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1998 Lexus LS400

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Lexus LS400 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.5.

About this comparison →
45Owner complaints

Model-year median: 21.5

0Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
39
199519
199613
199745
199822
199912
20002
2001
Compare all LS400 years →

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

What owners reported most

Vehicle Speed Control
14Electrical System
9Tires
6Air Bags
3Exterior Lighting
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Suspension
3Unknown Or Other
3Power Train
2Equipment
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Service Brakes, Air
1Structure
1Visibility
1

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: 10 of 45 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.

  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. 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.

7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

14 reports
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129,500 miles · Jan 15, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

TWICE, WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED/SURGED AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HELD STEADY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT VEHICLE STILL SURGED AND TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO REV MOMENTARILY. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDEN…

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TWICE, WITH TWO DIFFERENT DRIVERS, THIS VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED/SURGED AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE HELD STEADY BY PRESSING THE BRAKE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE, BUT VEHICLE STILL SURGED AND TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO REV MOMENTARILY. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE LEXUS OEM FLOOR MAT (STANDARD, NOT ALL SEASON) WAS REMOVED. THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED AGAIN TONIGHT WITH A DIFFERENT DRIVER AND THE FLOOR MAT STILL REMOVED. I AM QUITE CONCERNED THIS MAY BE RELATED TO OTHER TOYOTA RECALLS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10672882

153,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WRONG PROBL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SHOP TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE WRONG PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 07/22/14 MA

NHTSA ODI #10576757

85,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

ACCELERATION STUCK, RPMS LOCK IN AT ABOUT 2000. FAILURE OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE DAY, BUT USUALLY ONLY IF THE AIR CONDITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW WITH MY VEHICLE. I TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART IT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT ALMOST ALWAYS RETURNS AFTER RESTART…

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ACCELERATION STUCK, RPMS LOCK IN AT ABOUT 2000. FAILURE OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE DAY, BUT USUALLY ONLY IF THE AIR CONDITION IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS NOW WITH MY VEHICLE. I TURN OFF VEHICLE AND RESTART IT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND REGAIN CONTROL OF THE ACCELERATOR, IT ALMOST ALWAYS RETURNS AFTER RESTART. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY FAULT IN LEXUS ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEM AND SINCE YOU ALL ARE FINALLY INVESTIGATING THIS I THOUGHT I SHOULD REPORT IT IN CASE YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXAMINE MY VEHICLE SINCE IT OCCURS SO OFTEN. I WAS TOLD BY LEXUS I SHOULD PURCHASE A NEW THROTTLE BODY, I HAVEN'T DONE SO BECAUSE I DO NOT SEE HOW THAT WILL CORRECT MY ACCELERATOR FROM STICKING IN ONE POSITION DURING DRIVING AND I BELIEVE THIS IS MORE OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE NOW WITH THE RECALLS FINALLY BEING DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10305077

103,000 miles · May 20, 2008
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TIME, DATE AND LOCATION: MONDAY, MAY 19 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM AT THE BLOCKBUSTER PARKING LOT IN STAFFORD, VA VEHICLE: 1998 LEXUS LS400 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOWLY PULL INTO THE SPACE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND REPE…

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TIME, DATE AND LOCATION: MONDAY, MAY 19 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM AT THE BLOCKBUSTER PARKING LOT IN STAFFORD, VA VEHICLE: 1998 LEXUS LS400 I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO SLOWLY PULL INTO THE SPACE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND REPEATEDLY HIT THE FRONT OF THE BLOCKBUSTER. I PUSHED DOWN HARD ON THE BRAKE, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESPOND. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE CAR STOPPED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10228267

Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR ACCELERATED TO THE POINT IT WAS SPINNING TIRES. CAR WAS PUT INTO PARK AND THE CAR WAS BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10098321

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

CONSUMER STATES WHILE APPLYING BRAKES SUUDENLY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10032159

Mileage unknown · May 28, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE TRYING TO PARK, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD AND RAN INTO A STORE BEFORE STOPPING. CONSUMER HAD BRAKES APPLIED. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK JLG

NHTSA ODI #8010515

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, AND WITHOUT WARNING, VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FOWARD, SLAMMING INTO A WALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8002725

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

AT A STOP VEHICLE LURCHED OUT OF CONTROL AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PEDAL. BRAKES DID NOT STOP VEHICLE, AND REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. DAMAGED HOOD AND GRILL ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER AND VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891432

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHERE NO ONE WAS INJURED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHO COULD FIND NO PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THIS HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #558802

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

1

DP03003 · Unintended Engine Speed Increase/sa

Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Sep 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

ON MAY 13, 2003 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED AN APRIL 25, 2003 LETTER FROM MR. PETER BODDAERT PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT A PETITION ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR LEXUS 300 AND 400 SERIES VEHICLES FOR PROBLEMS OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED EXCESSIVE (VEHICLE) ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PRESSURE [SIC]APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION, MR. BODDAERT CITES A NUMBER OF ODI REPORTS CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INCLUDED AMONGST THE THIRTY-SIX REPORTS HE CITES IS ONE INVOLVING A LEXUS THAT COLLIDED WITH FIVE OTHER CARS IN THE SPACE OF ONE-HALF MILE BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED.ODI FOUND NO DATA INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND RELATED TO THE PETITIONER'S ALLEGATIONS AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASONABLE POSSIBILITY THAT AN ORDER CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WOULD BE ISSUED AS A RESULT OF GRANTING MR. BODDAERT'S PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.