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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.

About this comparison →
30Owner complaints

Model-year median: 23

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
52
200130
200223
200310
200421
2005
Compare all LS430 years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
10Latches/locks/linkages
6Vehicle Speed Control
4Air Bags
3Seat Belts
2
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Steering
2Unknown Or Other
2Visibility
2Engine And Engine Cooling
1Equipment
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Parking Brake
1Wheels
1

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

Latches/locks/linkages complaints

6 reports
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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

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

47,523 miles · Feb 27, 2010
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

I HAD OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY LEXUS LS-430 (2002) TO PLACE SOME PERSONAL ITEMS FOR TRANSPORT. I WAS LEANING DOWN WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUNK LID CAME CRASHING DOWN TOP OF MY HEAD WITH RESULT OF PAIN AND SWELLING. SAME HAD HAPPENED TO MY WIFE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HYDRAULIC TRUNK STRUTS NECESSARY FOR THE SA…

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I HAD OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY LEXUS LS-430 (2002) TO PLACE SOME PERSONAL ITEMS FOR TRANSPORT. I WAS LEANING DOWN WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUNK LID CAME CRASHING DOWN TOP OF MY HEAD WITH RESULT OF PAIN AND SWELLING. SAME HAD HAPPENED TO MY WIFE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE HYDRAULIC TRUNK STRUTS NECESSARY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE TRUNK HAD BOTH FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314805

90,000 miles · Aug 27, 2009
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

2002 LEXUS LS 430 - THE TRUNK STRUTS ARE NO LONGER WORKING - MEANING THEY NO LONGER KEEP THE TRUNK OPEN. I AND MY SON HAVE BOTH BEEN HIT IN THE HEAD SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS DUE TO THE TRUNK CLOSING ON ITS OWN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10282019

32,000 miles · Oct 22, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

I HAD OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY LEXUS LS-430 (2002) FOR MY 11 YRS OLD SON TO TAKE HIS SPORTS GEARS OUT OF THE TRUNK. HE WAS LEANING DOWN INSIDE THE TRUNK WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUNK LID CAME CRASHING DOWN STRIKING ON HIS HIPS, IT WAS GOOD IT DID" HURT HIS BACK. THE INJURY RESULTED IN TREMENDOUS PAIN .AFTER THE INCIDENT I INSPECTED THE…

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I HAD OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY LEXUS LS-430 (2002) FOR MY 11 YRS OLD SON TO TAKE HIS SPORTS GEARS OUT OF THE TRUNK. HE WAS LEANING DOWN INSIDE THE TRUNK WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRUNK LID CAME CRASHING DOWN STRIKING ON HIS HIPS, IT WAS GOOD IT DID" HURT HIS BACK. THE INJURY RESULTED IN TREMENDOUS PAIN .AFTER THE INCIDENT I INSPECTED THE TRUNK AND FOUND THEIR WAS NO RESISTANCE WHILE GOING UP AND DOWN WITH THE TRUNK AND FOUND THAT THE HYDRAULIC TRUNK STRUTS NECESSARY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE TRUNK HAD BOTH FAILED. .SEVERAL TIMES CONTACTED THE LEXUS DEALER AND LEXUS CORPORATION TO FIX THE SHOCKS. BUT THEY DECLINED, AS THEY STATED THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANT PERIOD MY CAR HAS ONLY 32000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246299

20,000 miles · Feb 12, 2008
Latches/locks/linkagesInjury

2002 LEXUS LS430 -- THE TRUNK LID STRUTS FAILED AND CONTINUALLY ALLOWS THE TRUNK LID TO FALL ON MYSELF, MY WIFE AND OUR NANNY. MY WIFE HAD IT FALL ON HER BACK AND HURT HERSELF. WE NO LONGER LET OUR NANNY OPEN THE TRUNK IN FEAR OF HER OR OUR ONE OF OUR YOUNG KIDS (5 & 7 YRS OLD) GETTING SERIOUSLY HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217877

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.