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2002 Lexus LS430

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Lexus LS430 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 23.

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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

24 reports with mileage · 6 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.

  • Structure. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports1 fire reports13 injury reports

What owners actually said

30 reports
46,000 miles · Apr 19, 2013
StructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

AS I WAS TURNING ONTO A ROAD FROM A PRIVATE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CAR TO CROSS OVER BOTH LANES OF THE ROAD AND CRASH INTO A MAILBOX. THE RESULT WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND A BROKEN MAILBAX POST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10508825

65,000 miles · Apr 10, 2012
StructureInjury

I OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS IN DEC. 2010, WHILE I WAS TAKING THE GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUNK, THE TRUNK FELL ON MY HEAD AND CREATED AN INJURY TO MY EYES, I HAD TWO SURGERIES, THE TRUNK UNEXPECTEDLY JUST CRASH ON MY HEAD, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST PASSED OUT,APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS WORE OUT, THERE WAS NO WARNING, I AM STILL HURTING …

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I OWN A 2002 LEXUS LS IN DEC. 2010, WHILE I WAS TAKING THE GROCERIES OUT OF MY TRUNK, THE TRUNK FELL ON MY HEAD AND CREATED AN INJURY TO MY EYES, I HAD TWO SURGERIES, THE TRUNK UNEXPECTEDLY JUST CRASH ON MY HEAD, IT WAS VERY PAINFUL, I ALMOST PASSED OUT,APPARENTLY THE SPRINGS WORE OUT, THERE WAS NO WARNING, I AM STILL HURTING AND GET SEVERE HEADACHES, I WROTE TO LEXUS, THEY JUST IGNORED ME COMPLETELY, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE DEALT WITH ACCORDINGLY. I AM ASKING FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION I SAVED THE OLD SPRINGS FOR REVIEW. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454698

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2011
StructureInjury

FAILED COMPONENT: 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID. COMPLAINTS: THE 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID WERE COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS INJURED ON OCTOBER 29, 2011 WHEN THE LID FELLED DOWN (CLOSED) ON ITS OWN WEIGHT AND HIT MY HEAD AND THEN MY RIGHT ARM. THE SUPPORTERS ARE VERY WEAK AS COMPARED TO THE TRUNK LID HEAVY DUTY STEE…

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FAILED COMPONENT: 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID. COMPLAINTS: THE 2 HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS ON TRUNK LID WERE COMPLETELY FAILED. I WAS INJURED ON OCTOBER 29, 2011 WHEN THE LID FELLED DOWN (CLOSED) ON ITS OWN WEIGHT AND HIT MY HEAD AND THEN MY RIGHT ARM. THE SUPPORTERS ARE VERY WEAK AS COMPARED TO THE TRUNK LID HEAVY DUTY STEEL STRUCTURE. I HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR WHICH REGISTERS ONLY 30K MILES. THE WEAK HYDRAULIC SUPPORTERS STARTED TO SHOW FATIGUE ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO. EVENTUALLY, IT CAUGHT ME AFTER SEVERAL YEARS LATER. I AM PRETTY SURE THAT THIS TYPE DEFECTS ARE COMMON FOR MANY VEHICLES OF SIMILAR YEARS AND MODEL. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF ONE IS NOT CAREFUL, PARTICULARLY WHEN PARKING ON A SLOPED DRIVEWAY. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEXUS TO USE SUCH CHEAP PARTS OF WHICH REPUTATION EMPHASIZING SAFETY AND QUALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434818

120,000 miles · Mar 2, 2011
StructureInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER WAS STRUCK ABRUPTLY IN THE HEAD BY THE TRUNK HATCH AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD. THE TRUNK LATCH FAILED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A PASSENGER WAS STRUCK ABRUPTLY IN THE HEAD BY THE TRUNK HATCH AND SUSTAINED SEVERAL ABRASIONS TO THE HEAD. THE TRUNK LATCH FAILED AND WOULD NOT REMAIN OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/5/12 *CN

NHTSA ODI #10386220

40,000 miles · Feb 25, 2011
Latches/locks/linkagesStructureInjury

THE TRUNK LID OF MY 2002 LEXUS LS 430 HAS TWO PNEUMATIC STRUTS WHICH PROVIDE LIFT AND KEEP THE LID UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. NOW, OVER TIME THE STRUTS SLOWLY FAILED TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID OPEN, AND IN A GENTLE BREEZE, THE LID WILL COME DOWN WITH GUILLOTINE FORCE. IT HAS HIT MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH PAINFUL RESULTS AND NOW I AM …

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THE TRUNK LID OF MY 2002 LEXUS LS 430 HAS TWO PNEUMATIC STRUTS WHICH PROVIDE LIFT AND KEEP THE LID UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. NOW, OVER TIME THE STRUTS SLOWLY FAILED TO KEEP THE TRUNK LID OPEN, AND IN A GENTLE BREEZE, THE LID WILL COME DOWN WITH GUILLOTINE FORCE. IT HAS HIT MY HEAD SEVERAL TIMES WITH PAINFUL RESULTS AND NOW I AM AFRAID TO LOAD ITEMS IN MY TRUNK WITHOUT ANOTHER PERSON THERE TO HOLD IT OPEN. I THINK THAT THE "LIFT ASSIST" OF THE PNEUMATICS SHOULD BE ONLY AUXILIARY TO A MECHANISM THAT HOLDS THE TRUNK IN A FULL OPEN POSITION. I HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WHOSE TRUNK LID DID NOT STAY IN THE OPEN POSITION ONCE LIFTED, REGARDLESS OF AGE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384496

55,000 miles · Nov 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL-THE DRIVER OWNED A 2002 LEXUS LS430. HE WAS ALERTED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS INFORMED A VALVE SPRING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. SM.

NHTSA ODI #10365781

120,000 miles · Nov 1, 2010
StructureInjury

THE TRUNK LID OF A 2002 LEXUS LS430 LANDED ON MY WIFE'S HEAD CAUSING INJURY AND BLEEDING. GAS CYLINDERS ARE USED TO HOLD TRUNK LID UP WHICH FAILED. I COMPLAINED ABOUT GAS CYLINDERS HOLDING HOODS UP ON LEXUS AUTOMOBILES IN THE PAST AND YOU PEOPLE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I EVEN CONTACTED LEXUS ABOUT IT BUT WENT UNACKNOWLEDGED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10363481

59,000 miles · Oct 26, 2010
StructureInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY FALL DOWN OWN ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PISTONS THA…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LID IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY FALL DOWN OWN ITS OWN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SUSTAIN A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PISTONS THAT HELD UP THE TRUNK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PISTONS REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #10362503

69,500 miles · Oct 21, 2010
Air BagsFuel System, GasolineCrashInjury

2002 LEXUS LS430 ACCELERATED AND SHIFTED GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING AN UNCONTROLLED VEHICLE SITUATION. THE VEHICLE PLUNGED ABOUT TEN FEET INTO THE SIDE OF A HILL. THE CAR WAS EXTRACTED AND TAKEN TO A BODY REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361560

80,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

THE TRUNK LID KEEPS FALLING DOWN ON MY 2002 LEXUS LS430. SEVERAL PERSONS HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD AND SHOULDERS WITH THE HEAVY LID. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10336268

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.