2005 Lexus GX470 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2005 Lexus GX470, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1029.4%
- Body & structure823.5%
- Driver assistance514.7%
- Interior & seats38.8%
- Electrical25.9%
- Brakes25.9%
- Seat belts25.9%
- Steering12.9%
- Suspension12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAFETY RECALL GLB (NHTSA RECALL ID 16V065) ISSUED FEBRUARY 2, 2016. IT HAS BEEN ONE FULL YEAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR! THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS, AND HAVE NO PLAN ON WHEN THEY WILL GET PARTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE INTERIM NOTICE DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE SO THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACTS VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED HE NOTICED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHASSIS WAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 153,000.
DASH BOARD HAS BEGUN TO CRACK. CONCERNED THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF THE AIR BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THE LEXUS GX470 FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS. *TR
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN CRANKING THE CHECK ENGINE AND THE VSC AND TRACTION LIGHT ALL COME ON. HAD THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP PUT IT ON THE MACHINE SAID IT WAS SOMETHING WITH EMISSIONS THAT WOULD RUN AROUND 2K TO REPAIR AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE RUNS PERFECT. LIGHTS WILL GO OFF AT RANDOM TIMES BUT THEN COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING GREAT. OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ACCORDING TO MY GOOGLE INQUIRIES. I ALSO HAVE HAD MY ENTIRE DASHBOARD CRACK WHICH I UNDERSTAND LEXUS WILL BE FIXING AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *JS
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM COMPLAINT REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF HIS 2005 TOYOTA LEXUS GX470 *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS HER HUSBAND WAS ENTERING THE GARAGE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO MOVE AROUND A GARBAGE PAIL IN THE GARAGE. AT THAT MOMENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A STORAGE SHELF AND THEN CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT TO GO OVER THE FOUNDATION LIP OF THE REAR WALL. FORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM GOING FURTHER . THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES DURING THE ACCELERATION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I SAW [XXX] NEWS, WATCH DOG REPORT ON CRACKED/MELTING DASHBOARDS. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT THAT I TOO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THE CRACKING STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAS SLOWING CONTINUED. MY ENTIRE DASH IS LITERALLY CRACKING OFF IN PIECES AND THERE IS FOAM PADDING EXPOSED. IT IS GETTING WORSE. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY WITH THE AIR BAGS. I DRIVE A LEXUS SUV, AN EXPENSIVE CAR. I DID BRING IT TO JM LEXUS, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT, NOW. I DIDN'T THINK I HAD A LEG TO STAND ON, UNTIL I SAW THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS BY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES ON TELEVISION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS *TR
MY 2005 LEXUS GX 470 HAS HAD 3 DOOR ACTUATORS REPLACED ALREADY, AND THE 4TH DOOR ACTUATOR JUST WENT BAD, ALONG WITH 1 OF THE 3 THAT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. THE DOOR ACTUATORS ARE WHAT UNLOCK THE AUTOMATIC DOORS. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE ONLY DOOR THAT OPENS WITH A KEY IS THE DRIVER DOOR. IF SOMEONE NEEDED TO ENTER THE CAR QUICKLY TO ASSIST SOMEONE AT ANY LOCATION OTHER THAT THE DRIVER LOCATION, IT COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS ON A DAILY BASIS AND I SUSPECT I'M NOT THE ONLY GX 470 OWNER WHO HAS HAD THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE DEFECTIVE ACTUATORS BEING INSTALLED BY LEXUS AND ALTHOUGH THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY IS FAIRLY LOW, IT COULD BE A PROBLEM IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH CERTAIN TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES DASHBOARDS CRACKING. THIS IS NOT ONLY A COSMETIC ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE (PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG) AS WELL AND EVEN TOYOTA REPAIR MANUALS SAY TO REPLACE THE DASH IF THERE ARE ANY CRACKS YET DEALERS ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AND ARE MAKING OWNERS PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A NEW DASH WHEN CLEARLY THERE'S A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THE DASH. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER 5YRS. AND TOYOTA / LEXUS HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF IT, YET AS OF FEBRUARY 2014 THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED? HERE'S THE PROBLEM W/ LEXUS GX470 MODELS: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/427349-CRACKED-DASHBOARD.HTML HERE'S THE PROBLEM W/ TOYOTA 4RUNNER MODELS: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/MAINTENANCE-DETAILING/59435-CRACKED-DASH.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/4TH-GEN-T4RS/122935-***CRACKED-DASHBOARD-ACTION-REQUEST***.HTML THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE TOO, JUST GOOGLE "TOYOTA CRACKED DASH". *TR
MY 2005 GX470 HAS HAD 69,000 TROUBLE FREE MILES UNTIL YESTERDAY. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND CALLED ME WITH THE REPORT OF THE VSC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. THE VEHICLE ACTS FINE AND THE GAUGES ARE READING NORMAL. I CHECKED THE FUEL CAP AS THE OWNERS MANUAL SUGGESTED FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT BUT NO RESULTS. I TAKE IT IN TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY RESET THE WARNING AND THEN IN TWO TO THREE DAYS IT IS BACK ON AGAIN. I HAVE READ BLOGS THAT IT STATES IT MAY BE THE O2 SENSORS. THIS OCCURS A LOT IN LEXUS VEHICLES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED AT 60,000 MILES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK WHEN DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
THE LEXUS GX470 HAS MANY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO END UP IN DEATHS FOR EXAMPLE THE SUNROOF DRAINING SYSTEM OVERFLOWS AND DRAINS ON AND NEAR THE BRAKE PEDALS AND THE THEN OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING THE WHOLE GENERAL AREA TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY AND AT TIMES RENDERING THE BRAKES UNUSABLE. THEN THE 2ND ISSUES IS THE SEAT-BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION CORRECTLY AT TIMES THE UNLATCH DURING HARD BRAKING. THE 3RD ISSUE IS THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL FAILS IN THE HIGH HEAT THE SAME AS THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTARY RECALLED. THIS ISSUES IS SEEN ON ALMOST ALL LEXUS GX SERIES IN FL IF YOU REVIEW THE FORUM BOARDS VIA A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL SEE 1000'S OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LEXUS GX470 HAS MANY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO END UP IN DEATHS FOR EXAMPLE THE SUNROOF DRAINING SYSTEM OVERFLOWS AND DRAINS ON AND NEAR THE BRAKE PEDALS AND THE THEN OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING THE WHOLE GENERAL AREA TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY AND AT TIMES RENDERING THE BRAKES UNUSABLE. THEN THE 2ND ISSUES IS THE SEAT-BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION CORRECTLY AT TIMES THE UNLATCH DURING HARD BRAKING. THE 3RD ISSUE IS THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL FAILS IN THE HIGH HEAT THE SAME AS THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTARY RECALLED. THIS ISSUES IS SEEN ON ALMOST ALL LEXUS GX SERIES IN FL IF YOU REVIEW THE FORUM BOARDS VIA A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL SEE 1000'S OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR REMAINED ACTIVATED. WHEN THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE DROPPED AND THE REAR SHOCK, RIGHT SENSOR, COMPRESSOR, AND REAR AIR BAGS WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE DRIVER HURT HER JAW WHEN THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,977 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF THE COMPRESSOR CONTINUED TO INFLATE UNTIL THE PRESSURE BECAME SO HIGH THAT IT EXPLODED. THE SEAT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY WAS JAMMED. UPADTED 03/31/09. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LEXUS GX470 HAS MANY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO END UP IN DEATHS FOR EXAMPLE THE SUNROOF DRAINING SYSTEM OVERFLOWS AND DRAINS ON AND NEAR THE BRAKE PEDALS AND THE THEN OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING THE WHOLE GENERAL AREA TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY AND AT TIMES RENDERING THE BRAKES UNUSABLE. THEN THE 2ND ISSUES IS THE SEAT-BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION CORRECTLY AT TIMES THE UNLATCH DURING HARD BRAKING. THE 3RD ISSUE IS THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL FAILS IN THE HIGH HEAT THE SAME AS THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTARY RECALLED. THIS ISSUES IS SEEN ON ALMOST ALL LEXUS GX SERIES IN FL IF YOU REVIEW THE FORUM BOARDS VIA A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL SEE 1000'S OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR REMAINED ACTIVATED. WHEN THE DRIVER STRUCK A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE DROPPED AND THE REAR SHOCK, RIGHT SENSOR, COMPRESSOR, AND REAR AIR BAGS WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. THE DRIVER HURT HER JAW WHEN THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,977 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 03-30-09 *BF THE COMPRESSOR CONTINUED TO INFLATE UNTIL THE PRESSURE BECAME SO HIGH THAT IT EXPLODED. THE SEAT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY WAS JAMMED. UPADTED 03/31/09. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .