2003 Lexus LX470 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other LX470 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Lexus LX470. That is the most of any LX470 model year in the database (10 years). The most reported problem area is steering (5 complaints, 28%), typically at around 149,650 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 18owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Lexus LX470 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 5 | 28% | 149,650 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 4 | 22% | 170,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 11% | 260,401 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 11% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 11% | 84,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 6% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 6% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 6% | 155,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 6% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Lexus LX470 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Air bags:side/window
Problem: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
Steering:gear box:shaft pitman
Problem: Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2007 lexus lx470 vehicles. The construction of the steering shaft is such that the snap ring on the shaft may disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels. If the snap ring becomes disengaged and the steering wheel is then repeatedly turned to the locked position, over time the steering shaft may become disconnected.
Risk: This could result in loss of steering control increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the snap ring with a newly designed one and install an additional component which will prevent separation of the steering shaft. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on august 23, 2010. Owners may contact lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the daytime running lights do not meet luminous intensity standard.
Risk: This condition could blind the driver of a vehicle driving in the opposite direction, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a resistor, which will decrease the luminous intensity of the drl. Owner notification began june june 10, 2005. Owners should contact lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
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.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
MY 2003 LEXUS LX470 HAS FAULTY VGRS ECU. STEERING WHEEL SPINS TO 180 DEGREES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2018, WHEN I BACKED IT OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 DEGREES. I DROVE IT TO 35MPH W/ STEERING WHEEL AT CROOKED 25-MINUTE ANGLE AND ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN 180…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 lexus lx470. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v065000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The contact called several dealers who were unable to provide a specific…
I took the car to lexus of glendale for routine service, which was completed, and three days later, as i was driving on 5 freeway from coalinga to los angeles, all of a sudden, i heard a grinding noise from the engine, and the car stalled, i was able to pull over ta ds a nearby service station…
I took the car to lexus of glendale for routine service, which was completed, and three days later, as i was driving on 5 freeway from coalinga to los angeles, all of a sudden, i heard a grinding noise from the engine, and the car stalled, i was able to pull over to a nearby service station…
I took the car to lexus of glendale for routine service, which was completed, and three days later, as i was driving on 5 freeway from coalinga to los angeles, all of a sudden, i heard a grinding noise from the engine, and the car stalled, i was able to pull over ta ds a nearby service station…
Other Lexus LX470 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 LX470 | 3 | 1 |
| 2006 LX470 | 9 | 3 |
| 2005 LX470 | 8 | 3 |
| 2004 LX470 | 12 | 3 |
| 2003 | 18 | 3 |
| 2002 LX470 | 5 | 1 |
| 2001 LX470 | 5 | 1 |
| 2000 LX470 | 17 | 1 |
| 1999 LX470 | 14 | 1 |
| 1998 LX470 | 5 | 1 |
See all Lexus LX470 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 2003 Lexus LX470?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, air bags problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 5 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Lexus LX470?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Lexus LX470 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other LX470 model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.