Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1998 Lexus LS

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Oct 18, 2006140,000 milesNC

VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING. I OWN A 1998 LS400 THAT HAS TROUBLE STARTING. THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES(20) TO GET THE STARTER TO TURN. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V016000 REGARDING THE 1995-1997 LS400 FOR STARTER ASSEMBLY DUE TO FAULTY ASSEMBLY FOR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH WOULD APPLY TO THE 1998 I WOULD ASSUME(SINCE THE 1998 WERE ASSEMBLED IN 1997). PLEASE ADVISE. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 17, 200682,000 milesGA

WHEN TRYING TO STOP MY 1998 LEXUS LS 400 IN MY GARAGE THIS MORNING, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON EVEN HARDER AND THE CAR SURGED EVEN MORE FORWARD. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING AND I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TOTALLY STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER THE INCIDENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20251200Routine
20240200Routine
20231200Routine
20215100Routine
20200100Routine
20191100Routine
201814200Routine
20165000Routine
20152000Routine
20143000Routine
20135000Routine
20125000Routine
20119000Routine
20108000Routine
200913000Routine
200843110Routine
200745100Routine
200617100Routine
20055200Routine
20048200Routine
20031100Routine
20027200Routine
20013200Routine
20001200Routine
19993100Routine
1998 — this page2100Routine
19971010Routine
19961000Routine
19952000Routine
19944000Routine

Compare every LS year →

Other Lexus models

All Lexus models →
ES350 1,451RX 945RX350 838RX300 722IS 250 719ES300 681ES 665IS 595RX330 526ES330 380

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.