1994 Lexus LS400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
65 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 65 complaints (35.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.5% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.5% |
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 | 23 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 14 |
| Interior Lighting | 10 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Electrical System: 23; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 14; Interior Lighting: 10; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 7; Seat Belts: 4; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Steering: 2; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 10; 2003: 17; 2004: 4; 2005: 2; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2014: 4; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10000850 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AND ENGINE IS COLD, THE DASH GAUGES DO NOT OPERATE. AFTER VEHICLE ENGINE HAS WARMED, THE DASH GAUGES START TO FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY COME ON. WITHOUT THE DASH GAUGES, YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW FAST GOING, IF CRUISE IS ENGAGED, HOW MUCH GAS, THE TEMPERATURE OF ENGINE, ETC. TOOK TO DEALER AND THE PART THAT NEEDS REPLACING IS A METER ASSEMBLY CIRCUIT BOARD (PART # 83247-5A050-RP). AFTER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE -RP OF THE PART NUMBER MEANS THE CIRCUIT BOARD HAS TO BE PROGRAMMED WITH MY CURRENT MILEAGE. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWS…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002769 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
THE WHOLE DASH WILL NOT LIGHT UP WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD, AND CAUSE DRIVER NOT TO SEE ANY OF THE WARNING LIGHTS, SPEED, OR FUEL LEVEL. THIS LEAVES THE CAR OCCUPANTS IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER WANTS AN ABSURB AMOUNT OF MONEY ($1200) TO FIX PROBLEM, WHICH I BELIEVE IS A FACTORY DESIGN FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002805 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
I HAVE A 1994 LEXUS LS400 WITH DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING AND IT IS A PROBLEM ON A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF LS400 AUTOMOBILES. THIS PROBLEM PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT. LEXUS DOES NOT WANT TO ADMIT TO THIS DESIGN FLAW OVIOUSLY.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002808 · 2003-01-16 (January 16, 2003)
I HAVE A '94 LEXUS LS400 ON WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAY DOES NOT FUNCTION AT LOW TEMPERATURES. IT WILL TAKE UP TO AN HOUR OF DRIVING BEFORE THE INSTUMENT PANEL LIGHTS UP AND THE GAGES BECOME VISIBLE. ONE HAS TO NOTE THAT THIS IS A NEON-LIT INSTRUMENT PANEL WHICH WILL BE TOTALLY DARK DAY OR NIGHT WHEN THE LIGHTING DOES NOT WORK. THE USER WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ANY WARNING LIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED AND FUEL LEVEL. THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH "90 TO '94 MODEL YEARS AND POSSIBLY LATER ONES ALSO ( I PERSONALLY KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 CASES).…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002808 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002911 · 2003-01-18 (January 18, 2003)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS AND NEEDLES INDICATORS WENT BAD. NO SPEED DISPLAYED
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004093 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)
INSTRUMENT CLUSTERING LIGHTING. THE INSTRUMENT WAS DESIGNED IN A WAY IN WHICH IT NEEDED TO BE LIGHTED DAY OR NIGHT. THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS IN THE CONSUMER VEHICLE STARTED TO MALFUNCTION ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THEY WOULD NOT COME IN COLD WEATHER UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IT WOULD COST $1000.00 TO FIX IT. THE DEALER STATED IF THE CONSUMER DID NOT GET IT FIXED, EVENTUALLY THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT PERMANENTLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004093 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007746 · 2003-02-18 (February 18, 2003)
INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL NOT LIGHT UP AT ALL. THE GUAGES WILL NOT ILLUMINATED, YOU CANNOT TELL HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, HOW MUCH GAS YOU HAVE, OR IF THERE ARE HAVE BEEN ANY TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURES, BRAKE FAILURES, ETC. THIS CONTINUES FOR DAYS TO WEEKS AT A TIME. THIS IS WORSE AT NIGHT, YOUR COMPLETELY IN THE DARK, YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE WHAT GEAR YOUR IN - IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008241 · 2003-02-28 (February 28, 2003)
1994 LEXUS MODEL LS400. INSTRUMENT PANEL WILL NOT LIGHT UP IN COLD WEATHER. CANNOT SEE SPEEDOMETER AND GAUGES DO NOT WORK. THIS DEFECT DID NOT MANIFEST ITSELF UNTIL I MOVED FROM CALIF TO IOWA WHERE THE WEATHER IS COLD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND LEXUS WILL NOT ADMIT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM BUT SAY THEY CAN FIX IT FOR $2000+. I THINK THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008241 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.