LEXUS LS430 · model year

2005 LEXUS LS430

31 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005LEXUSLS430 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 2005 LS430 is vehicle speed control with 12 filings, followed by air bags (3) and service brakes (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 2005 LS430. 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.

31
Complaints
13
Crashes
2
Fires
11
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

31 filings

Crashes Reported

13 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 CONTROL12
AIR BAGS3
SERVICE BRAKES2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
WHEELS:RIM1
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS1
TIRES1
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
WHEELS1
STRUCTURE1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
SEAT BELTS1
VISIBILITY/WIPER1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recent Complaints

20220502SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

The contact owns a 2005 Lexus LS430. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the rear suspension was bouncing excessively causing the vehicle to be difficult to control and maintain in the lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear shock absorbers and rear suspension needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20220502SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2005 Lexus LS430. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the rear suspension was bouncing excessively causing the vehicle to be difficult to control and maintain in the lane. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had driven the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rear shock absorbers and rear suspension needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

Mileage: 54,000

20190601AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, DURING ACCIDENT AIR BAGS UNDER INFLATED, MY LEGS WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN. MY CAR SELF ACCELERATED, I COULDN'T CONTROL THE SPEED, MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, MY CAR STOPPED BY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CLAIM [XXX], THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, ON A FREEWAY, DRIVING STRAIGHT, I HAVE A RECALL CLAIM [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

Mileage: 97,000

20190601SERVICE BRAKES

TAKATA RECALL, DURING ACCIDENT AIR BAGS UNDER INFLATED, MY LEGS WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN. MY CAR SELF ACCELERATED, I COULDN'T CONTROL THE SPEED, MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, MY CAR STOPPED BY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CLAIM [XXX], THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, ON A FREEWAY, DRIVING STRAIGHT, I HAVE A RECALL CLAIM [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

Mileage: 97,000

20190601VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TAKATA RECALL, DURING ACCIDENT AIR BAGS UNDER INFLATED, MY LEGS WAS BRUISED AND SWOLLEN. MY CAR SELF ACCELERATED, I COULDN'T CONTROL THE SPEED, MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, MY CAR STOPPED BY HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. CLAIM [XXX], THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, ON A FREEWAY, DRIVING STRAIGHT, I HAVE A RECALL CLAIM [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

Mileage: 97,000

20180308STRUCTURE:BODY

LIFTERS THAT HOLD TRUNK OPEN FAILED & TRUNK STRUCK OPERATOR IN THE HEAD TWICE. ENGINE HOOD WAS OPENED TO ITS APEX & THE HOOD SLAMMED CLOSED. WILL NOT STAY OPEN; CAN ONLY BE HELD OPEN WITH A CANE WHILE TRYING TO CHECK OIL. CAR WAS STATIONARY & IGNITION WAS OFF IN ALL CASES. CAR GAVE NO PREVIOUS WARNING OF FATIGUE OR FAILURE.

Mileage: 90,000

20160130VISIBILITY/WIPER

MY DASHBOARD IS A HAZARDOUS TO ME DRIVING BAD GLARE. THE DASHBOARD IS BLISTERING AND MELTING AWAY AND SEPARATING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN I TOUCH THE DASHBOARD ITS STARTING TO CRACK. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS LEXUS PRODUCT. I AM A LOYAL CUSTOMER AS WELL AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF MY FAMILY! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNHEALTHY FOR ME AND OTHER CUSTOMERS EXPIRING THE SAME PROBLEMS. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY JUST FAULTY POOR PRODUCT USED FOR THE DASHBOARDS.

20140303CrashAIR BAGS

I HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW. ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY SAME DEALER ON TIME. ALL REPAIRS DONE AS SUGGESTED BY DEALER. AIR BAGS RECALL PERFORMED IN 2006. NEW BRAKES WITHIN 6 MONTHS. DRIVING TO MY WIFE"S WORK (AIRPORT) ON SAME ROUTE FOR 38 YEARS (37 MILES FROM RESIDENCE). I OBSERVED RED LIGHT AND CARS STOPPED 100 YARDS AHEAD 1/4 MILE FROM DESTINATION. I APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TOLD MY PASSENGERS THAT I COULD NOT STOP AND APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN. BRAKES DID NOT GO TO FLOOR. IT FELT AS THOUGH CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - IT WASN'T. I AVOIDED A FEW CARS BY STEERING TO CURB AND SIDEWALK. I OBSERVED A LIGHT POST ON SIDEWALK AND HAD TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC HITTING TWO CARS. A MOTOR POLICEMAN WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND SAID NO BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND LEFT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED. CAR WAS TOTALED. MY TWO PASSENGERS (MY WIFE AND HER CO WORKER) WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. *TR

Mileage: 142,350

20140303CrashSERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW. ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY SAME DEALER ON TIME. ALL REPAIRS DONE AS SUGGESTED BY DEALER. AIR BAGS RECALL PERFORMED IN 2006. NEW BRAKES WITHIN 6 MONTHS. DRIVING TO MY WIFE"S WORK (AIRPORT) ON SAME ROUTE FOR 38 YEARS (37 MILES FROM RESIDENCE). I OBSERVED RED LIGHT AND CARS STOPPED 100 YARDS AHEAD 1/4 MILE FROM DESTINATION. I APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TOLD MY PASSENGERS THAT I COULD NOT STOP AND APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN. BRAKES DID NOT GO TO FLOOR. IT FELT AS THOUGH CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - IT WASN'T. I AVOIDED A FEW CARS BY STEERING TO CURB AND SIDEWALK. I OBSERVED A LIGHT POST ON SIDEWALK AND HAD TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC HITTING TWO CARS. A MOTOR POLICEMAN WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND SAID NO BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND LEFT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED. CAR WAS TOTALED. MY TWO PASSENGERS (MY WIFE AND HER CO WORKER) WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. *TR

Mileage: 142,350

20140303CrashSEAT BELTS

I HAVE OWNED CAR SINCE NEW. ALL SERVICE PERFORMED BY SAME DEALER ON TIME. ALL REPAIRS DONE AS SUGGESTED BY DEALER. AIR BAGS RECALL PERFORMED IN 2006. NEW BRAKES WITHIN 6 MONTHS. DRIVING TO MY WIFE"S WORK (AIRPORT) ON SAME ROUTE FOR 38 YEARS (37 MILES FROM RESIDENCE). I OBSERVED RED LIGHT AND CARS STOPPED 100 YARDS AHEAD 1/4 MILE FROM DESTINATION. I APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I TOLD MY PASSENGERS THAT I COULD NOT STOP AND APPLIED BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN. BRAKES DID NOT GO TO FLOOR. IT FELT AS THOUGH CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON - IT WASN'T. I AVOIDED A FEW CARS BY STEERING TO CURB AND SIDEWALK. I OBSERVED A LIGHT POST ON SIDEWALK AND HAD TO TURN INTO TRAFFIC HITTING TWO CARS. A MOTOR POLICEMAN WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME AND SAID NO BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND LEFT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED. CAR WAS TOTALED. MY TWO PASSENGERS (MY WIFE AND HER CO WORKER) WERE TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL. *TR

Mileage: 142,350

20130803EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55 MPH ON DARK COUNTRY ROAD WHEN THE AFS SENSOR (AS I LATER LEARNED) WENT OUT ON THE LEFT REAR OF VEHICLE. LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM DROPPED TO ABOUT 20' IN FRONT OF CAR LEAVING ME VIRTUALLY BLIND AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT ANYTHING OVER 20 MPH. BECAUSE OF THE WINDING NATURE OF THE ROADS AND CUSTOMARY SPEED, I WAS AT SERIOUS RISK OF BEING REAR-ENDED. IN ORDER TO GET HOME, I HAD TO DRIVE ON HIGH BEAM CAUSING MUCH CONSTERNATION WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC. IF YOU CHECK THE U-TUBE VIDEO ON THIS SUBJECT, YOU WILL FIND OVER 14,000 VIEWS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE LEXUS PRODUCT LINE. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

20121229WHEELS

THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR ACCUMLATE CORROSION AND CAUSE THE TIRES TO GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING. LEXUS DOESN'T SEEM CONCERNED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20121229STRUCTURE

THE WHEELS ON THIS CAR ACCUMLATE CORROSION AND CAUSE THE TIRES TO GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING. LEXUS DOESN'T SEEM CONCERNED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20121026CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS LS430. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE TRAVELED OVER A CONCRETE PARKING BARRIER AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

20120214CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE TO PARK, THE CAR JERKED AND SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. CRASHED INTO THE SHELVINGS, PLUMBING TOOLS AND PARTS. PUSHING EVERYTHING AGAINST THE REAR WALL WHICH WAS DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 53,100

20110904CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT FAILED TO DECELERATE THE CAR AT ALL. AFRAID AS I WAS, I CEASED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND KEPT GAINING MOMENTUM. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT AND INCOMING CARS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THE ROAD. I DROVE FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE ON AND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE CURBSIDE, AS CLIPPING MAILBOXES ALONG THE WAY. AT THAT POINT I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP, DECELERATE, NOR CONTROL THE CAR. IN ATTEMPT THE AVOID DRIVING INTO THE MAIN ROAD THAT LED INTO A BUSY FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, I PANICKED AND REMOVED MY SEAT BELT IN ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE THE CAR. THE CAR DOOR, HOWEVER WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND ALARMED AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND AS IT DROVE INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. FO

20110904CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE ROAD, TWO MILES FROM MY HOUSE IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE CAR SUDDENLY AND DRASTICALLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REMEMBER VIVIDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT FAILED TO DECELERATE THE CAR AT ALL. AFRAID AS I WAS, I CEASED TO STEP ON THE BRAKE OR THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING AND KEPT GAINING MOMENTUM. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TRYING TO AVOID HITTING THE CARS IN FRONT AND INCOMING CARS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION OF THE ROAD. I DROVE FOR ABOUT A HALF MILE ON AND OFF THE RIGHT SIDE CURBSIDE, AS CLIPPING MAILBOXES ALONG THE WAY. AT THAT POINT I REALIZED THAT I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP, DECELERATE, NOR CONTROL THE CAR. IN ATTEMPT THE AVOID DRIVING INTO THE MAIN ROAD THAT LED INTO A BUSY FOUR-WAY INTERSECTION, I PANICKED AND REMOVED MY SEAT BELT IN ATTEMPT TO EVACUATE THE CAR. THE CAR DOOR, HOWEVER WOULD NOT OPEN. I WAS IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND ALARMED AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND AS IT DROVE INTO A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A TREE. FO

20110110VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN HE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. WITHIN SECONDS, WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. HE ALSO STATED THE FAILURE HAPPENED WHILE HE WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON ONE OCCASION WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING ABNORMALLY AT LOW SPEEDS AS IF HE WAS DRIVING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER AGAIN, WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,800. UPDATED 3/14/11 *CN UPDATED 04/28/11

Mileage: 18,000

20100520CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 LS 430 LEXUS CRASHED FOLLOWING ACCELERATION. *TR

Mileage: 70,034

20100507CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2005 LEXUS LS430. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPROACHED HIS PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH HIS FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. FORTUNATELY, A STEEL FENCE STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO THE ADJACENT BUILDING. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED $5,000 IN DAMAGES.*JB UPDATED 05/12/10.*JB

Compare 2005LEXUSLS430 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 LEXUS LS430 have?
The 2005 LEXUS LS430 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 LEXUS LS430?
The most-complained component for the 2005 LEXUS LS430 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2005 LEXUS LS430 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.