Total Complaints
2 filings
LEXUS LS · model year
1998 LEXUS LS
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1998LEXUSLS carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 LS is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 1998 LS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
2
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20061018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE STARTING. I OWN A 1998 LS400 THAT HAS TROUBLE STARTING. THE IGNITION HAS TO BE TURNED SEVERAL TIMES(20) TO GET THE STARTER TO TURN. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V016000 REGARDING THE 1995-1997 LS400 FOR STARTER ASSEMBLY DUE TO FAULTY ASSEMBLY FOR THE MAGNETIC SWITCH WOULD APPLY TO THE 1998 I WOULD ASSUME(SINCE THE 1998 WERE ASSEMBLED IN 1997). PLEASE ADVISE. *NM
Mileage: 140,000
20060817VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN TRYING TO STOP MY 1998 LEXUS LS 400 IN MY GARAGE THIS MORNING, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I SLAMMED THE BRAKES ON EVEN HARDER AND THE CAR SURGED EVEN MORE FORWARD. THE WHEELS WERE SPINNING AND I FINALLY GOT THE CAR TOTALLY STOPPED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AFTER THE INCIDENT AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM
Mileage: 82,000
Compare 1998LEXUSLS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1998 LEXUS LS have?▼
The 1998 LEXUS LS has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 LEXUS LS?▼
The most-complained component for the 1998 LEXUS LS is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH.
Is the 1998 LEXUS LS safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.