2003 Lexus LS430 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 2003 Lexus LS430, 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
- Body & structure833.3%
- Driver assistance312.5%
- Tires & wheels312.5%
- Airbags312.5%
- Fuel system14.2%
- Interior & seats14.2%
- Seat belts14.2%
- Transmission14.2%
- Brakes14.2%
- Electrical14.2%
- Engine14.2%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRUNK STRUTS FAILED TO HOLD THE TRUNK IN AN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO FALL AND INJURE A PERSON. MULTIPLE TIMES. TRUNK WAS PROPERLY OPENED AND RAISED TO A FULL OPEN POSITION. *TR
THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO. *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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED (#2771757). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED UNLESS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE FAILURE, SHE COULD BRING IT IN, BUT IF THERE WAS NO MORE FAILURE SHE DID NOT HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) I WAS DRIVING EAST ON HIGHWAY 156 ON 2/26 APPROACHING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL THAT WAS RED WHERE I INTENDED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND WAS TRAVELING 10 TO 15 MPH WHEN THE CAR SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AT VERY HIGH SPEED. I SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION WHILE BRAKING AS HARD AS I COULD. THE CAR CONTINUED APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN. I COULDN'T EVEN ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS. [XXX] *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
CENTER CAP ON WHEEL FELL OFF; DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO HONOR NEW CAR WARRANTY. *JB
ORIGINAL DUNLOP TIRES ON2003, LEXUS LS, 430 WORE OUT AFTER17640 MILES. *AK
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
TAKATA RECALL
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE FRONT OF MY CAR MY MADE FULL CONTACT WITH THE REAR OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT LEAST 25 MPH IF NOT MORE BEFORE IMPACT. THE IMPACT RESULTED IN $10,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE LEXUS AND IT WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE LEXUS WAS DAMAGED FROM HEADLIGHT TO HEADLIGHT AND THE AIRBAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY. THE HOOD ALSO SUSTAINED DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE RADIATOR, YET THE AIRBAG(S) DID NOT DEPLOY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE GAS TANK ON THE 2003 LEXUS LS430 CAN BE EASILY DAMAGED BY CARELESS PLACEMENT OF THE JACK AT THE REAR MOUNTING POINT. MY CAR WAS RECENTLY DAMAGED THIS WAY AT DORSCHEL LEXUS (ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE ANY NUMBER OF SUCH CARS ON THE ROAD. PARTLY CRUSHED GAS TANKS MAY NOT BE NOTICEABLE TO THE OWNER UNLESS ONE LOOKS UNDER THE VEHICLE. THIS MAY PREDISPOSE THESE VEHICLES TO FUEL LEAKS AND EARLY CORROSION AROUND THE GAS TANKS.
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
THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO. *TR
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
CONSUMER STATES 4 1/2 YEAR OLD CHILD UNLOCKED THE SEAT BELT WHILE GETTING OUT. THE SEAT BELT HAD TIGHTEN AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT TO GET THE CHILD OUT AS IT CUT OFF HIS BREATHING. *AK THERE WAS NO RELEASE BUTTON WHICH COULD ALLOW HIM TO ESCAPE ONCE THE BELT TIGHTENED. *SCC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEVERE LOSS OF POWER (TRANSMISSION HESITATION) DURING FULL-THROTTLE DOWNSHIFT. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN IMMEDIATE POWER IS NEEDED, SUCH AS ENTERING A HIGH-SPEED EXPRESSWAY. *JB
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 2003 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE IN-BOUND AND THEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 45,000.
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
POOR RADIO RECEPTION ON MARK LEVINSON SOUND SYSTEM. *AK
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
2003 LEXUS LS430 SEIZED ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION!!! THE CAR HAS A LENGTHY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE UP-KEEP HISTORY WITH ONE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ONLY. I HAVE ALL THE PRINT OUTS SINCE OCT 2002 - 10,329.06 IN MINOR UPKEEP...AND OR OIL CHANGE, ETC REG. MAINTENANCE. I THINK THAT WE WERE CHARGED FOR A COUPLE OF RECALLED ITEMS LIKE A EXT. LIGHT BUT WE WEREN'T TOLD ANYWAY THE CAR HAS TO DATE..3/2/2010 NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE CAR HAS OIL/WATER AND WAS NOT DAMAGED. IT RAN FINE !!!!!!! NO OVER HEAT LIGHT, NO ACCELERATING...NOTHING LIKE THAT IT IS SUCH A SHAME. I AM UP BEAT AND WAS JUST LOOKING FOR PROBABLY SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A TPS OR FUSE... BUT HAS BEEN SAID BY LEXUS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I WAS SHOCKED THOUGH BECAUSE LEXUS DOES KNOW IT WILL BE 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS THOUGH TO REPAIR. (A NEW ENGINE) I HAVE PLEADED WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR HAS 130.000 MILES IT IS NOT THEIR RESP. TO HELP ME WITH A SOLUTION. MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES FROM LEXUS. WE HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS. WHY NOW ARE THEY TURNING THEIR BACKS??? PLEASE HELP ME I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AT A RATE OF $30 A DAY FROM ENTERPRISE AND A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO TEENAGERS. TUITION IS DUE AND THIS HAS LEFT ME STRUGGLING WITH WHAT TO DO?? THE CAR IS PAID FOR I AM ASKING FOR SOME ASSISTANCE AND ALSO TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS MODEL ALSO INHERITED THE PROBLEMS OF THE 2002 ENGINES SEIZING ISSUE BUT AT ANY RATE I AM OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE. *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 .