2004 Lexus LS 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 2004 Lexus LS, 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
- Fuel system218.2%
- Engine218.2%
- Airbags218.2%
- Powertrain (other)19.1%
- Tires & wheels19.1%
- Visibility19.1%
- Driver assistance19.1%
- Exterior lighting19.1%
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL *TR
MY 2004 LEXUS LS430 WAS TOWED 2 TIMES (JUNE 20, AUG 21,2007) DUE TO ENGINE DIED DURING THE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AND ALMOST GOT INVOLVE D IN AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR IS BEING UNDER REPAIR AT LOGO LEXUS DEALER. ELMOTE, CALIFORNIA 91731 MR. PHIL TUCKER, SR. SERVICE MANAGER(626-580-6283) INFORMED THAT MAY BE DUE TO FAILURE OF FUEL PUMP. I DO NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE FROM LEXUS WHATSOEVER. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Sometimes, the car's RPM goes up to 4 and stays there as the car is unable to shift into the next gear. So, the car is not really accelerating at times when this happens. I have to pull over and turn off the car and start it again and sometimes it works correctly and at other times it doesn't. I've started to get check engine lights from time to time that point to solenoid issues. This makes driving this car very dangerous as this issue happens randomly. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2004 LEXUS LS430 VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY ON THE ROAD PRESENTING DANGEROUS CONDITION. ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART THE NEXT DAY. THIS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY. RESEARCH INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IDENTICAL TO THAT IDENTIFIED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID O4V295000.BUILD DATES 2003-07-29 UNTIL 2004-01-23. LEXUS CAMPAIGN 4LB 2004 LS 430. THIS VEHICLE HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NO PREVIOUS ENGINE REPAIR HISTORY DEFECT SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE IMPELLER INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR. ALCOHOL IN SOME FUELS MAY DEFORM THE IMPELLER AND CAUSE IT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUMP HOUSING. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL RESISTANCE OF THE IMPELLER AND, IN THE WORST CASE, MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP. OWNER REPLACED ORIGINAL FAILED FUEL PUMP WITH PUMP SUPPLIED BY LEXUS DEALER. SERVICE MANAGER AT WALCHER LEXUS IN WICHITA, KS INDICATES VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN FEBRUARY, 2004 OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF THE RECALL VEHICLES.LEXUS TECHNICAL SUPPORT WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED ME BACK TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER. NO ONE SEEMS CONCERNED THAT DEFECTIVE CARS CONTINUED TO EXIST OUTSIDE OF THE RANGE OF VEHICLES IDENTIFIED IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
RE: LEXUS LS330 - PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE LEXUS LS330 HAS A MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT TURNS THE AIRBAG ON OR OFF BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON SITTING IN FRONT SEAT. IT WAS MEANT TO TURN OFF FOR A CHILD AND TURN ON FOR AN ADULT. IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY (AT LEAST IN MY CAR). APPARENTLY IT KEEPS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY AND ALSO TURNS ON THE "TAKE TO DEALER LIGHT". I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR TWICE. IT IS AGAIN IN THE OFF MODE PERMANENTLY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FAILURE OR NON-FUNCTION OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WITHOUT A WARNING RESULTING IN BLOWOUT OF TIRE AND NEAR LOSE OF CONTROL. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE LEXUS LS430 FOLDING REAR VIEW MIRRORS (BOTH DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE) FOLD OUT PAST THE ACCEPTABLE VISION RANGE EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISABLE THE MIRRORS FROM BEING SWUNG OUT EACH TIME THE CAR IS STARTED (EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A CUT-OFF SWITCH). THIS RESULTS IN HAVING TO MANUALLY ADJUST THE MIRRORS BY HAND (WHICH IS NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DO FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR). LEXUS DOES NOT OFFER AN AFFORDABLE METHOD TO STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING - - OTHER THAN OFFERING A $2,000+ SOLUTION FOR NEW MIRRORS - - WHICH IS UNATTRACTIVE. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM IS HIGHLY COMMON FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE LEXUS FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AS I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED THE CURB AND RAN INTO THE BUILDING. I TRIED TO BACK OFF THE BUILDING AND COULD NOT STOP THE RACING ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SHOT BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BRAKE. IT WENT THROUGH SOME HEDGES OVER A RISE AND CROSSED THE STREET WHERE THE REAR HIT A PALM TREE AND COLLAPSED THE TRUNK. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL *TR
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 .