RoadVitals

1998 Lexus LX470

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
5
Latest Apr 10, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 8, 2004
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Lexus LX470, most frequently naming the brakes and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 68 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes480.0%
  • Visibility120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
04V434000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Sep 8, 2004
75,395 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT MEET LUMINOUS INTENSITY STANDARD.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD BLIND THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE JUNE 10, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Manufacturer number SSC 5LBView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 10, 2018

SAFETY ISSUE: INTERMITTENT SUDDEN COMPLETE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAVE A SUDDEN COMPLETELY ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE ON APRIL 06, 2018. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT STOP WHILE DRIVING ON APRIL 6, 2018. THE DASHBOARD ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT PLUS THE ANNOYING ALARM OUT OF THE BLUE ON APRIL 06, 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BUTLER LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON APRIL 06, 2018. WITHOUT ANY REPAIRED DONE BY BUTLER LEXUS DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 10, 2018, NOW THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM WORKS AGAIN AND DASHBOARD ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT PLUS ANNOYING ALARM OUT OF THE BLUE GOING AWAY ON APRIL 10, 018 @ BUTLER LEXUS DEALERSHIP PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ID
11084360
Incident
Apr 10, 2018
Mileage
240,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 8, 2018

SUDDEN COMPLETE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE. NO BRAKE AT ALL. VEHICLE CAN NOT STOP WHILE DRIVING.VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND DANGEROUS. THE DASHBOARD ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH PLUS THE ANNOYING ALARM OUT OF THE BLUE.

NHTSA ID
11083892
Incident
Apr 6, 2018
Mileage
240,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 19, 2011
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN AUDIBLE BRAKE ALARM BEGUN TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE ALARM TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP UNTIL CRASHING INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, A THIRD VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE CRASH. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE DRIVERS OF THE TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. AN ENGINEER, SENT BY THE MANUFACTURER, EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

NHTSA ID
10413515
Incident
Apr 19, 2010
Mileage
200,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2000

THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDS TO BE "PUMPED" TO OBTAIN SATISFACTORY PEDAL HEIGHT. UPON FIRST APPLICATION AT A STOP THE PEDAL TRAVELS FURTHER THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT, IF A SECOND APPLICATION IS GIVEN THE PEDAL HEIGHT WILL BE MUCH HIGHER FOR THE SAME AMOUNT OF BRAKING FORCE. THIS CAN CAUSE ABRUPT STOPS FOR ONE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE CAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAYS " THEY ALL DO THAT". AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, THAT IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER TO ME. YOUR HELP IS REQUESTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
722566
Incident
Jul 25, 1998
Visibility
Filed Feb 1, 1999

AUTOMATIC HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
605902

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Safety Recall 22

EQUIPMENT

Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022

Lexus PRO19-02 -

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.

Lexus Safety Re

EQUIPMENT

Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

L-SB-0008-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003 93, and PG002-90. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1990 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin.

L-SB-0179-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

L-SB-0048-08 Obs

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Lexus LX470 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2007310—
2006930—
2005830—
2004123045.0
2003183043.4
2002510—
2001510—
2000171042.6
1999141038.1
1998Viewing510—

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.