The 2004 Lexus GX470 has 1 safety recall and 65 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (17 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints65filed by owners
Crashes · fires10 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths9 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Air bags › Side/window
NHTSA recall 16V065000 · Feb 5, 2016 · 320,409 vehicles
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2004 Lexus GX470 4DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
GX 470
15mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Air bags
17
3
0
5
88,000 mi
Structure Body; Interior panels › Dashboard
15
1
0
0
101,618 mi
Power train Driveline › Driveshaft; Driveline
10
0
0
0
40,000 mi
Unknown or other
8
0
0
0
120,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
7
6
0
1
55,704 mi
Suspension
6
0
0
0
80,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor; Cooling system
3
0
0
0
—
Steering Hydraulic power assist system
3
1
0
2
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
3
1
0
0
—
Seats Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
3
0
0
2
—
Electronic stability control (esc)
2
1
0
0
—
Visibility
2
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Jun 10, 2023 · 67,000 miles · 1 injurySeats The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the driverâs side seat heater was activated on the high setting. The contact stated that the following morning he noticed small blisters on his back; medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage 67,000.
Jul 1, 2021 · 105,000 milesStructure › Interior panels › Dashboard The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed there was a crack on the dashboard. The contact was not sure what caused the dashboard to crack. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that there had been a Customer Support Program for the dashboard failure which expired in 2017. The contact had not been made aware of the special program. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
Apr 3, 2019Seat belts MY GX470 2004 HAS RUST ON FRAME, SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WILL COST MORE THAN VEHICLE. LEXUS SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THESE FRAMES FROM DANA OHIO IN THE RECALLS AS THE OTHERS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND RIMS ALL RUST OUT AND REPLACED AS WELL AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN IN SNOW OR BEACH AREAS. THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAVE THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WHICH MAKES THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON. AS NICE AND RELIABLE THESE VEHICLES WERE I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCT!
Mar 6, 2019 · 102,877 milesStructure › Body VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUST HOLE IN FRAME AND TRANSMISSION SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT WITH MATERIALS USED FOR THE FRAME, I WOULD EXPECT SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHERWISE, AFTER CLOSE TO 103,000 MILES. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE TOYOTA FRAME RUST ISSUES THAT WERE REPORTED SINCE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE GX SHARES THE SAME FRAME AS OTHER TOYOTA SUVS/TRUCKS. LEXUS REFUSED TO HELP W/ THE REPAIR ETC. AND THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I HAVE TO TOW IT OUT OF THEIR DEALERSHIP. ATTACHED, MY SHOP REVIEW,…
Jan 29, 2019Structure › Body PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING OFF LIKE PAPER ON MY 2004 GX 470 WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LEXUS PAINT I HAVE OWNED 3 LEXUS CARS NEVER HAD THIS TO HAPPEN TO THE OTHER CARS NEEDS HELP IN SANFORD NC
Dec 31, 2015 · 100,000 milesPower train THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AVAILABLE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE "ACTUATOR" REPLACEMENT PART # 36100-6D190, IS CRACKING AROUND 90,000 TO 100,000 MILES AND LEAKING OIL ON STREETS AND ANYWHRE YOU PARK. THE CAUSE IS FROM LEXUS SERVICE AT THE 100,000 MILE TUNE UP, IN MANY CASES, IF A OWNER HAS NEVER USED THEIR 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND SERVICE ENGAGES 4 WHEEL DRIVE DURING SERVICE AND THEN CRACKING THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN 10 YEARS. THAT WAS MY SITUATION, WHERE I DLEIVERED A PERFECT VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF GREENVILLE SC FOR 100,000 TUNE UP SERVICE, AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME LEAKING. IT WAS REPORTED IMMEDIATLY WITH NO RESULT TO FIX.…
Dec 1, 2018Air bags THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE DASHBOARD IS ALL CRACKED BUT MY PROBLEM IS THAT I DRIVE MY KIDS AND THERE IS A RECALL PROBLEM WITH SIDE CURTAIN-SHIELD-AIRBAGS (CSAS) WHICH DEPLOY FROM THE ROOF RAILS IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN TYPES OF CRASHES. I HAD CALL 2 DIFFERENT LEXUS AND THE HEADQUATERS AND THEY ALL THEM ME DIFFERENT THINGS. I JUST WANT THE DASHBOARD AND AIRBAGS TO BE FIX AS THIS IS A FAMILY BAG.
Nov 18, 2016 · 121,000 milesAir bags THE CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO 2 RECALLS. FIRST, A RECALL FOR THE SELF-DESTRUCTING DASHBOARD AND FOR THE CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAGS. THE COMPANY HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE PART IN ORDER TO PROCEED TO A REPLACEMENT OF THE AFFECTED PARTS.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.