1998 Lexus LS400 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other LS400 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 7 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Lexus LS400. That is the most of any LS400 model year in the database (7 years). The most reported problem area is vehicle speed control (14 complaints, 31%), typically at around 116,250 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 3 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 45owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 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 | 14 | 31% | 116,250 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 9 | 20% | 130,850 | — | — |
| Tires | 6 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 9% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 7% | 109,633 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 7% | 82,697 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | 129,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 2% | 111,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 Lexus LS400 recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1998 Lexus LS400.
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 lexus ls400. While stationary, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts were made. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not…
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…
The airbags in the front of the car dropped and it weighs the front of the car down so i need to warm up the car so that the front engine rises and doesn't scrape when you turn the wheel. Please advise if this can be checked by lexis for safety reasons free of charge. Thank you for your prompt…
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…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the hood of the vehicle was fully opened in a secured position and without warning, it suddenly released in a downward position and closed. The hood released on the contacts left hand and caused injury to the middle finger. The contact…
Other Lexus LS400 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 LS400 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 LS400 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 LS400 | 22 | 0 |
| 1998 | 45 | 0 |
| 1997 LS400 | 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 1998 Lexus LS400?
Owners most often report vehicle speed control, electrical system, tires problems. The top one, vehicle speed control, accounts for 14 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 Lexus LS400?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1998 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 1998 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.