1997 Lexus LS400 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other LS400 years
- Fewer complaints than other years 5th of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Lexus LS400. That ranks 5th out of 7 LS400 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (3 complaints, 23%), typically at around 127,500 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 13owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Lexus LS400 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 23% | 127,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 2 | 15% | 198,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 15% | 214,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 15% | 111,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 15% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 15% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 8% | 230,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Lexus LS400 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:starter assembly
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to improper assembly of the terminal for the starter motor magnetic switch, an electrical short circuit can occur if electrically-conductive liquid, such as road splash with deicing salt, enters this area.
Risk: A starter motor no-start condition or an underhood fire can result.
Fix: Dealers will repair the magnetic switch.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Unintended engine speed increase/sa (DP03003) — opened Jul 17, 2003, closed Sep 23, 2003.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Crash caused by poor wet traction of goodyear integrity tires. Accident was preceded by numerous instances of lost lateral grip and slipping under normal acceleration in normal driving.
Vehicle does not start when hot. Starter does not turn. Vehicle was never recalled for nhtsa campaign id: 98v016000. My car has a production date of 7/97. Cut off date for this campaign was 6/97. I believe my vehicle should have been recalled for the repair of the magnetic switch in the starter. A…
As i was driving, my vehicle started accelerating on it's own. When i had previously checked the speed odometer it said 50. All of a sudden the vehicle started gaining speed. I took my foot off of the gas pedal and the speed kept accelerating. I pressed the brakes and the brakes did not work! The…
While driving my 1997 lexus ls400 in ca on the 605 fwy, west toward 210 fwy, all systems on the car locked (steering wheel, brakes, gas pedal) as i was changing lanes. I had no control of the car and after spinning several times ran into the center divider. I was very lucky not to go over the…
A fire started in engine compartment while vehicle was parked in the garage. Manufacturer was notified via letter. *ak consumer states that 1 week prior to the fire, all the lights on the instrument panel illuminated, the radio died and the windshield wiper died, the problem was then diagnosed as a…
Other Lexus LS400 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 LS400 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 LS400 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 LS400 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998 LS400 | 45 | 0 |
| 1997 | 13 | 1 |
| 1996 LS400 | 19 | 1 |
| 1995 LS400 | 39 | 1 |
See all Lexus LS400 problems by year, every Lexus model, or the Lexus VIN decoder.
Similar Lexus models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Lexus LS400?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Lexus LS400?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Lexus LS400 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other LS400 model years, the 1997 has fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.