2005 Lexus LX470: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
48,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 12.5% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
Suspension: 2; Air Bags: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Switch: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Power Train:Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive): 1; Steering: 1; Structure: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 2 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10126495 · 2005-06-24 (June 24, 2005)
DT: CALLER SAYS WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE CONTROL IS BUMPED IT KNOCKS VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE ROLLS AWAY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE CONTROL OVERRIDES THE PARK GEAR, AND THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH NO ONE IS IN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CALLER HAS CONCERNS ABOUT HER FAMILY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN WITH CHILDREN IN VEHICLE. THIS CAN HAPPEN WHILE IT IS IN PARK WITHOUT THE KEY IN IT. DEALER SAID ALWAYS USE EMERGENCY BRAKE. MANUFACTURER JUST TOOK NOTES, AND SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HER IN 48 HOURS. CALLER HAS A LEXUS GX470.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142467 · 2005-11-11 (November 11, 2005)
HEADLIGHTS COME ON AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME (2 MIN TO 20 MIN) AFTER VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND THE KEY BOB BUTTON IS PRESSED TWICE AND TRUCK BEEPS; HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN IF THE STALK IS ON AUTO/LIGHTS ON/PARKING LIGHTS/OFF; IN ADDITION THE HEAD LIGHT STALK WILL CONTROL THE DOOR LOCKS WHEN THE STALK IS MOVED FROM AUTO TO ON OR PARKING LIGHTS TO ON; USUALLY OCCURS AT NIGHT; USUALLY CLEARS UP BY MORNING; RESULTED IN A DEAD BATTERY TWICE; MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO RAIN. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142468 · 2005-11-11 (November 11, 2005)
VIBRATION OCCURS FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHEN THE RPM ~1900 AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO DRIVE; DEALER IS SWAPPING OUT REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAVE NOT RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK YET; DEALER NOW SAYS VIBRATIONS ARE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION AND HAS ADVISED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION; ORIGINAL COMPLAINT DID NOT HAVE NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10142468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266481 · 2009-04-23 (April 23, 2009)
2005 LEXUS LX 470 HAS ONGOING HEIGHT CONTROL PROBLEM. FIRST APPEARED AT 24, 590 MILES. HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR PROBLEM 5 TIMES. LAST TIME, LEXUS PAID FOR PART ONLY. I HAVE SCHEDULED A 6TH REPAIR APPOINTMENT. VEHICLE ALSO PULLS TO THE LEFT SIGNIFICANTLY, EVEN AFTER 4-20-09 REPAIR. BECOMING FEARFUL OF DRIVING VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 85,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266828 · 2009-04-27 (April 27, 2009)
2005 LEXUS 470 HAS ONGOING HEIGHT CONTROL PROBLEMS. SERVICED 5 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE, LAST TIME ON 4/20/09. ON 4/26/09, VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIVE VERY ROUGHLY AND THE REAR OF VEHICLE RAISED ONE INCH HIGHER THAN FRONT OF VEHICLE. ON 4/27/09, SUV RETURNED TO LEXUS DEALER FOR 6TH REPAIR APPOINTMENT FOR HEIGHT CONTROL PROBLEM. BECOMING FEARFUL OF DRIVING SUV. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 86,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328462 · 2010-05-02 (May 2, 2010)
I HAD A 2005 LEXUS 470 CAR AND IT WAS INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS THAT NEITHER I NOR THE OTHER DRIVER COULD NEITHER ONE HAS EVER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 35 YEARS. THE CAR IN THE FIRST ACCIDENT I DO NOT EVEN KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS A COLLISION ON A ROAD I TAKE EVERY DAY. THE OTHER CAR WAS TOTALED HE HAD NO SKID MARKS AND THE LEXUS TIRE WAS HIT. NO ONE EVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED. THEN LAST MONTH MY GOD SON WAS DRIVING ON THE LA FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO 5 MILES AN HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE FLATBED TRUCK INFRONT OF HI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10328462 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920617 · 2016-11-01 (November 1, 2016)
VEHICLE WAS TOPPED OF WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS PRIOR TO GOING ON A OFF ROAD DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN MODESTLY UP SILVER CANYON TRAIL WITH NO MECHANICAL ISSUES UNTIL GAS FUMES BECAME APPARENT. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THE RIG WAS RUNNING RICH IN FUEL AND CONTINUED THE CLIMB. THEN ON A BREAK I NOTICED GAS SPEWING FROM THE VEHICLE'S GAS CAP. THERE WAS A TREMENDOUS PRESSURE BUILD UP. ONCE I REACHED THE TOP OF THE TRAIL THE ISSUE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND RECORDED. I WAITED TILL THE SPEWING OF GAS STOPPED THEN DROVE BACK DOWN. THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920617 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11024623 · 2017-09-20 (September 20, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11024623 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V434000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT MEET LUMINOUS INTENSITY STANDARD.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD BLIND THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE JUNE 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V346000 · Steering:Gear Box:Shaft Pitman
Reported: 2010-07-29 (July 29, 2010)
TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 LEXUS LX470 VEHICLES. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT IS SUCH THAT THE SNAP RING ON THE SHAFT MAY DISENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES AN UNUSUALLY SEVERE IMPACT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. IF THE SNAP RING BECOMES DISENGAGED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS THEN REPEATEDLY TURNED TO THE LOCKED POSITION, OVER TIME THE STEERING SHAFT MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SNAP RING WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT WHICH WILL PREVENT SEPARATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V065000 · Air Bags:Side/Window
Reported: 2016-02-05 (February 5, 2016)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
NHTSA campaign record ↗