Problem: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT MEET LUMINOUS INTENSITY STANDARD.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD BLIND THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE JUNE 10, 2005. OWNERS 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.
Fuel economy
LX 470
13mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 15 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.7 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/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*
Service brakes
3
0
0
0
225,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
2
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
2
0
0
0
—
Structure Frame and members; Frame and members › Underbody shields
2
0
0
0
—
Air bags Frontal
1
1
0
0
—
Power train Automatic transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Equipment Electrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc.
1
0
0
0
—
Visibility Sun/moon roof assembly
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, gasoline
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
Apr 1, 2022 · 134,000 milesStructure › Frame and members › Underbody shields The contact owns a 1999 Lexus LX470. The contact stated that after a vehicle inspection, it was discovered that the subframe of the vehicle had sustained severe corrosion making the vehicle unsafe to drive. The cause of the corrosion was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000.
Sep 17, 2015 · 254,000 milesService brakes I WAS WAITING AT A STOPLIGHT BEHIND A HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC AND STOPPING AND GOING AS THE LIGHT LET VEHICLES THROUGH. MY ABS LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH A LOUD CONSISTENT ALARM. I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE LIGHT AND PULLED OVER AT THE NEAREST PARKING LOT. AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO APPLY SIGNIFICANT FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. IN THE PARKING LOT UNDER SAFE CONDITIONS I TESTED THE MINIMAL BRAKING I HAD LEFT AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE HOME. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL SHOP AND THE ISSUE WAS DIAGNOSED AS THE ABS ACCUMULATOR PUMP HAD FAILED (HAD COMPLETELY SEIZED UP). THIS SEEMS…
Sep 10, 2015 · 225,000 milesService brakes STARTED VEHICLE....ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS AN AUDIBLE BUZZER. DROVE THE TRUCK 3 MILES AND LOST ALL BRAKES, PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND HAD TO USE HAND BRAKE (EMERGENCY BRAKE) TO GET STOPPED.
Jul 20, 2015 · 106,000 milesService brakes THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVING NORMALLY ON THE FREEWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. SUDDENLY, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS BY A BEEPING ALARM. THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AT THE NEXT EXIT AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 1 BLOCK INTO A PARKING LOT. ONCE IN THE PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE WAS WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. FURTHER TESTING FOUND THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE PEDAL WOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR WITH LESS THAN 5% EFFECT ON BRAKING THE VEHICLE. LATER INVESTIGATION BY THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BRAKE FAILURE TO BE THE RESULT OF A…
Dec 4, 2010 · 102,000 milesFuel system, gasoline WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL SUDDENLY IGNORE THROTTLE INPUT, AND WILL BE IDLING ONLY. WHILE NOT STALLED, IT IS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, IT IS NECESSARY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART. IT CAN BE A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE TO A MAJOR INTERSECTION, AND WHILE TRAVELING IN CONGESTED FREEWAY DRIVING. ONE REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR, BUT THIS HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT IS GETTING WORSE, AND OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY THAN EVER. *TR
Jul 10, 2010 · 126,775 milesService brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LX470. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNTIL THE CONTACT SHIFT TO A LOW GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ABS HYDRO PUMP MOTOR .THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126775 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126781.
Jun 25, 2010 · 115,000 milesStructure › Frame and members 1999 LX470 LEXUS SUV RIGHT STABILIZER BRACKET CONNECTION TO FRAME RUSTED THROUGH AND BAR IS FREE FLOATING NOW. RUSTED PART IS STEEL FRAME TANG WHERE BOLTS GO THROUGH TO CONNECT TO FRAME I KNOW TOYOTA HAS FRAME RUST PROBLEMS, DEALER FOUND IT THEN RUSHED ME OUT SAID WEATHER CAUSED IT. *TR
Nov 20, 2005 · 79,000 milesVisibility › Sun/moon roof assembly DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING H HEARD A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF. UPON OPENING THE SUN ROOF GLASS CRACKED AND CRUMBLED INTO PIECES. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT WAS REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.