Model year record

2004 Lexus LS430 recalls & problems

The 2004 Lexus LS430 has 2 safety recalls and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (5 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints28filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJul 1, 2004

Automatic transmission

Recall 04V31700013,000 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM.
Risk: THIS MAY CAUSE THE PARKING LOCK SYSTEM TO BE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

Fuel system, gasolineJun 25, 2004

Delivery › Fuel pump

Recall 04V29500014,259 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE IMPELLER INSIDE THE FUEL PUMP MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MOLDED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR. ALCOHOL IN SOME FUELS MAY DEFORM THE IMPELLER AND CAUSE IT TO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE PUMP HOUSING.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE ROTATIONAL RESISTANCE OF THE IMPELLER AND, IN THE WORST CASE, MAY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP. OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN JULY, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

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 LS430 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot 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

LS 430

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 23 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.3 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S6) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/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	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control	5	3	1	42,500 mi
Exterior lightingHeadlights	4	0	0	75,000 mi
SteeringLinkages › Tie rod assembly	3	0	0	117,000 mi
StructureBody	3	0	1	74,000 mi
TiresPressure monitoring and regulating systems	2	0	0	—
Engine and engine coolingEngine	2	0	0	—
Wheels	2	0	0	—
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	2	1	0	—
Visibility	2	0	0	—
Service brakes, air	1	0	0	—
Parking brakeConventional	1	0	0	—
Equipment	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Steering
TAKATA RECALL IT WAS RAINING I WAS COMING OUT OF ANTLOCH CHURCH RD TO TURNING ON AUGUSTA RD PEIDMONT SC 29673 WHEN I HEAR A BIG BOOM AND PULL OVER AT THE SPINX TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND HAD THREE BIG POTHOLES IN THE ROAD I COULD SEE THAT MY WHEELS WAS BENT AND ALSO IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT.
May 20, 2017 · 117,000 miles
Vehicle speed controlCrash
WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED (2 MPH) CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. OPERATOR'S FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS BEING TURNED TO THE RIGHT COMING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THERE WAS A HIGH CURB (~10 INCHES HIGH) AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND A MEDIAN BUT THE CAR JUMPED OVER THIS AND STRUCK THE PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDIAN.
Feb 22, 2017 · 151,000 miles
Exterior lighting
I HIT A LARGE DOG WHILE DRIVING ONE NIGHT AND BUSTED MY FRONT BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE PERTLY GOOD. HAD BUMPER, FOG LIGHTS REPLACED, CAR LOOKS DAM GOOD. SINCE I AM AN OLDER PERSON, RETIRED AND DRIVE MOSTLY DURING THE DAY, IT WAS A WHILE BEFORE I NOTICED MY BRIGHT LIGHTS SHINE DIRECTLY ON THE GROUND ABOUT 20 TO 30 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR . I HAVE HAD THE CHARLESTON SC LEXUS DEALER TRY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT. I TOOK IT IN TO LEXUS OF MOBILE ON TWO OCCASION TO TRY AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM, ALL THEY COULD DO WAS TRY TO ADJUST THE THE BRIGHT LIGHT, BUT THE BRIGHT LIGHTS STILL SHINES DIRECTLY 20 TO 30 FEET ON THE GROUND, BUT WAS UNABLE TO,…
Sep 29, 2014 · 96,000 miles
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MLEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *CN
Jun 15, 2010
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MULTI DISPLAY FUNCTION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
May 25, 2016 · 143,000 miles
Steering
THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 5 OTHER TIMES, HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS. THE CAR WILL NOT START IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT EXACTLY LEVEL, TIRES STRAIGHT. I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL OVER AND OVER AND OVER TO TRY TO MOVE IT AN INCH SO IT WILL START. THIS TIME TOOK ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER, AND IT MIRACULOUSLY STARTED. HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT DOES THIS AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. MOST IRRITATING AND DANGEROUS IF I AM ALONE AWAY FROM HOME. *TR
Oct 15, 2014 · 120,000 miles
Structure › Body1 injury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS 430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE TRUNK LID UNEXPECTEDLY SLAMMED SHUT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER FINGER AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Jan 4, 2012 · 74,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AND SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THE FUEL PUMP WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V295000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,200.
Nov 26, 2011 · 100,200 miles

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