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2004 Lexus Gx 470

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 18 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports

What owners actually said

33 reports
67,000 miles · Aug 2, 2023
SeatsInjury

The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the driver’s side seat heater was activated on the high setting. The contact stated that the following morning he noticed small blisters on his back; medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufa…

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The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the driver’s side seat heater was activated on the high setting. The contact stated that the following morning he noticed small blisters on his back; medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #11536018

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 2019
Seat BeltsSuspensionWheels

MY GX470 2004 HAS RUST ON FRAME, SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WILL COST MORE THAN VEHICLE. LEXUS SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THESE FRAMES FROM DANA OHIO IN THE RECALLS AS THE OTHERS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND RIMS ALL RUST OUT AND REPLACED …

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MY GX470 2004 HAS RUST ON FRAME, SHOCKS AND SUSPENSION. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT MAKE ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY WILL COST MORE THAN VEHICLE. LEXUS SHOULD REALLY CONSIDER THESE FRAMES FROM DANA OHIO IN THE RECALLS AS THE OTHERS. OVER THE YEARS I HAVE HAD THE RADIATOR, EMERGENCY BRAKE AND RIMS ALL RUST OUT AND REPLACED AS WELL AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT EVEN IN SNOW OR BEACH AREAS. THESE VEHICLES ALSO HAVE THE SEAT BELT ISSUE WHICH MAKES THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAY ON. AS NICE AND RELIABLE THESE VEHICLES WERE I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD BACK THEIR PRODUCT!

NHTSA ODI #11194294

102,877 miles · Mar 13, 2019
Structure

VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUST HOLE IN FRAME AND TRANSMISSION SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT WITH MATERIALS USED FOR THE FRAME, I WOULD EXPECT SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND IT IS…

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VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUST HOLE IN FRAME AND TRANSMISSION SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT WITH MATERIALS USED FOR THE FRAME, I WOULD EXPECT SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHERWISE, AFTER CLOSE TO 103,000 MILES. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE TOYOTA FRAME RUST ISSUES THAT WERE REPORTED SINCE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE GX SHARES THE SAME FRAME AS OTHER TOYOTA SUVS/TRUCKS. LEXUS REFUSED TO HELP W/ THE REPAIR ETC. AND THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I HAVE TO TOW IT OUT OF THEIR DEALERSHIP. ATTACHED, MY SHOP REVIEW, LEXUS REVIEW AND PICTURES FROM MY MECHANIC. I AM ASKING LEXUS FOR THE PICTURES THEY TOOK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN SHOP.

NHTSA ODI #11186563

Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2019
Structure

PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING OFF LIKE PAPER ON MY 2004 GX 470 WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LEXUS PAINT I HAVE OWNED 3 LEXUS CARS NEVER HAD THIS TO HAPPEN TO THE OTHER CARS NEEDS HELP IN SANFORD NC

NHTSA ODI #11173320

100,000 miles · Jan 2, 2019
Power Train

THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AVAILABLE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE "ACTUATOR" REPLACEMENT PART # 36100-6D190, IS CRACKING AROUND 90,000 TO 100,000 MILES AND LEAKING OIL ON STREETS AND ANYWHRE YOU PARK. THE CAUSE IS FROM LEXUS SERVICE AT THE 100,000 MILE TUNE UP, IN MANY CASES, IF A OWNE…

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THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AVAILABLE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE "ACTUATOR" REPLACEMENT PART # 36100-6D190, IS CRACKING AROUND 90,000 TO 100,000 MILES AND LEAKING OIL ON STREETS AND ANYWHRE YOU PARK. THE CAUSE IS FROM LEXUS SERVICE AT THE 100,000 MILE TUNE UP, IN MANY CASES, IF A OWNER HAS NEVER USED THEIR 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND SERVICE ENGAGES 4 WHEEL DRIVE DURING SERVICE AND THEN CRACKING THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN 10 YEARS. THAT WAS MY SITUATION, WHERE I DLEIVERED A PERFECT VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF GREENVILLE SC FOR 100,000 TUNE UP SERVICE, AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME LEAKING. IT WAS REPORTED IMMEDIATLY WITH NO RESULT TO FIX. $3500 PART. I HAVE HAD A FEW MEETINGS WITH LEXUS CORPORATE OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS TOO, CASE# 1706011926. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *PM

NHTSA ODI #11164595

120,000 miles · Jul 24, 2017
EngineStructureUnknown Or Other

ENTIRE FRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT ALMOST NOTHING IS HOLDING THE CAR TOGETHER AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ON REGULAR BASIS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN GARAGE AT NIGHT AND ON MOST WEEKDAYS. CAR SHOULDN'T BE RUSTED OUT WHEN CARED FOR METICULOUSLY (DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE).

NHTSA ODI #11010283

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2017
Air BagsStructure

2004 LEXUS GX 400. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPLACEMENT DASHBOARD NOT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE CURTAIN-SHIELD AIRBAG MODULE AND CRACKED DASHBOARD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED, A YEAR PASSED AND THE AIR BAG AND DASHBOARD WERE NOT REPLACED. UPDATED 03/22/2017 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10966752

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2017
Service Brakes

LEXUS IS SELLING VEHICLES WITH BAD BRAKE ACTUATORS. I TOOK IT TO THEM TWICE AND WHICH THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HERE THE NOISE AND WHY MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS RATTLING WHEN I LOOK ON THE LEXUS FORUMS I SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKE ACTUATORS ARE GOING OUT ON THEIR VEHICLES SOME VEHICLES ONLY HAVE $34,000 ON TH…

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LEXUS IS SELLING VEHICLES WITH BAD BRAKE ACTUATORS. I TOOK IT TO THEM TWICE AND WHICH THEY SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHY I'M HERE THE NOISE AND WHY MY BRAKE PEDAL WAS RATTLING WHEN I LOOK ON THE LEXUS FORUMS I SEE SEVERAL PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE BRAKE ACTUATORS ARE GOING OUT ON THEIR VEHICLES SOME VEHICLES ONLY HAVE $34,000 ON THEM. THE DANGEROUS PART IS THAT YOU GET NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING IF IT GOES OUT AND YOU'RE ON THE EXPRESSWAY YOU CAN NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL, ONE PERSON EVEN BLOGGED ABOUT HOW THERE'S WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON THEM LUCKILY THEY WERE DRIVING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY BUT THE VEHICLE NEVER STOPPED. LEXUS IS CHARGING PEOPLE ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO $4,000 TO FIX THESE WHEN THEY KNOW THAT SEVERAL OF THEIR VEHICLES ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WHILE STILL NEW. I JUST TOOK IT TO LEXUS AGAIN LAST WEEK AND THE SERVICEMEN SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ACTUATOR IS GOING OUT IF IT IS THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE $4,000. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I HEAR A LOT OF CLICKING UP UNDER THE HOOD AND YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL.

NHTSA ODI #10949893

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 2017
Air Bags

CURTAIN SHIELD AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. RECALL # 16V-065. LEXUS IS NOT REPAIRING THIS IN A TIMELY FASHION. IT HAS BEEN APPROX. SIX MONTHS SINCE WE FIRST RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10949245

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2017
Air Bags

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX 470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T…

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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX 470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 03/03/17*LJ *CN

NHTSA ODI #10944409

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.