- The problem
- Lamp housing of center high mounted stop lamp could become distorted after prolonged illumination, particularly under high temperatures.
- The fix
- Replace lamp housing with one of higher temperature resistant material.
Vehicle safety record
1990 Lexus LS400 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1990 Lexus LS400 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (6) and the airbags (5). Those complaints describe 6 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in December 1989 for the switch. For comparison, the 1991 has 21.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical LS400 year, for its age
#76 most complained-about 1990 vehicle
- Complaints
- 24
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 6
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1990 Lexus LS400 problems
Share of all 24 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1990 Lexus LS400 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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24 complaints about the 1990 Lexus LS400
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
S10 appropriate handling - enclosing an agenda report service history may 2014 - may/june 2016 on black 1990 lexus ls 400. *Smd the consumer stated each time the repair shop performed services on her vehicle, it led to another problem(s). A clamp was missing. A wire left dangling, a hose was not placed on correctly or it was the wrong hose and/or a good hose was torn, broken or tattered. A screw was left missing. A part or component was not put in properly. The consumer stated she was afraid to drive the vehicle...
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more than 10 miles, because it would smoke and leak fluid. The starter was replaced, the door would not close completely, the hood would not shut completely, the fuel gauge did not work, despite having a full tank of gas, the defroster did not work. Also, the oil showed a quart low, the interior gauges on the steering panel went haywire, the interior turn switches were not working as they should, the transmission mount needed to be replaced, the transmission stick was loose, the brake hose and ignition cylinder, control arms and window regulators were replaced. *Jb updated 04/10/2017*js *tr
My car, made by toyota, has all the same problems, faulty parts, as the cars that were recalled for sudden acceleration. I have had the sudden acceleration problem happen twice and I am currently unable to drive the car because of a faulty resistor that controls the fuel feed tot the fuel pump keeps causing the car to act like it is running out of gas. Very dangerous. Lexus has refused to fix it even though I am willing to pay. They want nothing to do with cars with the same parts as sudden acceleration.
In approximately 1995, I experienced the "sudden acceleration" problem twice with my lexus ls. At the time, no one had ever heard of it and the dealer said he could not reproduce it and could do nothing. After that I was more careful with the floor mats and thought I had solved the problem. For the last 7 to 8 years, the car suddenly slows and stalls. I have repeatedly complained to new country lexus but they just say that they cannot reproduce the problem and don't know what it is. In june, it...
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happened again and I had to be towed by aaa. At this time I researched "lexus ls stalling problem" and got hundreds of hits. One lexus site perfectly explained the problem, how to reproduce it and how to fix it. The posting on the lexus site was dated 2005, ten years ago. The tow truck driver reproduced the problem within an hour but new country lexus would not sell him the required resistor to fix it. I took the car to new country lexus, just north of albany ny, and they have had it since june. They keep saying that they cannot reproduce the problem. They keep telling me that they cannot reproduce the problem but I keep giving them the print-out from the lexus site and the bill from the towing company explaining exactly how to reproduce and fix the problem. Finally yesterday joe moran said that he could fix it but "as soon as anyone brings up anything to do with sudden acceleration" I am told to stop and do nothing." He said "it is not in the best interest of the company to fix it." They clearly seemed to be telling me that this resistor (or sensor) is part of the rapid acceleration problem with toyota vehicles and, although my vehicle is not on the list of vehicles indicated for a "special protocol," this particular part is traced to the rapid acceleration and they want nothing to do with it.
Bends after driving on a crown road......3X.....Bcp in smyrna de will not give me another changed left and right tie rod ends twiice and still cannot keep the vehicle on the road.
Tl* the contact owns a 1990 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the front drivers side door failed to unlock from the inside or outside of the vehicle. The contact attempted both automatically and manually but the door failed to unlock and open. The contact stated that he had no alternative but to exit through the passengers side door. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 130,000.
Accelerator pedal sticks and engine continues to accelerate. I can only stop it by pushing on the brake hard, putting it in neutral or turning off engine. Sometimes if I have room in front of my car, I can stop it by pumping the brake. This has occurred several times. I cannot tell what causes it. Definitely not floor mat. *Tw
I have a 1990 lexus ls 400 and I have had to change my alternator and power steering pump 3 times due to the power steering pump having a leak and there are millions having the same problem and it cost a lot of money I think lexus should have recalled their pumps to correct this problem please help me this is becoming ridiculous. Every year I have to change my pump due to this problem they cost 600 dollars just the part someone should take some kind of notice to this major problem. *Tr
The right rear tire had a bubble. Consumer took the vehicle to dealer ,and they stated that vehicle was involved in a collision. Consumer stated that vehicle had not been involved in any collision.*Ak
When closing the front doors the handle separated from the frame.*Ak
Consumer stated while traveling at 30 mph, another vehicle ran a light and the consumer hit the vehicle. Consumer's vehicle was totaled. The driver side airbag did not deployed. The passengers neck and back was injured as a result. Passengers were wearing seat belts. *Ph *ts *jb
Instrument panel lights don't work (speedometer) on 90 lexus ls400. Apparently it's happened to all of them or is happening to all of them. Cost $2000 to repair! Not safe driving without seeing speed. (Entire cluster is electronic so can't see even in daylight.*Ak
Passenger door lock mechanism on my 1990 lexus ls400 has failed to the point where door will not open from outside nor inside. Lexus dealer wants $800 to fix the problem and the possibility of damaging door panel and scratching window. This is clearly a safety hazard that lexus (toyota) should pay for. I have asked them to pay for it they refused. I am also adding the fact that the dealership has had other ls400's that they've fixed for this specific safety problem.
While driving 30mph another vehicle pulled in front of consumer, and consumer rearended vehicle. Consumer's airbag didnot deploy.*Ak
The wiring harness along the trunk keeps breaking. Depending on which wire breaks each time, the effects range from loss of rear tailight functions to jerking of car when touching the brakes to sudden jump in rpm when moving gearshift. I have had the harness repaired. *Ak
Instrument gauge lighting (needles and gauge face) started to fail in nov. Now I have no gauge lighting at all! Panel is what I think is called electrolluminescent. Lexus wants approximately $1500.00 To fix. I feel that this is an extemely dangerous situation, since I can not see how fast I am traveling. I feel that the manufacturer should cover the expense of repair, at least partially, if not totally. *Ak
Speed was about 20-35 mph. Engine raced and car surged forward into car ah ead, pushing the car ahead forward. Braking was very difficult. The air bag did not deploy. My mechanic inspected the car and found that the transmission mount bracket was sheared in two which caused the transmission to shift forward accelerating the car.
When driver swerved to avoid hitting a animal in the road, the vehicle crashed into a telephone pole head-on, and the driver's side air bag did not deploy. The vehicle is being repaired. *Ak
The two front seat belts do not retract properly against the body and hang loosely. Problem not corrected at this time. *Ak
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT FULLY RETRACT.
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *SD
Other: leather covering of driver's air bag cracked. *Sd
Retractor fails to retract shoulder belts, resulting in belts getting caught in doors. *Dsh
The engine caught on fire while the vehicle was parked. Cause unknown. Please describe. Tt
Air bag deployment was violent, resulting in an injury. *Ak
Lexus LS400: every year compared
All LS400 years1990 Lexus LS400 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 Lexus LS400 | 24 | 1 | C | |
| 1990 Lexus ES300 | 9 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1990 Lexus SC400 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1990 Lexus LS400
Does the 1990 Lexus LS400 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1990 Lexus LS400: switch (December 1989). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Lexus LS400?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (6), airbags (5), body, doors & structure (5).
How many complaints has the 1990 Lexus LS400 had?
24 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on April 24, 1995 and the latest on October 17, 2016. Of these, 6 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 6 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1990 Lexus LS400 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 47 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Lexus LS400 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Lexus LS400 years have the most complaints?
1994 (68), 1993 (65), 1998 (44). See every Lexus LS400 year compared.
What should I do if my 1990 Lexus LS400 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data