LEXUS LS400 · model year

1996 LEXUS LS400

24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996LEXUSLS400 carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 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 1996 LS400 is unknown or other with 2 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (2). 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 1996 LS400. 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.

24
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
WHEELS:RIM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
TIRES1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1

Recent Complaints

20151227CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PER LEXUS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EG002-97, WHICH DOESN'T APPEAR ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE BUT WHICH CAN BE FOUND ONLINE BY CLICKING ON THE LINK FROM POST #77 AT THIS WEB PAGE: HTTP://US.LEXUSOWNERSCLUB.COM/FORUMS/TOPIC/15699-9596-LS400-LOW-IDLE-ENGINE-DIES-AND-JERKING-THRE/PAGE-6 MY '96 LS400 HAS THE SAME ENGINE-STALL-AT-IDLE-AFTER-CONTINUOUS-LONG-DRIVE PROBLEM AS EVERY OTHER EARLY PRODUCTION CAR MADE WITH VINS BEFORE [XXX]. GO ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVE 50 MILES, EXIT, THE CAR IDLE SPEED DROPS TO WHERE THE CAR STALLS OUT. PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN THE KEY, IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, NO MORE PROBLEM. OR, DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, DRIVE 50 MILES, ENCOUNTER STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, THE IDLE SPEED DROPS TO WHERE THE CAR STALLS OUT. PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, TURN THE KEY, IT STARTS RIGHT BACK UP, NO MORE PROBLEM. I GOT TAPPED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME WHEN AT 1 MPH I WAS COMING TO A RED LIGHT EXITING THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR DIED, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND IT TOOK ME A FRANTIC MOMENT TO TRY PUTTING THE C

Mileage: 116,500

20151209CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR REPORTING/DISPLAYING VEHICLE SAFETY PROBLEMS FOR MY 96 LEXUS LS400 (SAFERCAR.GOV) SHOWS THERE WERE ONLY 12 SERVICE BULLETINS, YET IN FACT THERE WERE MANY MANY MORE NOT SHOWN ON THE NHTSA SITE. GOING TO THE SITE WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/96310210.HTML ONE CAN SEE A COMPLETE LIST OF SERVICE BULLETINS, 108 BY MY COUNT. A SIMILAR DISPARITY IN LISTS APPLIES TO THE NHTSA WEBSITE FOR THE 95 LS400, WHICH ON WWW.ALLDATADIY.COM/TSB/31/95310210.HTML SHOWS 128 SERVICE BULLETINS APPLY, BUT A NHTSA WEBSITE SAFERCAR.GOV SEARCH ONLY SHOWS 12, SAME NUMBER IT SHOWS FOR 96. NOW OBVIOUSLY THE TWO YEARS AREN'T IN REALITY GOING TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME NUMBER OF SERVICE BULLETINS, YET THAT IS WHAT THE NHTSA SITE SHOWS, 12 EACH YEAR, BOTH WAY SHORT OF THE REAL NUMBERS OF 128 AND 108 BULLETINS, RESPECTIVELY, FOR THE 95 AND 96 MODEL YEARS. THIS ISSUE OF INCOMPLETE DATA AT THE NHTSA MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO REFERENCE A PARTICULAR SERVICE BULLETIN WHEN REPORTING A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH A

Mileage: 116,000

20151207ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/18*JB *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20151207ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000. UPDATED 02/23/16*LJ UPDATED 05/04/18*JB *TR

Mileage: 116,000

20130605FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN FREEWAY STARTED SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR. DROVE STRAIGHT TO NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE SEAMS OF THE FUEL TANK HAD SPLIT OPEN. SINCE THE FUEL TANK IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK THE FUEL DRAINED INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AND ALSO WAS SPILLING OUT ON THE DRIVE OF THE DEALERSHIP WHEN I ARRIVED. TEJAS TOYOTA IN HUMBLE, TX. THE DEALER PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REMOTE LOCATION ON THEIR LOT DUE TO THE GREAT POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION. I CONTACTED LEXUS TO NOTIFY OF THE SITUATION, RECEIVED AN INCIDENT NUMBER. CAR WAS REPAIRED, WHEN COMPLETE I NOTIFIED LEXUS, THEY SEEMED NOT TO CARE MUCH, OFFERED TO MAKE ME AN APPOINTMENT AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP TO VERIFY THE TOYOTA DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE NEW PARTS CORRECTLY FOR A CHARGE. THAT IS AFTER PAYING OVER $2,300.00 FOR A NEW FUEL TANK. THEY CLOSED THE INCIDENT REPORT MUCH TO MY DISMAY. THE MONEY IS NOT THE ISSUE BUT MY CONCERN THAT THIS MIGHT BE AN AGE ISSUE THAT COULD AFFECT OTHERS. I H

Mileage: 109,489

20110404FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE AT THE POSITIVE POST. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE YET THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR THE FAILURE WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V016000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STARTER ASSEMBLY). HE THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RECALL WORK HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE STARTER, BATTERY AND BATTERY CABLES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

Mileage: 170,000

20040325SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

VEHICLE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELTS RETRACTING. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT GO BACK INTO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER IT WAS EXTENDED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

Mileage: 100,000

20040310CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *AK

Mileage: 83,231

20020220FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY DEALER 5 TIMES BEFORE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED.*AK

20010129SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WARPING. *MJS

20010123SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE BRAKE ROTORS ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE WARPING. *MJS

20001213VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

AS HIGHWAY SPEED IS INCREASED FRONTAL/SIDE WIND OFF WINDSHIELD CAUSED AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR ME TO HAVE TO REALIGN THE CAR ON THE ROADWAY DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, ALSO AS THE SPEED INCREASES THE INSIDE OF THE CAR IS NOISY.*AK

19990930TIRES:TREAD/BELT

LEFT REAR TIRE HAD A SEPARATED TREAD AND A BULDGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO VIBRATE WHILE DRIVEN. NLM BRIDGESTONE (DOT EAL6146 SIZE 225/60R16-97V ER-33)

19990930TIRES

ALL FOUR TIRE BULDGING AND PERFORMING POORLY CAUSING VEHICLE TO RIDE ROUGHLY. NLM BRIDGESTONE (DOT ELANGJCC146 225/60R16 - 97V ER-33)

19990819CrashSTEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

AFTER MAKING A COMPLETE STOP VEHICLE ROLLED FOR ABOUT 4-5 FEET CAUSING A REAREND COLLISION. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK

19990329SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

REAR BRAKES MAKE NOISE WHEN ENGAGING.

19990329ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TIMING BELT OFF ON TOOTH CAUSING POOR PERFORMANCE (HARD STARTS).

19981127WHEELS:RIM

WHEEL RIMS RUSTED RESULTING IN FAILURE.

19970912ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED.

19970627VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

DRIVER'S EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRROR VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING, DISTORTING DRIVER'S VISION.

Compare 1996LEXUSLS400 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 LEXUS LS400 have?
The 1996 LEXUS LS400 has 24 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 LEXUS LS400?
The most-complained component for the 1996 LEXUS LS400 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR.
Is the 1996 LEXUS LS400 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.