Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Lexus LS430, most frequently naming the body & structure, interior & seats and driver assistance categories. 69 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 2 |
| Oct 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 5 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 7 |
| Nov 2006 | 1 | 8 |
| Feb 2008 | 1 | 9 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 10 |
| Jun 2008 | 1 | 11 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 13 |
| Aug 2009 | 2 | 15 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 16 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 17 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 18 |
| Jun 2010 | 3 | 21 |
| Oct 2010 | 2 | 23 |
| Nov 2010 | 2 | 25 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 26 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 27 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 28 |
| Apr 2012 | 1 | 29 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 30 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD FROM A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO CROSS OVER BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. THE RESULT WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND A BROKEN MAILBAX POST. *TR
I OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS IN DEC. 2010, WHILE I WAS TAKING THE GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUNK, THE TRUNK FELL ON MY HEAD AND CREATED AN INJURY TO MY EYES, I HAD TWO SURGERIES, THE TRUNK UNEXPECTEDLY JUST CRASH ON MY HEAD, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST PASSED OUT,APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS WORE OUT, THERE WAS NO WARNING, I AM STILL HURTING AND GET SEVERE HEADACHES, I WROTE TO LEXUS, THEY JUST IGNORED ME COMPLETELY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I SAVED THE OLD SPRINGS FOR REVIEW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
FAILED COMPONENT: 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID. COMPLAINTS: THE 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID WERE COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS INJURED ON OCTOBER 29, 2011 WHEN THE LID FELLED DOWN (CLOSED) ON ITS OWN WEIGHT AND HIT MY HEAD AND THEN MY RIGHT ARM. THE SUPPORTERS ARE VERY WEAK AS COMPARED TO THE TRUNK LID HEAVY DUTY STEEL STRUCTURE. I HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR WHICH REGISTERS ONLY 30K MILES. THE WEAK HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS STARTED TO SHOW FATIGUE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. EVENTUALLY, IT CAUGHT ME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS LATER. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS TYPE DEFECTS ARE COMMON FOR MANY VEHICLES OF SIMILAR YEARS AND MODEL. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF ONE IS NOT CAREFUL, PARTICULARLY WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPED DRIVEWAY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEXUS TO USE SUCH CHEAP PARTS OF WHICH REPUTATION EMPHASIZING SAFETY AND QUALITY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER WAS STRUCK ABRUPTLY IN THE HEAD BY THE TRUNK HATCH AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD. THE TRUNK LATCH FAILED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN
THE TRUNK LID OF MY 2002 LEXUS LS 430 HAS TWO PNEUMATIC STRUTS WHICH PROVIDE LIFT AND KEEP THE LID UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. NOW, OVER TIME THE STRUTS SLOWLY FAILED TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID OPEN, AND IN A GENTLE BREEZE, THE LID WILL COME DOWN WITH GUILLOTINE FORCE. IT HAS HIT MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH PAINFUL RESULTS AND NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD ITEMS IN MY TRUNK WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON THERE TO HOLD IT OPEN. I THINK THAT THE "LIFT ASSIST" OF THE PNEUMATICS SHOULD BE ONLY AUXILIARY TO A MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK IN A FULL OPEN POSITION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHOSE TRUNK LID DID NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION ONCE LIFTED, REGARDLESS OF AGE. *TR
TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 2002 LEXUS LS430. HE WAS ALERTED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED A VALVE SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. SM.
THE TRUNK LID OF A 2002 LEXUS LS430 LANDED ON MY WIFE'S HEAD CAUSING INJURY AND BLEEDING. GAS CYLINDERS ARE USED TO HOLD TRUNK LID UP WHICH FAILED. I COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS CYLINDERS HOLDING HOODS UP ON LEXUS AUTOMOBILES IN THE PAST AND YOU PEOPLE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I EVEN CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT IT BUT WENT UNACKNOWLEDGED. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY FALL DOWN OWN ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PISTONS THAT HELD UP THE TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PISTONS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
EQUIPMENT
TSB: This Service Bulletin includes procedures to replace damaged or loose front carpet floor retainer(s) without replacing the carpet assembly. Follow the Repair Procedure in this bulletin to replace the loose or damaged carpet floor retainer(s).
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Lexus.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.
ENGINE; POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:LUBRICANT
TSB: Vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. This bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. Cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty if applicable. Cases that are determined to be a ?seep? should be documented on the repair order and inspected at the next service interval. Follow the Repair Information in this bulletin to determine if the concern in question is a fluid leak or fluid seep and review the Repair Procedure section to address this condition.
STEERING
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE June 23, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0023-20.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.