1998 Lexus LS400: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
110,167 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 25 complaints (36.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 40.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm): 2; Tires: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages: 2; Air Bags: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 15 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 | 4 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 5; 2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 2; 2008: 2; 2010: 3; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10032159 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUUDENLY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098321 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE POINT IT WAS SPINNING TIRES. CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK AND THE CAR WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10098321 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102593 · 2004-12-10 (December 10, 2004)
DRIVING AT 25 MPH I HEARD A BEEPING SOUND AND THE VSC OFF LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME UP ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE WITH GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD MOVE APPROXIMATELY 12(MPH) ON ITS OWN WHEN I RELEASE CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITION, RPM'S WOULD RISE TO ABOUT 2000(RPM). TURNED OFF POWER TO VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, STILL VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE 12(MPH) ON ITS OWN. AGAIN POWERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 82,697 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10109471 · 2005-01-13 (January 13, 2005)
THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WITH ALTERED PAPER AND THE REAR PASSENGER PANEL WAS SCRAPED BEHIND THE TIRE. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THIS DAMAGE WAS PRE-EXISTING. *BF THE DAMAGES OCCURRED WHILE BEING SIPPED FROM FLORIDA TO NEW JERSEY. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10109471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144033 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
1. VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING. 2. STARTER FAILURE. HAVE TO TURN IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES (15-20) TO GET THE STARTER TO ROTATE. I KNOW THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V016000 ON THE 1995 THROUGH 1997 LEXUS LS400 FOR THE STARTER ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE TERMINAL FOR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH. MY QUESTION IS CAN MY VEHICLE BE COVERED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN CONSIDERING THE 1998 LS400 WAS BUILT IN 1997. ALSO CAN THIS CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IN MY VEHICLE WHILE I'M CONTINUING TO START MY VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM PERSISTING? THANK YOU FOR Y…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228267 · 2008-05-20 (May 20, 2008)
TIME, DATE AND LOCATION: MONDAY, MAY 19 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM AT THE BLOCKBUSTER PARKING LOT IN STAFFORD, VA VEHICLE: 1998 LEXUS LS400 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOWLY PULL INTO THE SPACE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND REPEATEDLY HIT THE FRONT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER. I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR STOPPED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10246855 · 2008-10-27 (October 27, 2008)
THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND WOULD BIND WHEN TURNED ALMOST ALL THE WAY. I TURNED IT ALL THE WAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD "SNAP" SOUND. I THEN NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH. AFTER THE "SNAP" IT WAS EASIER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER CLOCKWISE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS OUT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,633 miles reported. Look up ODI 10246855 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10305077 · 2010-02-04 (February 4, 2010)
ACCELERATION STUCK, RPMS LOCK IN AT ABOUT 2000. FAILURE OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE DAY, BUT USUALLY ONLY IF THE AIR CONDITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW WITH MY VEHICLE. I TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART IT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT ALMOST ALWAYS RETURNS AFTER RESTART. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY FAULT IN LEXUS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM AND SINCE YOU ALL ARE FINALLY INVESTIGATING THIS I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE SINCE IT OCCURS SO OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10305077 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.