1999 Lexus LS400

Routine

Owners filed 22 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 Control10
503
Structure › Body › Hood2
000
Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel2
000
Electrical System2
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Linkages1
100
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000
Tires › Sidewall1
000
Tires1
000
Seat Belts1
000
Power Train1
100

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 5, 2012130,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE DUE TO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES AS WELL AS AN INJURED KNEE OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STRUCK. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, HE WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE TYPE OF FAILURE HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 02/19/13

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Sep 1, 2010100,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WORKING UNDER THE HOOD IT STARTED CLOSING CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. TOYOTA WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Electrical System
Filed Jun 25, 2010VA

OUR 1999LS400 LEXUS IS EXPERIENCING MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASH. THE ODOMETER AND THE SPEEDOMETER ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. LEXUS WANTS 1200.00 TO PULL OUT DASH AND SEND AWAY TO REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE REPLACING WHAT AND ARE THEY CERTIFIED LEXUS MECHANICS??? ARE THESE EARLY MODEL LS400'S HAVING ELECTRONICS PROBLEMS OR IS THIS JUST A SINGLE CASE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 12, 201091,080 milesCA

I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT MIGHT PROVIDE A CLUE TO THE TOYOTA RACING ENGINE PROBLEM. ON EACH OF TWO DAYS BEFORE I TOOK MY 1999 LEXUS 400 TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AT AN ESTIMATED 4,000+ RPMS AND EMITTED A GRINDING SOUND AS THE CAR WAS STARTED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY, THE CAR WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. STRANGELY, THE DEALER DID NOT RECORD THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT, BUT STATED THAT DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT STARTER WAS FAILING. I WAS CHARGED $990 FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORY ANSWER AS TO WHY A FAULTY STARTER WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RACE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR OVER 10,000 MILES SINCE THEN WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 1, 201090,000 milesVA

1999 400LS LEXUS DASH PANEL DEFECTIVE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Mar 1, 201090,000 milesVA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LS400. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE SHE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL WOULD NO LONGER FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90000. UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 16, 201010,000 milesCA

I'M WRITING THIS IN THE HOPES THAT IT MAY BE OF SOME HELP IN TOYOTAS BRAKE PROBLEM. MY 1999 LEXUS LS400 WOULD LOOSE THROTTLE CONTROL, THE ENGINE SPEED WOULD DROP TO IDLE REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS DONE TO THE THROTTLE ITSELF. AFTER 3 TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR WOULD NOT WORK IF IT HAD BECOME WET. THEY REPLACED THE TPS AND THAT CURED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 3, 201050,000 milesNY

1999 LEXUS LS 400. SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed May 29, 200880,000 milesCA

THE SEAT BELTS ON MY CAR DO NOT RETRACT OR STAY TIGHT ON ME ANYMORE. THEY CONTINUE TO LOOSEN AS I DRIVE. THEY ARE STIFF ALMOST BRITTLE. THE STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT MOVE OUT LIKE IT USED TO. NOW IT MOVES AWAY FROM THE DASH IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION TOWARD MY FACE. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Jan 31, 2007CA

WE HAVE OWNED 3 LEXUS AND ALL 3 OF THEM HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DIGITAL RADIO PRINT OUT. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY WOULD REPLACE IT FOR OVER $500.00. WE ALSO CONTACTED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO REPLACE IT. IT SEEM TO ME THAT SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A RADIO THAT WORKS.

Power TrainCrash
Filed Aug 16, 200539,121 milesCA

WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A SHOPPPING CENTER PARKING PLACE THAT WAS PERPENDICULAR TO THE STREET, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LUNGED OVER THE CURB AND ACROSS THE SIDEWALK INTO A BUILDING. LEXUS HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND INTIMATED THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Jul 25, 200546,000 milesTN

LEXUS LS 400 1999 MODEL. DANGEROUS HESITATION UPON ACCELERATION. FURTHER AFTER DRIVING THIS CAR FOR TWO YEARS, I HAVE NECK PAINS FROM THE DAILY WHIPLASH. TOYOTA IS IGRNORING THIS SYSTEM WIDE. IT IS AN OUTRAGE. ITS DAMAGING PEOPLES NECKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT - THEY CLAIM ITS NORMAL. OTHER DEALERS ARE TELLING CUSTOMERS ABOUT IT - - MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE MY CAR - IT'S DANGEROUS!

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Nov 3, 200489,000 milesNC

WHILE WORKING ON THE VEHICLE, THE HOOD FELL DOWN ON THE CONSUMER. *JB THE PISTONS IN THE HOOD WERE NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO HOLD THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. *SC

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Aug 16, 200465,869 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, SLOWLY, WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, WENT OVER THE CURB AND INTO THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control › LinkagesCrash
Filed May 30, 2003MA

PETITION SEEKING NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE THE LEXUS VEHICLES MODEL YEARS 1997 TO 2000 WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *MR THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO REAR END THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIS. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A POLICE CITATION. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM (ODI# 760680). *SCC *NLM

Tires
Filed Aug 30, 2002NV

RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A 1999, LEXUS LS400. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P225/60R16, DOT# ELA6 CBC528. MANUFACTURER AND TIRE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK *YH

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 14, 2002MA

ENGINE REVS TO EXTREMELY HIGH RPM ( ~5000 ) WITH NO THROTTLE INPUT FROM DRIVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE RECENTLY . THE SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS AFTER ENGAGING REVERSE GEAR. FORTUNATELY THE BREAKS WERE ABLE TO RESTRAIN THE VEHICLE. IN NEITHER INCIDENT WAS MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR.*AK

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 13, 2001NJ

IT WAS RAINING AND I WAS ENTERING HIGHWAY, I HAD MY LEFT TURN SIGNAL ON AND STARTED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND WHEN INTO A 360 DEGREE SPIN, MAYBE TWICE, AT LEAST 1 1/2 TIMES. WHEN I CAME OUT OF SPIN I CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT MEDIAN. AT NO TIME DID THE VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) ACTIVATE. IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN'T MISS. A LOUND WARNING SOUND COMES ON AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP WITH A SKID WARNING. IT HAD HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN THE SNOW.*AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Sep 26, 2001NJ

THE THROTTLE SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP WHILE DRIVING OR CAUSING IT TO START BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT REV WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE GREASE FROM THE THROTTLE CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN MIGRATE DOWN ONTO THE THROTTLE SENSOR INTERFERING WITH ITS OPERATION. NLM

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Aug 4, 2000CA

FIRESTONE TURANZA ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON A LEXUS LS400 1999. WHILE DRIVING 75MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE'S AIR WENT OUT. TREAD WAS STILL ON THE TIRE, BUT SIDEWALL WAS GONE. *AK THE TIRE IS DOT ELA6 (CBC 218) # 035629 MADE IN JAPAN. IT FAILED DUE TO POOR MATERIAL, POOR ADHESIVE AND WORKMANSHIP. *YH

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20012100Routine
200012100Routine
1999 — this page22100Routine
199845100Routine
199713210Routine
199619210Routine
199539200Routine
199468000Routine
199365010Routine
19928000Routine
199121010Routine
199024110Routine

Compare every LS400 year →

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: Mar 23, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.