1997 Lexus Ls

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

1Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System

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: 1 of 1 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.

Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

1 reports

80,000 miles · Jan 22, 2009

Electrical SystemFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS LS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START AND A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE A THIRD TIME AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER DESTINATION AND WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT SMEL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LEXUS LS. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START AND A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD. SHE ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE A THIRD TIME AND WAS SUCCESSFUL. SHE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HER DESTINATION AND WHEN SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED BURNT WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT WITH THE STARTER MOTOR, WHICH CAUSED THE UNDER HOOD FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10256027

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.