Model year record

1996 Lexus LS400 recalls & problems

The 1996 Lexus LS400 has 2 safety recalls and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (4 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingMay 24, 2006

Exterior lighting

Recall 06E04900027,176 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE 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.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

Electrical systemJan 27, 1998

Starter assembly

Recall 98V01600047,525 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO IMPROPER ASSEMBLY OF THE TERMINAL FOR THE STARTER MOTOR MAGNETIC SWITCH, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT CAN OCCUR IF ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE LIQUID, SUCH AS ROAD SPLASH WITH DEICING SALT, ENTERS THIS AREA.
Risk: A STARTER MOTOR NO-START CONDITION OR AN UNDERHOOD FIRE CAN RESULT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH.

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.

Fuel economy

LS 400

19mpg combined

City / highway	17 / 24 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/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	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor	4	0	0	—
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery	3	0	1	—
Unknown or other	2	1	0	—
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Windshield	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	1	0	—
TiresTread/belt	2	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	2	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights	1	0	0	—
EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.	1	0	0	—
WheelsRim	1	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist system	1	1	0	—
Vehicle speed control	1	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine and engine coolingCrash
PER LEXUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EG002-97, WHICH DOESN'T APPEAR ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE BUT WHICH CAN BE FOUND ONLINE BY CLICKING ON THE LINK FROM POST #77 AT THIS WEB PAGE: HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/TOPIC/15699-9596-LS400-LOW-IDLE-ENGINE-DIES-AND-JERKING-THRE/PAGE-6 MY '96 LS400 HAS THE SAME ENGINE-STALL-AT-IDLE-AFTER-CONTINUOUS-LONG-DRIVE PROBLEM AS EVERY OTHER EARLY PRODUCTION CAR MADE WITH VINS BEFORE [XXX]. GO ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVE 50 MILES, EXIT, THE CAR IDLE SPEED DROPS TO WHERE THE CAR STALLS OUT. PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN THE KEY, IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, NO MORE PROBLEM. OR, DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVE 50 MILES, ENCOUNTER STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS TO…
Nov 7, 2015 · 116,500 miles
Unknown or otherCrash
THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR REPORTING/DISPLAYING VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS FOR MY 96 LEXUS LS400 (SAFERCAR.GOV) SHOWS THERE WERE ONLY 12 SERVICE BULLETINS, YET IN FACT THERE WERE MANY MANY MORE NOT SHOWN ON THE NHTSA SITE. GOING TO THE SITE WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/96310210.HTML ONE CAN SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF SERVICE BULLETINS, 108 BY MY COUNT. A SIMILAR DISPARITY IN LISTS APPLIES TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THE 95 LS400, WHICH ON WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/95310210.HTML SHOWS 128 SERVICE BULLETINS APPLY, BUT A NHTSA WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV SEARCH ONLY SHOWS 12, SAME NUMBER IT SHOWS FOR 96. NOW OBVIOUSLY THE TWO YEARS AREN'T IN REALITY GOING TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF SERVICE BULLETINS, YET THAT IS…
Nov 7, 2015 · 116,000 miles
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/18*JB *TR
Jun 13, 2000 · 116,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN FREEWAY STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR. DROVE STRAIGHT TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE SEAMS OF THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT OPEN. SINCE THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK THE FUEL DRAINED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WAS SPILLING OUT ON THE DRIVE OF THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I ARRIVED. TEJAS TOYOTA IN HUMBLE, TX. THE DEALER PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REMOTE LOCATION ON THEIR LOT DUE TO THE GREAT POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION. I CONTACTED LEXUS TO NOTIFY OF THE SITUATION, RECEIVED AN INCIDENT NUMBER. CAR WAS REPAIRED, WHEN COMPLETE I NOTIFIED LEXUS, THEY SEEMED NOT TO CARE MUCH, OFFERED TO MAKE ME AN APPOINTMENT AT A LEXUS…
Mar 1, 2013 · 109,489 miles
Electrical systemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE POSITIVE POST. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V016000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STARTER ASSEMBLY). HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE STARTER, BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT…
Mar 31, 2011 · 170,000 miles
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
VEHICLE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTING. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT GO BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER IT WAS EXTENDED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
Mar 25, 2004 · 100,000 miles
Vehicle speed controlCrash
SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK
Jan 27, 2004 · 83,231 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER 5 TIMES BEFORE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED.*AK
Jun 1, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.