14 of the
52 complaints about the 1998 Lexus LS400 are about the
throttle and cruise control — 27% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
116,250 miles.
F
14
Complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Vehicle Speed Control
1178.6%
Linkages
214.3%
Accelerator Pedal
17.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 129,500 milesLA, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TWICE, WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED/SURGED AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HELD STEADY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT VEHICLE STILL SURGED AND TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO REV MOMENTARILY. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE LEXUS OEM FLOOR MAT (STANDARD, NOT ALL SEASON) WAS REMOVED. THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED AGAIN TONIGHT WITH A DIFFERENT DRIVER AND THE FLOOR MAT STILL REMOVED. I AM QUITE CONCERNED THIS MAY BE RELATED TO OTHER TOYOTA RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #10672882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesBelle VUE, WACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WRONG PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 07/22/14 MA
NHTSA complaint #10576757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesSeverna Park, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 OFTEN. I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS I SHOULD PURCHASE A NEW THROTTLE BODY, I HAVEN'T DONE SO BECAUSE I DO NOT SEE HOW THAT WILL CORRECT MY ACCELERATOR FROM STICKING IN ONE POSITION DURING DRIVING AND I BELIEVE THIS IS MORE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOW WITH THE RECALLS FINALLY BEING DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10305077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 103,000 milesStafford, VACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10228267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Southaven, MS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10098321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Bloomfield, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUUDENLY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10032159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TXCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE TRYING TO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND RAN INTO A STORE BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK JLG
NHTSA complaint #8010515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brookland, NYCrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FOWARD, SLAMMING INTO A WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #8002725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scarsdale, NYCrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AT A STOP VEHICLE LURCHED OUT OF CONTROL AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL. BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGED HOOD AND GRILL ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #891432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Silver Spring, MD
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHERE NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD FIND NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CACrash1 injured
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO BRING VEHICLE TO A STOP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER. DRIVER RECEIVED A SPRAINED WAIST. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #858600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FL
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL SLIGHTLY ON TAKE OFF AFTER GOING AROUND CORNERS, THE VEHICLE TAKES OFF VERY AGGRESSIVELY.
NHTSA complaint #704371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalamazoo, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL THE VEHICLE SURGES.
NHTSA complaint #824357 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Kalamazoo, MI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE HAS THROTTLE-BY-WIRE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE O SURGE AHEAD UNEXPECTEDLY.
NHTSA complaint #534715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.