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1998 Lexus LS400Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 45 owner complaints about the 1998 Lexus LS400, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year9% below the LS400 median · #3 of 10 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints4510 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage116kVehicle speed control, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 8, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Lexus LS400 has problems

45 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Vehicle speed control146
Electrical system90
Tires60
Air bags30
Exterior lighting30
Service brakes, hydraulic31
Suspension30
Power train20
Visibility10
5 other systems51

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1998 Lexus LS400 recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other LS400 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the LS400 median. How we score

'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Lexus LS400, and the recalls they led to.

  1. UNINTENDED ENGINE SPEED INCREASE/SADP03003 · closed Sep 23, 2003
    No recall
In owners' words

What LS400 owners report

Recent vehicle speed control complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TWICE, WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED/SURGED AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HELD STEADY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT VEHICLE STILL SURGED AND TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO REV…
Complaint 10672882 · Jan 15, 2015 · 129,500 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP…
Complaint 10576757 · Apr 2, 2014 · 153,000 miles
ACCELERATION STUCK, RPMS LOCK IN AT ABOUT 2000. FAILURE OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE DAY, BUT USUALLY ONLY IF THE AIR CONDITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW WITH MY VEHICLE. I TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART IT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT…
Complaint 10305077 · Feb 4, 2010 · 85,000 miles

Own a 1998 LS400?

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