1990 Lexus LS400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
125,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 20 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 10.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.0% |
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:Frontal | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Electrical System: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Wiring: Rear Compartment/Trunk: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 4; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2003: 3; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10016883 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
PASSENGER DOOR LOCK MECHANISM ON MY 1990 LEXUS LS400 HAS FAILED TO THE POINT WHERE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE NOR INSIDE. LEXUS DEALER WANTS $800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING DOOR PANEL AND SCRATCHING WINDOW. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY HAZARD THAT LEXUS (TOYOTA) SHOULD PAY FOR. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR IT THEY REFUSED. I AM ALSO ADDING THE FACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD OTHER LS400'S THAT THEY'VE FIXED FOR THIS SPECIFIC SAFETY PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032423 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A LIGHT AND THE CONSUMER HIT THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGERS NECK AND BACK WAS INJURED AS A RESULT. PASSENGERS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. *PH *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032917 · 2003-08-16 (August 16, 2003)
INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS DON'T WORK (SPEEDOMETER) ON 90 LEXUS LS400. APPARENTLY IT'S HAPPENED TO ALL OF THEM OR IS HAPPENING TO ALL OF THEM. COST $2000 TO REPAIR! NOT SAFE DRIVING WITHOUT SEEING SPEED. (ENTIRE CLUSTER IS ELECTRONIC SO CAN'T SEE EVEN IN DAYLIGHT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102035 · 2004-12-02 (December 2, 2004)
WHEN CLOSING THE FRONT DOORS THE HANDLE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117521 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BUBBLE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY COLLISION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 320,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10117521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189177 · 2007-04-28 (April 28, 2007)
I HAVE A 1990 LEXUS LS 400 AND I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY ALTERNATOR AND POWER STEERING PUMP 3 TIMES DUE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVING A LEAK AND THERE ARE MILLIONS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY I THINK LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THEIR PUMPS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM PLEASE HELP ME THIS IS BECOMING RIDICULOUS. EVERY YEAR I HAVE TO CHANGE MY PUMP DUE TO THIS PROBLEM THEY COST 600 DOLLARS JUST THE PART SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE SOME KIND OF NOTICE TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,398 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10307216 · 2010-02-07 (February 7, 2010)
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND ENGINE CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. I CAN ONLY STOP IT BY PUSHING ON THE BRAKE HARD, PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL OR TURNING OFF ENGINE. SOMETIMES IF I HAVE ROOM IN FRONT OF MY CAR, I CAN STOP IT BY PUMPING THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. I CANNOT TELL WHAT CAUSES IT. DEFINITELY NOT FLOOR MAT. *TW
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10307216 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594578 · 2014-05-28 (May 28, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED BOTH AUTOMATICALLY AND MANUALLY BUT THE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK AND OPEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594578 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.
89V212000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 1989-12-04 (December 4, 1989)
LAMP HOUSING OF CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP COULD BECOME DISTORTED AFTER PROLONGED ILLUMINATION, PARTICULARLY UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES.
Remedy: REPLACE LAMP HOUSING WITH ONE OF HIGHER TEMPERATURE RESISTANT MATERIAL.
NHTSA campaign record ↗