LEXUS LS 430 · model year

2004 LEXUS LS 430

20 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004LEXUSLS 430 carries 20 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 2004 LS 430 is vehicle speed control with 4 filings, followed by exterior lighting:headlights (1) and tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems (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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 3 investigation files overlapping the 2004 LS 430. 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.

20
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

20 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
TIRES1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL1
WHEELS1
EQUIPMENT1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
VISIBILITY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recalls (2)

04V29500025/06/2004

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

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.

04V31700001/07/2004

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Recent Complaints

20170308CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 151,000

20160708EXTERIOR 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, THIS HAS CAUSE A LARGER ILLUMINATION PROBLEM FOR MY EYES WHILE DRIVING @ NIGHT., WHICH I TRY TO AVOID DOING AT NIGHT. I LOVE THIS LS 430, BUT NEED A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 96,000

20141016STEERING

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

Mileage: 120,000

20120106STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 74,000

20110309ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

USING RADAR CRUISE CONTROL UNDER CONDITIONS WHERE THE ROAD A HAS A SLIGHT REFLECTIVE PROPERTY (MIST OR SLIGHT RAIN ON GROUND) THE CRUISE BECOMES 'BLIND' TO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN/STOP/OR WARN DRIVER OF PENDING CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

20101218AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIRBAG FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

20100923ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

OUR 2004 LEXUS LS430 HAS STALLED (OR DIED) 4 TIMES (WHILE DRIVING) IN SIX MONTHS, TAKEN TO LEXUS DEALER 3 TIMES, WHERE THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. STALLS OCCUR AFTER DRIVING 30 TO 40 MINUTES, COULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY ALTHOUGH STARTER CRANKED WELL. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 35,000 MILES. COULD USUALLY RESTART AFTER 20 TO 30 MINUTES. ADEQUATE LEVEL OF FUEL. BATTERY WAS REPLACED AND FUEL PUMP SHUT-OFF RELAY WAS REPLACED, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE IN CALIFORNIA, BUT THEY SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT HELP. ACCORDING TO DEALER, FUEL PUMP RECALL HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WE ARE A RETIRED ELDERLY COUPLE AND ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT ON FREEWAYS OR CONGESTED STREETS FOR SAFETY REASONS. ALSO WE DO NOT WANT TO MAKE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, PARTICULARLY IF WE ARE NOT SURE IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ALSO WE ARE VERY MUCH INTERESTED IN ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED AND THEIR SOLUTION. *TR

Mileage: 33,000

20100507CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT HER IN 6-8 WEEKS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

20100406VISIBILITY

YESTERDAY, AT 75 MPH ON I-80, I HAD A NEAR COLLISION WITH A CAR IN THE LANE TO THE LEFT OF ME CAUSED BY A NON-FUNCTIONAL DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR. THE LEXUS FOLDING MIRRORS FAIL TO RETURN TO THE PROPER POSITION, RENDERING THEM USELESS. THIS IS A DOCUMENTED COMMON PROBLEM IN 2004-2006 LEXUS LS-430 MODELS. SEE HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/LS430/412430-04-06-REPLACEMENT-MIRRORS-COST-3.HTML FOR ONE AREA OF DOCUMENTATION. TODAY, WE WERE QUOTED $1100 TO REPAIR AT OMAHA LEXUS (DRIVERS SIDE ONLY). TOYOTA DENIES THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT AND REFUSES TO PAY FOR REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENT. *TR

Mileage: 91,705

20100223VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE A 2004 LEXUS LS 430 THAT HAS A RANDOM PROBLEM THAT THE DEALERS TELL ME IS NORMAL. ON OCCASION WHEN I ROLL TO A STOP THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD ON ITS OWN FORCING ME TO APPLY EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT ACCELERATES JUST FOR A SPLIT 2ND THEN STOPS. I HAVE LEARNED TO STOP APPROX. 20' BEHIND A VEHICLE JUST IN CASE THE CAR DECIDES IT WANTS TO LUNGE FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED NO LESS THAN 6 TIMES SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 10/2003. I HAVE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 4 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM AND ITS NORMAL. WITH THE LATEST TOYOTA PROBLEMS I SUSPECT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND I WANTED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM TO YOU. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

20080708CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON 6/3/08. VEHICLE - 2004 LEXUS LS5430. VEHICLE WAS BROADSIDED ON DRIVERS SIDE. SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 46,954

20080530WHEELS

I HAVE PURCHASED TWO SETS OF LEXUS CHROME LS 430 WHEELS FROM LEXUS AND IN FOUR YEARS BOTH SETS ROTTED FROM THE CENTER OUT. LEXUS WHAT'S ME TO BUY ANOTHER SET. I BELIEVE LEXUS HAS A PRODUCT VENDOR PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS. *TR

Mileage: 17,859

20080530EQUIPMENT

I HAVE PURCHASED TWO SETS OF LEXUS CHROME LS 430 WHEELS FROM LEXUS AND IN FOUR YEARS BOTH SETS ROTTED FROM THE CENTER OUT. LEXUS WHAT'S ME TO BUY ANOTHER SET. I BELIEVE LEXUS HAS A PRODUCT VENDOR PROBLEM WITH THESE WHEELS. *TR

Mileage: 17,859

20061229PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS DEALER MY 2004 LS430, WITH 27,000 MILES NEEDS BRAKE PADS REPLCEMENT. HAVING DRIVEN SIMILAR CARS FOR 16 YEARS UNDER SAME DRIVING CONDITIONS, TO ME THIS REPRESENTS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND SHOULD BE REPORTED.

20051216VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CONSUMER'S 2004 LEXUS LS 430 HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE ACCELERATING TO ENTER A HIGHWAY. *NM THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO LEARN THE CONSUMER'S DRIVING HABITS AND IT WOULD CORRECT ITSELF. THEY ALSO SAID THE WOULD BURN SOMETHING INTO THE COMPUTER BOARD. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AGAIN WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A VERY LOW SPEED. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE VEHICLE FINALLY ACCELERATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *NM

20050919ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

UNEXPLAINED RANDOM SURGES SPEED ON THE 2004 LEXUS LS 430.*MR THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE RMPS' WERE HIGH WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED COLD (40 DEGREES) THEN ONCE THE VEHICLE WARM UP THE RPM'S DECREASED. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE DURING WARMER TEMPERATURE THE CONSUMER NOTICE THAT THE RPM'S SURGED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RECTIFY OR MODIFY THE PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THIS MAY BE A NORMAL CONDITION. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED ONE OF THE MOST TROUBLESOME ELEMENTS OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS IS WRING CONNECTORS. WIRING DEVICE FAILURES ARE OFTEN INTERMITTENT, POTENTIALLY MASKING THE PROBLEM UNTIL CIRCUMSTANCES CONTRIVE TO PRODUCE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CONSUMER WAS GIVING HIS OPINION ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/23/10

20050617SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

2004 LEXUS LS430 WITH 15,000 MILES LOST BRAKING TWICE. FORTUNATELY NO CRAASH. CAR AT DEALER FOR 3 DAYS. SAID TO BE DEFECTIVE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER

Mileage: 15,000

20050413TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THERE WERE SEVEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE TPWS (TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM) HAD EITHER PROVIDED A FALSE POSITIVE OR NOT INDICATED REAL TIRE PRESSURE LOW CONDITION THAT THE MILEAGE SINCE TPWS INITIALIZATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING: THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FAILURE, REASON FOR THE FAILURE, WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN AND TO BE WALKED THROUGH A TEST PROTOCOL THAT VALIDATES THAT THE ACTION TAKEN HAD INDEED CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LEXUS HAS BEEN UNABLE AND OR UNWILLING TO SHARE ANY OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED AND REFUSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND TEST SUFFICIENTLY. *SC

Mileage: 30,000

20050413TIRES

THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FLAT TIRE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *AK THERE WERE SEVEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE TPWS (TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SYSTEM) HAD EITHER PROVIDED A FALSE POSITIVE OR NOT INDICATED REAL TIRE PRESSURE LOW CONDITION THAT THE MILEAGE SINCE TPWS INITIALIZATION. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INFORMED OF THE FOLLOWING: THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE FAILURE, REASON FOR THE FAILURE, WHAT CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN AND TO BE WALKED THROUGH A TEST PROTOCOL THAT VALIDATES THAT THE ACTION TAKEN HAD INDEED CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LEXUS HAS BEEN UNABLE AND OR UNWILLING TO SHARE ANY OF THE INFORMATION REQUESTED AND REFUSED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE AND TEST SUFFICIENTLY. *SC

Mileage: 30,000

20041114EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

I WOULD LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE NEW "BLUE" HID HEADLIGHTS ON SOME CARS. THE GLARE I EXPERIENCE FROM THIS IS TERRIBLE. IF ONE VEHICLE PASSES, THE LOSS OF SIGHT IS TOLERABLE, BUT IF 2 OR MORE HID EQUIPPED VEHICLES COME AT ME AT NIGHT, THE GLARE AND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF VISION IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. *JB

Compare 2004LEXUSLS 430 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 LEXUS LS 430 have?
The 2004 LEXUS LS 430 has 20 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 LEXUS LS 430?
Yes, the 2004 LEXUS LS 430 has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 LEXUS LS 430?
The most-complained component for the 2004 LEXUS LS 430 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS and TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS.
Is the 2004 LEXUS LS 430 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.