2018 Lexus LS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
8,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 14 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 28.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Wheels: 3; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: 1; Power Train: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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 11209751 · 2019-05-24 (May 24, 2019)
THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM BLOWS FUSES AND STOPS WORKING, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO WAY TO LEARN THAT THE COLLISION SYSTEM IS OFFLINE UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIMULATE A NEAR CERTAIN COLLISION (WHICH I DID WITH THE DEALER IN MY CAR AND HE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM), OR HAVING AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IF THE FUSE IS BLOWN, OBVIOUSLY THE SYSTEM SHOULD SHOW AN ERROR WHEN IT'S ENGAGED - NOT A GREEN INDICATOR.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11209751 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11257525 · 2019-09-23 (September 23, 2019)
I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TODAY WITH LEXUS CORPORATION BECAUSE BOTH MY DEALERSHIP, NEW COUNTRY LEXUS OF LATHAM, AND LEXUS CORPORATION HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE DANGER THEY HAVE PLACED MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE PURCHASED THREE LEXUS' OVER THE YEARS FROM NEW COUNTRY LEXUS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE FROM BOTH MY DEALER AND LEXUS CORPORATION. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT NEW COUNTRY AND LEXUS CORPORATION WOULD PUT ME AND MY FAMILY AT RISK OF INJURY AND/OR DEATH. PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE REACHED OUT TWICE TO MY DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11257525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11280921 · 2019-11-18 (November 18, 2019)
APEAL AGAINST THE RECALL DONE BY LEXUS TOYOTA ON MAY 16TH, 2019, I TOOK MY CAR LEXUS 2018 LS 500 TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF WOODLAND HILLS, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, FOR BEING RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V-134) AFTER RECALL DEFECTS WERE FIXED, I DROVE ABOUT 4,000 MILES AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. AT THIS TIME, TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF DEEP LARGE SCRAPES ON ALL FOUR TIRES, WHICH I HAD NEVER SEEN IN THE ENTIRE DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE WERE POINTED OUT BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER VIOLENTLY INSISTED ON THE SCRAPES…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11280921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288488 · 2019-12-11 (December 11, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO AID IN PREVENTING A CRASH. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, IT RELEASED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY AND THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE RELEASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM HUDSON LEXUS (LOCATED AT 3410 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, [phone…
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316040 · 2020-03-04 (March 4, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS LS 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TENTH GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE RPMS REVVED UP AND THE CONTACT FLICKED THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO BACK TO THE TENTH GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSON LEXUS OF RALEIGH LOCATED AT (5839 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616 [phone removed]). THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN. A SPECIALIST WAS BROUGHT IN FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSIST WITH THE DIAGNOS…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366701 · 2020-10-27 (October 27, 2020)
VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING. RECALL ANNOUNCED TO US 1/20/2020. HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE DEALERSHIP DO THE FREE RECALL REPAIR. EVEN WHILE THERE FOR OIL CHANGES AND REGULAR SERVICES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR. HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THEY NEED TO ORDER THE PART AND THEY WILL CALL ME. 10 MONTHS OF THIS NOW AND CAR IS UNSAFE- THEY KEEP STALLING ON DOING THE REPAIR THAT IS A SAFETY RISK FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY. WANT THIS DOCUMENTED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO US AND WE HAVE AN INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AND THEY CONTIN…
Owner-reported narrative. 22,087 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11446122 · 2022-01-04 (January 4, 2022)
The vehicle exhibited 3 episodes of premature battery failure. Mileage of the vehicle is 6000 miles. Without any warning the car would just not start from a gas pump or such locations in the middle of the road. This is a dangerous problem because there was no warning that the battery is running low or there is any problem. Car runs 100 miles every day. Lexis dealership diagnosed battery failure and replace the battery but this is a safety issue particularly because it happens in the middle of the night when you are driving in a remote loc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11446122 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11565489 · 2024-01-14 (January 14, 2024)
All 4 tires have tread wear on the inner side. Took it to lexus they said no remedy is available ended up selling the car. May cause slip and accident
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11565489 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.
19V134000 · Tires:Sidewall | Tires
Reported: 2019-02-27 (February 27, 2019)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Lexus LS vehicles equipped with run-flat tires with a sidewall reinforcement layer inside the tire. The tire-on-wheel assembly process may have caused the reinforcement layer to crack, possibly resulting in the tire tread layer separating from the tire.
Consequence: If the tire tread layer separates from the vehicle, vehicle handling and stability may be affected, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. The Toyota number for this recall is KLC.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V275000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification:Front Passenger
Reported: 2024-04-17 (April 17, 2024)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24LA03.
NHTSA campaign record ↗