IllustrationWHEN HARD ACCELERATING SULFUR SMELL ENTERS CABIN MAKES ME NAUSEATED... WONDER IF CARBON MONOXIDE IS ENTERING CABIN ALSO . WHEN STOPPING OR STOPPED DRIVE SHAFT BUMPS HARD LIKE SOMEONE HITTING BACK OF VEHICLE. *JB
2003 Lexus GX470
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Lexus GX470 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GX470 years →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
160–25K
525–50K
350–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
8150K+
39 reports with mileage · 7 unknown
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 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
6 reportsMY SUV WHEN EVER GOING UP OR DOWN A HILL AT ANY SPEED LETS OUT A HORRIBLE SMELL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED IT WAS BAD GAS, I LET THE TANK RUN TO EMPTY AND SWITCHED GAS DEALERS...THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE. MY SON CANNOT RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT BECAUSE HE FEELS LIKE THROWING UP EVEN DURING SHORT RIDES.*AK
WHENEVER GIVING THE VEHICLE MODERATE TO HIGH ACCELERATION, A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT MAKES ME DIZZY. *AK
WHENEVER GIVING THE VEHICLE MODERATE TO HIGH ACCELERATION, A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT MAKES ME DIZZY AND I FEEL LIKE VOMITING. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALER THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR CONTENT IN FUEL. I HAVE OWNED SE…
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WHENEVER GIVING THE VEHICLE MODERATE TO HIGH ACCELERATION, A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS. THE SMELL IS SO BAD THAT IT MAKES ME DIZZY AND I FEEL LIKE VOMITING. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALER THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR CONTENT IN FUEL. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL DIFFERENT MODELS OF LEXUS VEHICLES IN THE PAST AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *LA
A SULFUR ODOR OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR, IS PRESENT IN THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL AT MY 1,000 MILE CHECK UP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WOULD BE GONE BY MY 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. THE CAR STILL HAS THE ODOR AT THE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER "SULFUR SMELL HAS NOT BEEN UNCOMMON DUE TO HIG…
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A SULFUR ODOR OR ROTTEN EGG ODOR, IS PRESENT IN THE CAR WHEN ACCELERATING. I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL AT MY 1,000 MILE CHECK UP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL WOULD BE GONE BY MY 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. THE CAR STILL HAS THE ODOR AT THE 5,000 MILE CHECK UP. NOW I'M TOLD BY THE DEALER "SULFUR SMELL HAS NOT BEEN UNCOMMON DUE TO HIGH SULFUR CONTENTS IN RECENT FUEL PRODUCTION. NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR, SUGGEST USING DIFFERENT FUEL SUPPLIER." I TRIED SWITCHING GASOLINES AND IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE. LEXUS SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL AND IS BECAUSE OF THE SULFUR IN THE FUEL. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE DISCLOSED THIS AT TIME OF SALE. THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF A MEMO DATED 2/24/03 ADDRESSING THE SMELL, SO THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOW THAT IT IS A PROBLEM. I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT THE CAR IF I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO SMELL LIKE THIS. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONSTANT SULFUR FUMES THAT ARE IN THE VEHICLE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VENTS SPEW OUT A HORRIBLE SULFUR ODOR. THE ODOR IS SO BAD THAT THE WINDOWS HAVE TO BE ROLLED DOWN. CONSUMER'S 14 MONTH OLD CHILD RIDES IN VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
203V088000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly
Mar 10, 2003
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO LOCK ONE OF THE TWO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MIDDLE ROW LEFT REAR SEAT (LARGER SIDE OF THE BENCH SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER). DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM STORAGE CASE, THE STOPPER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. THIS ELEVATED POSITION MISALIGNS THE LATCH TO THE STRIKER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH ONLY ONE LATCH LOCKED, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE LLS CASE PANELS AROUND THE SEAT STOPPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.
03V031000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 11, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) DATA WAS PRINTED ON THE CERTIFICATION REGULATION LABEL. THE GVWR IS INCORRECTLY REFLECTED ON THE LABEL AS 6,100 LBS. THE CORRECT GVWR SHOULD BE 6,000 LBS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT MEET THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS.
Remedy: AS EACH LABEL IS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC, OWNERS WILL BE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LEXUS DEALER FIRST TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR THE CORRECTED LABEL. ONCE THE LABEL HAS ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE OWNER WILL BE CONTACTED FOR LABEL REPLACEMENT. OWNER BEGAN APRIL 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.