Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1992 Lexus LS400
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Seat Belts
220.0%
Electrical System
220.0%
Median failure at 800 miles
Lights
110.0%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 75,000 mi
Brakes
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 168,000 mi
Airbags
110.0%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 168,000 mi
Transmission & Drivetrain
110.0%
Engine & Cooling
110.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
125.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
125.0%
150,000+ miles
250.0%
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 1999peak 2Nov 2010
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 168,000 milesSacramento, CACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACTED APPLIED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10364054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 168,000 milesSacramento, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACTED APPLIED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10364054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesGarden City, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP SIGN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE; THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN INTO TRAFFIC BEFORE CRASHING INTO A HEDGE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75000. UPDATED 3/16/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION 5-7 YEARS AND CRASHED INTO HIS GARAGE. UPDATED 06/01/10
NHTSA complaint #10303671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockford, IL1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELTS FAILED DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR THE CONSUMER). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 168,000 milesSacramento, CACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACTED APPLIED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10364054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 168,000 milesSacramento, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CONTACTED APPLIED THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THEY FAILED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HER. THE DRIVER FRONTAL AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
NHTSA complaint #10364054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 75,000 milesGarden City, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 LEXUS LS400. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP SIGN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE; THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN INTO TRAFFIC BEFORE CRASHING INTO A HEDGE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75000. UPDATED 3/16/10 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION 5-7 YEARS AND CRASHED INTO HIS GARAGE. UPDATED 06/01/10
NHTSA complaint #10303671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 800 milesSanta Rita, GU
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER LIGHTS FLICKER AND GOE COMPLETELY BLANK. THIS ONLY OCCURS UPON COLD START. THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON WHEN VEHICLE WARMS UP. DEALERSHIP CANNOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE SO THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
NHTSA complaint #10044739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntington Beach, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I AM BLINDED BY THE HEADLIGHTS OF SUVS AND SMALL PICK-UP TRUCKS. CAN'T THE LIGHTS BE LOWERED?
NHTSA complaint #759529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pennsauken, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHEN VEHICLE WAS STARTED SMOKE CAME OUT FROM STARTER MOTOR. SMOKE WOULD DISAPPEAR ONCE VEHICLE WAS MOVING FOR SOME TIME. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS IN WIRING HARNESS.
NHTSA complaint #898319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rockford, IL1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE SEAT BELTS FAILED DURING VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE CONSUMER (ATTORNEY FOR THE CONSUMER). *MJS
NHTSA complaint #557945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northport, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NOISY FRONT WHEEL BEARING, 2 REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THE SECOND REPAIR CONSUMER PAID FOR. CONSUMER SMELLED HEAVY FUMES FROM EXHAUST ON ACCELERATION, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #874532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Northport, NY
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE NOISY FRONT WHEEL BEARING, 2 REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, THE SECOND REPAIR CONSUMER PAID FOR. CONSUMER SMELLED HEAVY FUMES FROM EXHAUST ON ACCELERATION, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #874532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parsons, KS
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASES BY ITSELF AND WILL NOT RETRACT. MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #848131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.