Owners have filed 11 complaints
about the 2004 Lexus LS with NHTSA between 2006 and 2023.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 20
Against the median year of the Lexus LS. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 94
18.2% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 51
30% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2004 Lexus LS
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
218.2%
Median failure at 93,959 miles
Airbags
218.2%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 24,500 mi
Engine & Cooling
218.2%
Median failure at 44,000 miles
Tires
19.1%
Median failure at 24,200 miles
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
19.1%
Median failure at 79,200 miles
Lights
19.1%
Median failure at 150,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
19.1%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 12,000 mi
Transmission & Drivetrain
19.1%
Median failure at 150,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
330.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
330.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
110.0%
150,000+ miles
330.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Sep 2006peak 3Jul 2023
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 12,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FLCrash
AIR BAGS
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10200807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10200807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Atlanta, GA
ENGINE
Sometimes, the car's RPM goes up to 4 and stays there as the car is unable to shift into the next gear. So, the car is not really accelerating at times when this happens. I have to pull over and turn off the car and start it again and sometimes it works correctly and at other times it doesn't. I've started to get check engine lights from time to time that point to solenoid issues. This makes driving this car very dangerous as this issue happens randomly. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11533848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 44,000 milesWichita, KS
ENGINE
2004 LEXUS LS430 VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY ON THE ROAD PRESENTING DANGEROUS CONDITION. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART THE NEXT DAY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY. RESEARCH INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THAT IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID O4V295000.BUILD DATES 2003-07-29 UNTIL 2004-01-23. LEXUS CAMPAIGN 4LB 2004 LS 430. THIS VEHICLE HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NO PREVIOUS ENGINE REPAIR HISTORY DEFECT SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE IMPELLER INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR. ALCOHOL IN SOME FUELS MAY DEFORM THE IMPELLER AND CAUSE IT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUMP HOUSING. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL RESISTANCE OF THE IMPELLER AND, IN THE WORST CASE, MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. OWNER REPLACED ORIGINAL FAILED FUEL PUMP WITH PUMP SUPPLIED BY LEXUS DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER AT WALCHER LEXUS IN WICHITA, KS INDICATES VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY, 2004 OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF THE RECALL VEHICLES.LEXUS TECHNICAL SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED ME BACK TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER. NO ONE SEEMS CONCERNED THAT DEFECTIVE CARS CONTINUED TO EXIST OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE OF VEHICLES IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11404435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesRuskin, FL
POWER TRAIN
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11325317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesRuskin, FL
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11325317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesRuskin, FL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL
NHTSA complaint #11325317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 79,200 milesLOS Angeles, CA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE LEXUS LS430 FOLDING REAR VIEW MIRRORS (BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) FOLD OUT PAST THE ACCEPTABLE VISION RANGE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE MIRRORS FROM BEING SWUNG OUT EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED (EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CUT-OFF SWITCH). THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE MIRRORS BY HAND (WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR). LEXUS DOES NOT OFFER AN AFFORDABLE METHOD TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING - - OTHER THAN OFFERING A $2,000+ SOLUTION FOR NEW MIRRORS - - WHICH IS UNATTRACTIVE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS HIGHLY COMMON FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEXUS FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10494961 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FLCrash
AIR BAGS
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10200807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FLCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #10200807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,919 milesDiamond BAR, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
MY 2004 LEXUS LS430 WAS TOWED 2 TIMES (JUNE 20, AUG 21,2007) DUE TO ENGINE DIED DURING THE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT INVOLVE D IN AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR IS BEING UNDER REPAIR AT LOGO LEXUS DEALER. ELMOTE, CALIFORNIA 91731 MR. PHIL TUCKER, SR. SERVICE MANAGER(626-580-6283) INFORMED THAT MAY BE DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP. I DO NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS WHATSOEVER.
NHTSA complaint #10200773 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 milesCharles Town, WV
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
RE: LEXUS LS330 - PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE LEXUS LS330 HAS A MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT TURNS THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON SITTING IN FRONT SEAT. IT WAS MEANT TO TURN OFF FOR A CHILD AND TURN ON FOR AN ADULT. IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY (AT LEAST IN MY CAR). APPARENTLY IT KEEPS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY AND ALSO TURNS ON THE "TAKE TO DEALER LIGHT". I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR TWICE. IT IS AGAIN IN THE OFF MODE PERMANENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10181292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,200 milesLeague City, TX
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
FAILURE OR NON-FUNCTION OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WITHOUT A WARNING RESULTING IN BLOWOUT OF TIRE AND NEAR LOSE OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #10167449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.