2001 Lexus LS430

Routine

Owners filed 52 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body › trunk lid. No safety recall has been issued.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

36 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 30,00040,000 miles; the median is 61,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid7
0010
Latches/Locks/Linkages5
001
Vehicle Speed Control4
302
Electrical System3
001
Unknown or Other2
001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
100
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling2
010
Air Bags2
201
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Exterior1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Tires
Filed Dec 28, 2022114,656 milesFL

The contact owns a 2001 Lexus LS430 equipped with Cooper Tires, Tire Line: Evolution Tour, Tire Size: 225/60/R16, DOT Number: U9X31LP4619. The contact stated that she felt the vehicle wobble while driving and noticed that the rear driver’s side tire tread belt had separated after the tires were rotated and balanced at a tire shop. The contact took the vehicle back to the tire shop and was informed that the rear driver’s side tire needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired with another brand of tire. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,656.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 10, 201940,000 milesNY

PNEUMATIC CYLINDERS DESIGNED TO HOLD TRUNK OPEN FAILED CAUSING TRUNK TO CLOSE WHEN IN USE ENDANGERING PERSON USING TRUNK

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 7, 2016VA

THE BASS OF THE SPEAKER IN THE REAR OF THE CAR IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS YEAR / MAKE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR THEM AS WELL. SPECIFICALLY, THE SPEAKER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE WOBBLY SOUND IT MAKES

Unknown or Other1 injured
Filed May 22, 2015110,000 milesAR

THE TRUNK STRUTS FAILED TO SUPPORT THE TRUNK AND SLAMMED SHUT AS I WAS RETRIEVING GROCERIES OUT OF THE TRUNK. IT LEFT A VERY NASTY BUMP ON THE BACK OF MY HEAD. IT NO LONGER SUPPORTS THE TRUNK LID WEIGHT AT ALL. IT IS DANGEROUS AND I MUST ALWAYS HOLD IT OPEN WITH ONE HAND AND THE TRUNK IS HEAVY. I HAVE BUMPED MY HEAD AND HANDS MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE TRUNK COMES DOWN.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemCrash
Filed Mar 28, 2015173,560 milesSC

THE DRIVER/OWNER OF THE LEXUS LS 430 WAS PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPOT BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT A PRIVATE CLUB. IT WAS STRAIGHT IN PARKING BEHIND A GMC YUKON. IN PULLING INTO THE SPOT, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT OVER A CURB, AND SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE A ROCKET. THE DRIVER STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND NOTHING WOULD STOP IT. SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT ONE FOOT AWAY FROM THE PARKED YUKON, THE LEXUS WAS STOPPED BY THE IMPACT. THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO REAR BUMPER OF THE YUKON AND THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE LEXUS AS WELL AS AN A/M REINFORCEMENT BEAM AND OTHER EXTERNAL DAMAGE. AS OF THIS DATE, DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE OF THE LEXUS IS UNDETERMINED. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 10, 2015150,000 milesMD

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE CAR ACCELERATES RATHER THAN STOPPING. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN JULY 2006 RIGHT AFTER I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR. THAT TIME I ACCELERATED INTO THE BACK OF A POLICE CAR AND DID A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN OVER 120,000 MILES AND 9 YEARS WITHOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND BEGAN TO MOVE WHEN A CONSTRUCTION WORKER JUMPED IN FRONT OF MY CAR TO HAVE ME STOP AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ACROSS 4 LANES AND STOPPED BEFORE I WENT UP ON THE CURB AND HIT A BUILDING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER'S ANKLE WAS BROKEN AND NOW I AM BEING SUED. I HAD MY MECHANIC CHECK THE PROBLEM LAST TIME AND HE COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THIS CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED LAST TIME AND THIS TIME FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT BEEN. *TR

Electrical System1 injured
Filed May 27, 2014100,000 milesOR

IN THE COURSE OF OPENING THE CLOSED CAR TRUNK LID IN ORDER TO RETRIEVE THE GROCERIES THAT WERE INSIDE THE TRUNK, , I PULLED IT UP BY ITS LOWER EDGE USING THE RING FINGER OF MY RIGHT HAND. WITHOUT WARNING OR REASON FOR IT TO DO SO, THE ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC POWER TRUNK LID CLOSER MECHANISM OPERATED AND SHUT THE LID, CRUSHING AND MANGLING MY FINGER BONE AND FINGER NAIL, AND CAUSING EXCRUCIATING PAIN AND PERMANENT DISFIGUREMENT. I AM TOLD BY THE DOCTOR WHO HAS BEEN TREATING MY FINGER THAT THE FINGER SORENESS AND PAIN IS ALSO A PERMANENT CONDITION. *TR

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 3, 201231,195 milesCA

I TURNED AROUND IN A PARKING LOT BY BACKING UP AND REVERSING MY DIRECTION, AFTER I REVERSED MY DIRECTION THE CAR SHOT FORWARD WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I KEPT PUMPING THE BRAKE HOPING IT WOULD STOP AND I SHOT OUT OF THE PARKING LOT INTO THE LINE OF TRAFFIC AND AVOIDED TWO LANES OF CARS DRIVING WEST UNTIL I COLLIDED WITH A CAR HEADING EAST. IT RIPPED OFF THE FRONT BUMPERS OF BOTH CARS. I FELT TRAPPED IN THE CAR AND COULD NOT CONTROL IT. IT JUST KEPT ACCELERATING. I WISH THAT I HAD THE PRESENCEOF MIND TO TURN OFF THE KEY OR PUSH THE AUTOMATIC LEVER TO NEUTRAL OR EVEN REVERSE. BUT IT ALL HAPPENED IN A FEW SECONDS AND I JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO DO ANYTHING BUT STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. JUST ONCE BEFORE, SOME MONTHS AGO, I WAS PARKING THE CAR IN A PUBLIC GARAGE AND IT ACCELERATED QUICKLY ASI REACHED AN OFF RAMP. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NEGOTIATE THE CAR AROUND THE CORNER ONTO THE RAMP. IT SCARED ME, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A FREAK INCIDENT AND THOUGHT NO MORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN ONCE I WENT ROUND THE CORNER. BUT THIS LATEST TIME I COULDN'T STOP IT AND THE CAR IS A TOTAL WRECK. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jul 7, 201154,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED IT EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND IT HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Structure
Filed Feb 21, 201165,000 milesMI

THE TRUNK DECK LID ON MY 2001 LEXUS LS430 WILL NOT STAY OPEN. THE TRUNK STRUTS HAVE FAILED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. THE PROBLEM STARTED APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AGO WITH 63,000 MILES. THE TRUNK DECK LID HAS FALLEN ON MY HEAD. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jul 17, 201055,000 milesCA

CAN NOT OPEN DRIVERS DOOR FROM INSIDE. *TR

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Jul 17, 201054,000 milesCA

LEXUS 430LS LEXUS TRUNK STRUT FAILURE. 55000 MILES ON ODOMETER. TRUNK LID FELL ON HEAD CREATING BUMP. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 23, 201085,000 milesCA

RADIATOR CRACKED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 16, 2010PA

I OWNED A 2001 LEXUS LS430 FROM 2001 TO 2004. DURING THAT TIME, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE BY ITSELF WHEN GOING SLOWLY - DOWN MY DRIVEWAY, INTO MY GARAGE, OUT OF MY GARAGE, PULLING UP THE DRIVEWAY. IT ONLY HAPPENED WHEN GOING VERY SLOWLY - SAY FIVE MILES AN HOUR OR LESS - BUT IT CONSISTENTLY HAPPENED. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEY SAID, "WE DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING." I WASN'T REALLY CONCERNED SINCE I WAS USUALLY ONLY GOING AROUND FIVE MILES AN HOUR, AND I WOULD DEPRESS THE BRAKE FIRMLY TO NOT GO FASTER, BUT IT HAPPENED OFTEN. I EVENTUALLY SOLD THE CAR. I WONDER IF THAT CAR HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THE RECALLED ONES? DON'T KNOW IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING OR IF THE SOFTWARE RUNNING THE ENGINE WAS REVVING IT UP. IT SEEMED LIKE THE GAS PEDAL WOULD ACTUALLY DEPRESS ON ITS OWN WHEN THIS HAPPENED. *TR

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed Feb 11, 2010GA

LEXUS FLOORMATS, SAME PROBLEM AS TOYOTA, UNABLE TO CONNECT TO FLOOR, THEY SLIDE AND GET UNDER ACCELERATOR... *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Feb 4, 201043,000 milesCA

APPROACHED AN INTERSECTION WITH A RED LIGHT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH. WHEN I PRESSED MY BRAKES FROM ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY, MY 2001 LEXUS LS430 SUDDENLY SURGED. I HAD TWO FEET ON THE BRAKE AND ALSO TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, THEN PARK. THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH WHEN I REAR-ENDED SOMEONE BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS USING THE FLOOR MAT THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS FASTENED. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA THE DAY AFTER THE ACCIDENT, AND RECEIVED A RESPONSE ON JAN. 21, 2010. TOYOTA STATED IN THE LETTER THAT THEY FOUND NO STICKING OF THE ACCELERATOR AND THAT IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR BOTH THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE TO FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Feb 1, 2010133,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR SUDDENLY OPENED. HE PULLED OVER AND CLOSED IT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DOOR LATCH SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 133,000.

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid5 injured
Filed Jan 8, 201090,000 milesMD

TRUNK STRUTS ON LEXUS LS430 2001 MODEL FAILS RESULTING IN TRUNK LID FALLING ON HANDS, HEADS, AND BODIES. *TR

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Dec 24, 2009NV

LIFT SUPPORTS UNABLE TO SUPPORT TRUNK. IN 2006 LEXUS LAS VEGAS, NV QUOTED US $750.00 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FOUND THE COST PROHIBITIVE AND DECIDED TO MAKE DO WITH PROPPING-UP TRUNK WITH WOODEN STICK EACH TIME WE OPEN. WE ARE A RETIRED COUPLE IN OUR LATE SIXTIES, WE FIND THE PROPPING-UP PHYSICALLY TAXING AND CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. YESTERDAY, WERE IT NOT FOR MY WIFE'S FAST REFLEX, HER HEAD WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY SMASHED WHEN A GUST OF WIND SLAMMED THE PROPPED-UP TRUNK. *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Nov 10, 2009125,000 milesTX

REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED AND THE DOOR NO LONGER CLOSES. DEALER SAID THE PLASTIC LATCH DETERIORATED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE BUT THERE IS NO SERVICE BULLETIN ON IT. LOOKS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE WHY THE DOOR LATCH IS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND THE DOOR CAN ACTUALLY OPEN WHILE IN MOTION. *TR

20 of 52 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2001
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200521011Fatalities reported
200428200Routine
200323000Routine
200230010Routine
2001 — this page52010Routine

Compare every LS430 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.