1998 Lexus LS400 Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STARTED AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER (ARROWHEAD LEXUS IN PEORIA, ARIZONA) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL ON THE VEHICLE HAD CLOSED/EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL INFORMATION WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 151,000.

NHTSA ID

11092540

Incident

Feb 8, 2018

Mileage

151,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10672882

Incident

Nov 22, 2014

Mileage

129,500 mi

THE AIRBAGS IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR DROPPED AND IT WEIGHS THE FRONT OF THE CAR DOWN SO I NEED TO WARM UP THE CAR SO THAT THE FRONT ENGINE RISES AND DOESN'T SCRAPE WHEN YOU TURN THE WHEEL. PLEASE ADVISE IF THIS CAN BE CHECKED BY LEXIS FOR SAFETY REASONS FREE OF CHARGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS INQUIRY. KIND REGARDS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10668581

Incident

Aug 1, 2014

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 ID

10576757

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

Mileage

153,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY OPENED IN A SECURED POSITION AND WITHOUT WARNING, IT SUDDENLY RELEASED IN A DOWNWARD POSITION AND CLOSED. THE HOOD RELEASED ON THE CONTACTS LEFT HAND AND CAUSED INJURY TO THE MIDDLE FINGER. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000. UPDATED 01/24/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE HYDRAULIC PISTONS WHICH WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE HOOD SECURELY AND FULLY OPENED FAILED SUDDENLY, WHILE HIS HAND WAS UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HIS HAND IN TIME. UPDATED 03/22/11

NHTSA ID

10368644

Incident

Nov 24, 2010

Mileage

111,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 27,2005, MY1998 LEXUS LS 400 RAMMED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. MY CAR ACCELERATED NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN THE POLICE AND FIREMEN CAME, THE POLICEMAN STOOD NEXT TO MY WINDOW AND ASKED ME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL SO THAT THE FIREMEN COULD PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE ROAD. THE CAR ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND ALMOST RAN OVER THE FIREMEN. THE POLICEMAN NOTED THIS IN HIS REPORT. I WAS ON AIRPORT BLVD. WITHIN 1 MILE OF THE MOBILE AIRPORT. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF MOBILE WHERE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. I NEVER DROVE THE CAR AGAIN BECAUSE I HAD NO CONFIDENCE IN IT. I FELT THAT THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE OF HELP TO SOMEONE LOOKING INTO THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10322102

Incident

Sep 27, 2005

Mileage

80,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10305077

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING. STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN COUNTER CLOCKWISE AND WOULD BIND WHEN TURNED ALMOST ALL THE WAY. I TURNED IT ALL THE WAY AND THERE WAS A LOUD "SNAP" SOUND. I THEN NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH. AFTER THE "SNAP" IT WAS EASIER TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER CLOCKWISE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG BUT WILL TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10246855

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

109,633 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10228267

Incident

May 19, 2008

Mileage

103,000 mi

1. VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING. 2. STARTER FAILURE. HAVE TO TURN IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES (15-20) TO GET THE STARTER TO ROTATE. I KNOW THERE WAS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V016000 ON THE 1995 THROUGH 1997 LEXUS LS400 FOR THE STARTER ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE TERMINAL FOR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH. MY QUESTION IS CAN MY VEHICLE BE COVERED UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN CONSIDERING THE 1998 LS400 WAS BUILT IN 1997. ALSO CAN THIS CAUSE AN UNDERHOOD FIRE IN MY VEHICLE WHILE I'M CONTINUING TO START MY VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM PERSISTING? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. 3. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10144033

Incident

Nov 1, 2005

Mileage

110,700 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED WITH ALTERED PAPER AND THE REAR PASSENGER PANEL WAS SCRAPED BEHIND THE TIRE. IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THIS DAMAGE WAS PRE-EXISTING. *BF THE DAMAGES OCCURRED WHILE BEING SIPPED FROM FLORIDA TO NEW JERSEY. *SC

NHTSA ID

10109471

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

DRIVING AT 25 MPH I HEARD A BEEPING SOUND AND THE VSC OFF LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME UP ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE THEN WENT INTO FAIL SAFE MODE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE WITH GAS PEDAL. HOWEVER VEHICLE WOULD MOVE APPROXIMATELY 12(MPH) ON ITS OWN WHEN I RELEASE CONSTANT PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN I PLACED IN NEUTRAL OR PARK POSITION, RPM'S WOULD RISE TO ABOUT 2000(RPM). TURNED OFF POWER TO VEHICLE AND RESTARTED, STILL VEHICLE WOULD ONLY MOVE 12(MPH) ON ITS OWN. AGAIN POWERED DOWN VEHICLE AND RESTARTED THEN TURNED OFF THE VSC BEFORE THE CAR WOULD SCAN FOR TROUBLE AND THIS ACTION RETURNED TO ME CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED THE GS300 AND GS400 LEXUS WAS RECALLED APRIL 16, 1998-NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V080000. MY QUESTION IS IF THE SAME VSC SYSTEM IS ON THE LS400, I BELIEVE IT SHOULD RECEIVE EQUAL TREATMENT IF PERHAPS THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED IN SOME ODD WAY TO THE YAW RATE SENSOR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102593

Incident

Dec 10, 2004

Mileage

82,697 mi

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. *AK

NHTSA ID

10098321

Incident

Nov 4, 2004

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUUDENLY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032159

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

WHILE TRYING TO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND RAN INTO A STORE BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK JLG

NHTSA ID

8010515

Incident

Mar 29, 2002

CONSUMER HAD CLOCK SPRING AND AIR BAG MODULE REPLACED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON. *JG

NHTSA ID

559667

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002725

Incident

Jan 22, 2002

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.*AK

NHTSA ID

891432

Incident

May 20, 2001

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING BEEPER AND LIGHT WOULD COME ON, CAR WOULD SWERVE AS BRAKES AND ACCELLERATOR WOULD ACTUATE WITHOUT INPUT FROM DRIVER. THIS HAPPENED FOUR TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. EACH TIME CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAY THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO TAKE CAR BACK AND BRING IT IN WHEN IT DOES IT AGAIN. WE HAVE DONE THAT 4 TIMES NOW. PROBLEM DOES NOT GET FIXED. WHILE WE CAN'T PREDICT WHEN IT WILL OCCUR, THE SWERVING WAS MORE PRONOUNCED ON THIS LAST EPISODE AND ALMOST CAUSED VEERING INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. THIS CAR IS NOW IN THE DANGEROUS LIVES THREATENING PROBLEM CATEGORY. WHILE EVERYONE AT LEXUS WE HAVE CONTACTED IS POLITE, ETC. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT GET SOLVED AND THEY WANT US TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND, "BRING IT IN WHEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN." THAT IS NOT A SOLUTION, IT IS A HAND BACK THE PROBLEM TO THE CUSTOMERACTION. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT PROBLEM WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, ANT THINK THAT THE MAUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE THE CAR BACK, CHANGE OUT EVERY COMPUTER, SENSOR, AND CHIP RELATED TO ANY SYSTEM THAT COULD ACTUATE THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM PHENOMENA WE ARE EXPERIENCING. WE HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS OF US IN TORRANCE, CA. AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE IN MELBOURNE F WE ALSO CONTACTED NHTSA BY PHONE AND SPOKE TO A REP WHO ASSIGNED AN ID# 607064 AND SAID FORMS WOULD BE SENT TO US BY MAIL. WE HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANYTHING. THIS IS TO ASK FOR HELP IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED.L.TEM THAT. *AK

NHTSA ID

743094

Incident

May 20, 2000

AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON, THERE IS A BEEPING SOUND, AND VEHICLE SWERVES LIKE IT IS GOING INTO A CURVE, USUALLY TO LEFT. PROBLEM WILL OCCUR RANDOMLY OVER 40 MPH, WEATHER CONDITIONS DO NOT PLAY A FACTOR IN DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR, BRAKES, AND STEERING ARE ACTUATED WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE DRIVER AND PROBLEM IS NOT WEATHER RELATED, DEALER HAS KEPT VEHICLE LONG PERIODS OF TIME, ONE INSTANCE FOR ALMOST 1 MONTH, ALWAYS COMES BACK AND CAN NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER FEELS THE PROBLEM IS RELATED TO COMPUTER OR SENSOR DEFECT. *SLC

NHTSA ID

883407

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

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 ID

558802

Incident

Oct 5, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID

733413

Incident

Oct 3, 2000

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 85MPH ON HIGHWAY AND IT WAS A 100 DEGREES. SHE HEARD A BUMPING NOISE. TIRE WAS HITTING UP AGAINST THE VEHICLE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD HAD CAME APART. BRIDGESTONE E33255/60YR16 HIGH SPEED.*AK

NHTSA ID

869584

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING. WAS ABLE TO STOP BEFORE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. SEARS CALLED BRIDGESTONE ABOUT THE DEFECT AND THEY REPLACED IT FREE OF CHARGE, SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THAT TIRE. HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT RPLACE THE REMAINING THREE TIRES, WHICH COULD INCURR THE SAME SEPARATION AND POTENTIAL BLOW OUT.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P22560V16 )

NHTSA ID

727869

Incident

Jul 25, 2000

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 *ML

NHTSA ID

858600

Incident

Mar 13, 2000