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FaultScore report

2004 Lexus LS430 problems

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2004 Lexus LS430 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2017. The largest single group is the steering. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 5 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Lexus LS430 All 2004 cars
C

FaultScore 41/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Lexus LS430.

How this is worked out

The numbers

12

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

75,500 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

18%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 18 vs 50 Severity 86 vs 50 Early failure 31 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 18
Against the median year of the Lexus LS430. 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 — 31
18% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2004 compares with every other Lexus LS430

Click any bar to open that year's report.

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 LS430

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 16.7%

Median failure at 109,250 miles

Lights 2 16.7%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

Body & Structure 2 16.7%

Median failure at 55,250 miles

Steering 2 16.7%

Median failure at 101,000 miles

Wheels 1 8.3%

Median failure at 117,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 8.3%

Median failure at 100,200 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 8.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 22,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 1 8.3%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

10,000 – 24,999 miles 1 9.1%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 1 9.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles 1 9.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles 4 36.4%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 4 36.4%

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.

Oct 2009 peak 2 May 2017

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 22,000 miles Greensboro, NC Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF 2004 LEXUS LS430: OWNER WAS IN PARKING GARAGE BEGINNING TO EXIT GARAGE FROM PARKING PLACE WHEN LEXUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. OWNER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL BUT COULD NOT STOP THE LEXUS. OWNER STEERED LEXUS TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND COLLIDED WITH MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, GLANCED OFF SIDE OF BUILDING AND COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMER. OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT). UPDATED IVOQ 06/03/10.

NHTSA complaint #10324726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 117,000 miles Peidmont, SC

WHEELS

TAKATA RECALL IT WAS RAINING I WAS COMING OUT OF ANTLOCH CHURCH RD TO TURNING ON AUGUSTA RD PEIDMONT SC 29673 WHEN I HEAR A BIG BOOM AND PULL OVER AT THE SPINX TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND HAD THREE BIG POTHOLES IN THE ROAD I COULD SEE THAT MY WHEELS WAS BENT AND ALSO IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10991306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,000 miles Peidmont, SC

STEERING

TAKATA RECALL IT WAS RAINING I WAS COMING OUT OF ANTLOCH CHURCH RD TO TURNING ON AUGUSTA RD PEIDMONT SC 29673 WHEN I HEAR A BIG BOOM AND PULL OVER AT THE SPINX TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND HAD THREE BIG POTHOLES IN THE ROAD I COULD SEE THAT MY WHEELS WAS BENT AND ALSO IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #10991306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

DEL RAY, FL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MLEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10873921 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,000 miles Navarre, FL

VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI DISPLAY FUNCTION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA complaint #10871777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,200 miles Cumming, GA

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AND SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V295000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,200.

NHTSA complaint #10437928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Northbrook, IL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT ANGLED STRAIGHT AND CAUSING LIMITED ILLUMINATION OF THE HIGHWAY AHEAD OF HIM. IN ADDITION, THE AFS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE HEIGHT CONTROL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO HIM IN FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #10392482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,500 miles Mashpee, MA

STRUCTURE:BODY

2004 LEXUS LS 430 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY DETAILS: DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS ARE NOT IN THE CORRECT LOCATION TO VIEW THE REAR SIGHT. NOTE: THERE WAS NO APPARENT EXTERIOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT. MIRROR HAD THE STOP MECHANISMS BREAK, ALLOWING THE MIRROR TO BE OFF LINE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. CAN NOT VIEW BEHIND YOU. REPAIR COST: $660 OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0.

NHTSA complaint #10382779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,500 miles Mashpee, MA

VISIBILITY

2004 LEXUS LS 430 COMPONENT: STRUCTURE:BODY DETAILS: DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS ARE NOT IN THE CORRECT LOCATION TO VIEW THE REAR SIGHT. NOTE: THERE WAS NO APPARENT EXTERIOR PHYSICAL DAMAGE THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED IT. MIRROR HAD THE STOP MECHANISMS BREAK, ALLOWING THE MIRROR TO BE OFF LINE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. CAN NOT VIEW BEHIND YOU. REPAIR COST: $660 OCCURRENCES: 1 INJURIES: 0.

NHTSA complaint #10382779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Rancho Cucamonga, CA

STRUCTURE:BODY

BOTH SIDE MIRRORS ARE NOT IN THE CORRECT LOCATION TO VIEW THE REAR SIGHT. BOTH MIRRORS HAVE HAD THE STOP MECHANISMS BREAK, ALLOWING THE MIRRORS TO BE OFF LINE. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING. CAN NOT VIEW BEHIND YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10380363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 22,000 miles Greensboro, NC Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION OF 2004 LEXUS LS430: OWNER WAS IN PARKING GARAGE BEGINNING TO EXIT GARAGE FROM PARKING PLACE WHEN LEXUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. OWNER APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL BUT COULD NOT STOP THE LEXUS. OWNER STEERED LEXUS TO AVOID HITTING OTHER VEHICLES AND COLLIDED WITH MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING, GLANCED OFF SIDE OF BUILDING AND COLLIDED HEAD-ON WITH ELECTRICAL POWER TRANSFORMER. OWNER WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. (LAWYER WROTE IN ON BEHALF OF HIS CLIENT). UPDATED IVOQ 06/03/10.

NHTSA complaint #10324726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 75,000 miles Overland Park, KS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

A SENSOR FAILED (AFS) ON MY 2004 LEXUS 430 THAT LOCKED THE HEADLIGHTS INTO A VERY LOW POSITION - THE EFFECTIVE LIGHTING ON LOW BEAM IS SUCH THAT VISIBILITY IS ONLY 20-30 FEET. UPON SEARCHING THE WEB I FOUND OUT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND REQUIRED REPLACING A SIMPLE SENSOR ON THE REAR AXLE COSTING APP. $450 PARTS AND LABOR. I AM LOOKING TO REPAIR, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONDITION IT WAS LEFT DEFECTIVE - IT APPEARS THE FAILURE DEFAULT POSITION AT LOW BEAM IS DANGEROUS.

NHTSA complaint #10288912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles French Camp, MS

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. WHILE PARKING HIS VEHICLE THE TIRE ROD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA complaint #10288695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.