Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2011 Lexus LS with NHTSA between 2019 and 2025.
The largest single group is the brakes.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 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 — 22
Against the median year of the Lexus LS. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 86
16.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2011 Lexus LS
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Brakes
650.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
325.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 135,000 mi
Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
18.3%
Steering
18.3%
Electrical System
18.3%
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.
Feb 2019peak 3Oct 2025
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
District Heights, MDCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ABS Brake Actuator Brake Booster Pump & Bracket Is the component that is malfunctioning and it is under inspection now. Car not stopping correctly that’s is actually dangerous for everyone if driven not safe to drive by the way. Yes this problem was discovered at the lexus service center where these accusations where obtained. I was told there is a beeping noise and the brakes are hard to press down and triangular lights is on abs light is on from what I remember.
NHTSA complaint #11484362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
District Heights, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS Brake Actuator Brake Booster Pump & Bracket Is the component that is malfunctioning and it is under inspection now. Car not stopping correctly that’s is actually dangerous for everyone if driven not safe to drive by the way. Yes this problem was discovered at the lexus service center where these accusations where obtained. I was told there is a beeping noise and the brakes are hard to press down and triangular lights is on abs light is on from what I remember.
NHTSA complaint #11484362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Dallas, TX
SERVICE BRAKES
My dashboard is melting which creates a glare while driving! Unable to see threw front windshield do to the glare from the sun reflecting off the dash! All interior trim components starts melting inside the car when it's hot outside! Also my brake actuator and abs braking system went out!
NHTSA complaint #11696519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My dashboard is melting which creates a glare while driving! Unable to see threw front windshield do to the glare from the sun reflecting off the dash! All interior trim components starts melting inside the car when it's hot outside! Also my brake actuator and abs braking system went out!
NHTSA complaint #11696519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Upper Marlboro, MD
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS Modulator has failed on mine and thousands of owners across the US & the World. Toyota/Lexus knows about this and has issued TSIB's for several models including the LS460 from 2007-2017 up to a certain mileage. My vehicle has too many miles to be included in this, but the safety of my vehicle is in serious risk due to a problem that they have known about for many years, but have failed to do a recall on all of these vehicles. The repair costs on average $2,000 to $4,000.00.
NHTSA complaint #11602022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Germantown Hills, IL
STEERING
Steering system makes noise when the steering wheel is turned. The steering has a "sticking" characteristic on the highway, making it unsafe to drive due to minor adjustments over center causing the steering rack to temporarily "lock up", then dart left or right when more force is applied. Owner contacted Lexus Corporate about this issue, but they were uncooperative.
NHTSA complaint #11529172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES
Abs trac all dash lights on lost all pressure to the brakes and a loud bell keeps ringing
NHTSA complaint #11496019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
SERVICE BRAKES
Brakes completely lost all pressure and a loud bell keep ringing
NHTSA complaint #11495580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Washington, MD
SERVICE BRAKES
The Brake Actuator is malfunctioning. I had it inspected at Lexus and they stop the warranty at 150,000 miles which needs to be researched as the issue is arriving beyond 150,000 miles
NHTSA complaint #11486409 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
District Heights, MDCrash
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ABS Brake Actuator Brake Booster Pump & Bracket Is the component that is malfunctioning and it is under inspection now. Car not stopping correctly that’s is actually dangerous for everyone if driven not safe to drive by the way. Yes this problem was discovered at the lexus service center where these accusations where obtained. I was told there is a beeping noise and the brakes are hard to press down and triangular lights is on abs light is on from what I remember.
NHTSA complaint #11484362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
District Heights, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS Brake Actuator Brake Booster Pump & Bracket Is the component that is malfunctioning and it is under inspection now. Car not stopping correctly that’s is actually dangerous for everyone if driven not safe to drive by the way. Yes this problem was discovered at the lexus service center where these accusations where obtained. I was told there is a beeping noise and the brakes are hard to press down and triangular lights is on abs light is on from what I remember.
NHTSA complaint #11484362 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 135,000 milesFriendswood, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A HOT SUNNY DAY. OUT OF NO WHERE THERE THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. I WAS TRAVELING AT SPEEDS UP TO 75 MPH ON A HIGHWAY. I HEARD THE LOUD POP LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND THE GLASS SHATTERING. THE VISOR TO THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED, AND WHEN I OPENED IT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IT SEEMED, AND IF THE GLASS WAS ABOUT FALL ON ME WHILE DRIVING, I IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE VISOR FOR PROTECTION, THEN I HEARD THE GLASS FLYING OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME
NHTSA complaint #11256235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE BLOWER MORTOR MAKE LOUD NOISE AND GO BAD . INSIDE INTERIOR NEAR DOOR WAYS BEGAIN TO PEAL .
NHTSA complaint #11175102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE BLOWER MORTOR MAKE LOUD NOISE AND GO BAD . INSIDE INTERIOR NEAR DOOR WAYS BEGAIN TO PEAL .
NHTSA complaint #11175102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.