2003 Lexus LX470 Owner Complaints

MY 2003 LEXUS LX470 HAS FAULTY VGRS ECU. STEERING WHEEL SPINS TO 180 DEGREES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2018, WHEN I BACKED IT OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 DEGREES. I DROVE IT TO 35MPH W/ STEERING WHEEL AT CROOKED 25-MINUTE ANGLE AND ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN 180 DEGREES AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES, IT SETTLED AT 10-O'CLOCK ANGLE. ON 10/18/2018, MATTHEW OF THE ONE AUTO SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE (536 LISBON ST. DALY CITY, CALIF. (650)993-4689) PERFORMED WHEEL ALIGNMENTS & CORRECTED THE STEERING ANGLE THREE(3) TIMES. AFTER 5 HOURS, MATTHEW CALLED ME WHILE HE SAT INSIDE THE CAR IDLING AND HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. HE SHOWED ME HOW HE ZEROD OUT THE 'STEERING ANGLE'. HE SAID THE STEERING SENSOR (VGRS) IS MALFUNCTIONING OR THE ECU COMPUTER IS BAD. AND WHILE HE WAS TALKING, WE BOTH WITNESSED IN HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER THAT THE STEERING ANGLE CHANGED FROM O DEGREES TO 115 DEGREES'WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING AND STATIONARY. MATTHEW ALSO TOLD THAT HE EXPERIENCED THAT STEERING WHEEL SPINNING TO 180 DEGREES WHEN HE TEST DROVE THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 19, 2018, I PULLED THE SERVICE RECORD OF THE CAR AND I DISCOVERED THE SAME PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS: AT 27,215 MILES, 'GUEST STATES STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CENTERED WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.' AT 42,028 MILES, 'STEERING IS OFF'. AT 76,847 MILES, 'ALIGNMENT STEEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTERED.' AT 71,657 MILES, 'SERVICE: CENTER STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND VGRS.' AT 113,775 MILES, '' STEERING OFF CENTER'. ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 , ACCORDING TO DEAN DECASTRO (SERVICE ASST MGR LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE), ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 'STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED' IN THE SERVICE RECORDS ARE VGRS ISSUES. ON NOVEMBER 2, 2018, LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE DETERMINED THAT THE VGRS ECU OF THE CAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID

11149775

Incident

Oct 11, 2018

Mileage

2 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10967322

Incident

Jan 9, 2017

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHAFT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,500. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WITH GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD AND NO ACCIDENTS. I WAS HIGHLY TERRIFIED, SINCE THAT IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NEAR FATAL EVENT AFTER A ROUTINE SERVICE WITH LEXUS OF GLENDALE. THE PREVIOUS ONE OCCURRED IN MAY 2016, AFTER A ROUTINE SERVICES, AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE STREET IN COALINGA, I NOTED A MISTY FUMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I HAD PULLED OVER SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO FRESNO LEXUS, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE HOST TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAD COME LOOSE, AND THE FUMES WERE THE COOLANT AND NOT DUE TO ENGINE FIRE. I PAID OVER $1500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

10906959

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

260,401 mi

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ID

10906953

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

260,401 mi

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ID

10906948

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

260,401 mi

IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF THESE MADE ARE MISSING THE RELAYS FOR THE FOGLIGHTS AND REAR HEAT, AND PARKING BRAKES FREEZE UP.

NHTSA ID

10863110

Incident

Jul 1, 2003

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND GPS DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE WARNING INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GPS COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A REMEDY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V346000 (STEERING). THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10824907

Incident

Nov 10, 2010

Mileage

170,000 mi

THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE BETWEEN 10-60 MPH. THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON. THEN I NOTIFIED LEXUS COMPANY, AND THEY SAID "CONTACT THE DEALER". THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN--MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE, FOR FEAR OF SPEEDING OR OTHER SPEED PROBLEMS, AS WITH OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE LEXUS CERTIFIED DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THINK THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10763147

Incident

Jul 15, 2015

Mileage

76,230 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY LEXUS LX 470 TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014. WHILE DRIVING AROUND 45 MILES PER HOUR, MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER THE CUB. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND NERVOUS BUT LUCKILY SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS ON TIME. THE TRUCK STOPPED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE AND NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS BESIDE ME. AFTER RECOVERING FROM THE SHOCK, I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW A RED LIGHT WITH "VGRS" ILLUMINATED. I CALLED HOME AND TOLD MY HUSBAND THE SITUATION. HE ASKED ME TO STAY PUT AND BROUGHT ME OUR SECOND CAR. HE TOOK THE LEXUS HOME AND STARTED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. HE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINT ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND REALIZED THAT LEXUS COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TO BE SURE, HE TOOK THE TRUCK TO OUR FAMILY MECHANIC WHO LATER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT LEXUS NEW ABOUT IT FOR YEARS 2003 TO 2007. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE LEXUS COMPANY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR LS MODEL AND GENERATED A RECALL FOR IT. BUT FOR SOME REASON WE CANNOT EXPLAIN, LEXUS COMPANY DECIDED NOT TO RECALL THE LX MODEL. NOW THE PROBLEM ON THE LX MODEL ALMOST GET ME INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT. I NEED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO START AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GET KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10651451

Incident

Oct 26, 2014

Mileage

205,000 mi

ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME FOUND TO HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST EFFECTING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / SAFETY, CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS (BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION STRUCTURE), FRAME, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND STEERING LINKAGE. THIS IS GENERAL ATTACK CORROSION WITH STRUCTURAL FAILURE, CORROSION FATIGUE, ETC. THERE WERE / ARE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER ANY DEFINITION OF NORMAL USE TO EXPLAIN THIS DEGREE & EXTENT OF CORROSION OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637844

Incident

Aug 12, 2014

Mileage

101,000 mi

I STARTED THE CAR UP AFTER DINNER. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER FOUR WARNINGS LIGHTS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OFF (ABS VTRAC BRAKE VSC) FOLLOWED BY A LONG WARNING BUZZ AND THEN A COMPLETE LOST OF BRAKING POWER FROM THE PEDAL AND THE HANDBRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SO FOR SAFETY REASON I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER AT FIRST TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH COSTS ABOUT $3000 PLUS TAX. HOWEVER 30 MINUTES LATER THEY CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME NOW THE CAR IS WORKING FINE AFTER THEY'VE DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 5 MILES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS. SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AWAY WHILE I WAS GOING ABOUT 15MPH. AT FIRST THE FOUR LIGHTS WENT ON, AND THEN THE LONG BUZZ. THE CAR STILL HAD SOME BRAKE POWER WHICH I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT BACK INTO MY GARAGE WHEN THE BRAKE POWER THEN LOST COMPLETELY. I THINK WITH VEHICLE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WEIGHING ABOUT 3 TONS, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO HAVE SOME BRAKING POWER EVEN IF THE ELECTRONIC ONES WENT OUT. AND THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT AND "A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" FOR SUCH A HEAVY FAMILY VEHICLE MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF LEXUS CARS. I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER I SHOULD HAVE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED OR NOT, OR SHOULD I TRADE IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A SIMILAR RECALL FOR IS, RX, AND ES. WOULD THIS BE RELATED ALSO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10535774

Incident

Aug 2, 2013

Mileage

155,000 mi

2003 LEXUS LX 470. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO STEERING SAFETY RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, HE/SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SLIGHTLY OFF CENTERED AND THE VGRS INDICATOR LIGHT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED AND WOULD THEN DISAPPEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITHOUT ANY RECTIFICATION OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING A STEERING PROBLEM. WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE FLUID WAS FLUSHED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED NO INDICATOR LIGHT WAS ON AND THERE WAS NO SAFETY ISSUES THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS COMPLETELY OFF CENTERED WITH THE VGRS LIGHT ALSO ON. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS ASKED TO PAY OVER $1500 IN REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10427288

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR RECALL 10V346000 (STEERING: GEAR: SHAFT PITMAN). AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE STEERING. THE STEERING FAILED AT TIMES AND THE VGRS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT ONLY RECALL REPAIRS HAD BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO SENT TWO REPRESENTATIVES TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES. THE REPRESENTATIVES STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY AFTER THEY REPAIRED IT AGAIN (DID NOT SAY WHAT WAS REPAIRED). THE VEHICLE SOMEHOW SLIPPED OFF THE LIFT WHILE AT THE DEALER, HIT THE GROUND AND BOUNCED FOUR TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,299 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10393632

Incident

Feb 23, 2011

Mileage

129,299 mi

LEXUS LX 470 2003 DRIVER FOOT REST BREAKS AWAY AND GETS LODGES UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL PREVENTING SAFE STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373780

Incident

Dec 26, 2010

Mileage

91,000 mi

WE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM ON OUR LEXUS LX 470 SUV WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTER THE INITIAL REPAIR (GROUNDING WIRE?) THE SYSTEM AGAIN FAILED. THE SYSTEM WAS AGAIN REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WITH SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR A THIRD TIME ALMOST RESULTING IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (CHILDREN ON BOARD). THE DEALERSHIP CALLED IN THE FACTORY TECHNICIAN WHO DIAGNOSED A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUATOR?AS OF THIS TIME THE BRAKES ARE STILL NOT WORKING EVEN AFTER REPAIR OF THE ACTUATOR. THIS VEHICLE IS A DEATH TRAP WAITING TO HAPPEN. I WAS READING SOME TECHNICAL BULLETINS AND UNDERSTAND THAT SOME LEXUS SUVS HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH ISSUE. VEHICLES LIKE THIS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294102

Incident

Nov 17, 2009

Mileage

77,000 mi

THE CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW. *PH A NIGHT VISION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A FACTORY ADD ON, WAS INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE PLACEMENT OF THE HOUSING FOR THIS SYSTEM BLOCKED THE AIR FLOW. AS A RESULT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW IN THE VOLUME NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE ENGINEERING GUIDELINES AND THAT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. *NM

NHTSA ID

10061799

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

HEAD-ON COLLISION WHERE NO AIR BAGS WERE RELEASED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10049369

Incident

Dec 6, 2003

INCOMPATIBILITY WITH HIGHER-WEIGHT-LIMIT HARNESSED CHILD RESTRAINTS AND VEHICLE ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS. SPECIFICALLY TETHER ANCHOR WEIGHT LIMITS. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A 40 LB. WEIGHT LIMIT FOR TETHER ANCHORAGE (AS MANDATED IN FMVSS 213), WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL CR ON THE MARKET WHOSE HARNESSED WEIGHT LIMIT EXCEEDS 40 LBS, UP TO 80 LBS (SPECIFICALLY THE HUSKY, MARATHON & WIZARD MODELS BY BRITAX). THE CR MFR STATES THAT THE CR MUST BE TETHERED ABOVE 50 LBS. WHILE THE VEHICLE MFRS STATE A 40 LB WEIGHT LIMIT ON TETHER ANCHORAGES.

NHTSA ID

10037094

Incident

Sep 1, 2003