY LEXUS SERVICED AT TOM WOOD LEXUS OF INDIANAPOLIS. I ASKED THEM TO DO A FULL DIAGNOSTIC FOR REPAIRING THE NOW DANGEROUSLY LOW ACCELERATION. TOM WOOD CHANGED AND CHECKED FUEL FILTER FUEL LINES FUEL INJECTORS AIR INTAKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11322245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11364249 · 2020-10-14 (October 14, 2020)
WHEN DRIVING, SLOWING TO MAKE A TURN, PUTTING FOOT BACK ON GAS....FEELS EITHER LIKE GEAR SLIPPING OR FUEL INJECTION SLIP. MAKES QUICK CATCH AND JUMPS. ALSO, WHEN COMING TO STOP, FEELS LIKE STALLING. VERY SCARY.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364249 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415623 · 2021-05-08 (May 8, 2021)
DASHBOARD IS STICKY/TACKY. DASHBOARD IS ALSO VERY SHINY AND MAKE IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IN SUNLIGHT. WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11415623 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.