The 1999 Lexus LS400 has 1 safety recall and 22 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (13 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints22filed by owners
Crashes · fires7 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths102 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting
NHTSA recall 06E026000 · Mar 23, 2006 · 61,944 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: 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.
Fix: 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.
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
16 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-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
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control Linkages; Accelerator pedal
13
6
0
102
57,934 mi
Electrical system Instrument cluster/panel
4
0
0
0
—
Tires Sidewall
2
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hood
2
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components
1
1
0
0
—
Power train
1
1
0
0
—
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
—
Steering
1
0
0
0
—
Interior lighting
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 4, 2012 · 130,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryVehicle speed control 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…
Aug 20, 2007 · 100,000 milesStructure › Body › Hood 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.
Jun 10, 2010Electrical system 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
Sep 11, 2008 · 91,080 milesVehicle speed control 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
Dec 22, 2009 · 90,000 milesElectrical system › Instrument cluster/panel 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
Dec 20, 2009 · 90,000 milesElectrical system 1999 400LS LEXUS DASH PANEL DEFECTIVE. *TR
Mar 15, 2000 · 10,000 milesVehicle speed control 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
May 15, 2002 · 50,000 miles · crashVehicle speed control 1999 LEXUS LS 400. SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TR
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
DP03003 · opened Jul 17, 2003 · closed Sep 23, 2003UNINTENDED ENGINE SPEED INCREASE/SA ON MAY 13, 2003 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED AN APRIL 25, 2003 LETTER FROM MR. PETER BODDAERT PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT A PETITION ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR LEXUS 300 AND 400 SERIES VEHICLES FOR PROBLEMS OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED EXCESSIVE (VEHICLE) ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PRESSURE [SIC]APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION, MR. BODDAERT CITES A NUMBER OF ODI REPORTS CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INCLUDED AMONGST THE THIRTY-SIX REPORTS HE CITES IS ONE INVOLVING A LEXUS THAT COLLIDED WITH FIVE OTHER CARS IN THE SPACE OF ONE-HALF MILE BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED.ODI FOUND NO DATA INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND RELATED TO THE PETITIONER'S ALLEGATIONS AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASONABLE…