1998 Lexus LS400 Problems, complaints & recalls

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 repaired. The dealer (arrowhead lexus in peoria, arizona) was made aware of the failure and stated that an unknown recall on the vehicle had closed/expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The recall information was not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

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 momentarily. After the first incident, the lexus oem floor mat (standard, not all season) was removed. The same event occurred again tonight with a different driver and the floor mat still removed. I am quite concerned this may be related to other toyota recalls. *Tr

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 attention to this inquiry. Kind regards, [[redacted]] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.S.C. 552(B)(6). *Tr

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 technician diagnosed the wrong problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 153,000 and the current mileage was 160,000. Updated 07/22/14 ma

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 planned to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000. Updated 01/24/11 *bf the consumer stated the hydraulic pistons which were supposed to keep the hood securely and fully opened failed suddenly, while his hand was under the hood. The consumer was unable to move his hand in time. Updated 03/22/11

On september 27,2005, my1998 lexus ls 400 rammed into the car in front of me. I was stopped in traffic with my foot on the brake. My car accelerated not once, but twice into the car in front of me. When the police and firemen came, the policeman stood next to my window and asked me to put the car in neutral so that the firemen could push the car out of the road. The car accelerated in reverse and almost ran over the firemen. The policeman noted this in his report. I was on airport blvd. Within 1 mile of the...

Acceleration stuck, rpms lock in at about 2000. Failure occurs about once or twice day, but usually only if the air condition is turned off. This has been going on for years now with my vehicle. I turn off vehicle and restart it to correct the problem and regain control of the accelerator, it almost always returns after restart. I believe this may be caused by fault in lexus electronic throttle system and since you all are finally investigating this I thought I should report it in case you would like to examine my...

This happened with no warning. Steering wheel was hard to turn counter clockwise and would bind when turned almost all the way. I turned it all the way and there was a loud "snap" sound. I then noticed the air bag light came on in the dash. After the "snap" it was easier to turn the steering wheel clockwise and counter clockwise. I don't know what is wrong but will take the car to the dealer to check this out. *Tr

Time, date and location: monday, may 19 at approximately 3:30 pm at the blockbuster parking lot in stafford, va vehicle: 1998 lexus ls400 I was pulling into a parking space in front of the blockbuster. I had my foot on the brake to slowly pull into the space. Suddenly, the engine revved and the car jumped the curb and repeatedly hit the front of the blockbuster. I pushed down hard on the brake, but it would not respond. I put the car in park and the car stopped. *Tr

1. Vehicle has trouble starting. 2. Starter failure. Have to turn ignition several times (15-20) to get the starter to rotate. I know there was a nhtsa campaign 98v016000 on the 1995 through 1997 lexus ls400 for the starter assembly due to improper assembly of the terminal for the magnetic switch. My question is can my vehicle be covered under this campaign considering the 1998 ls400 was built in 1997. Also can this cause an underhood fire in my vehicle while I'm continuing to start my vehicle with this problem persisting? Thank you for your time. 3. Vehicle has not been repaired yet. *Jb

The vehicle was damaged with altered paper and the rear passenger panel was scraped behind the tire. It appeared as though this damage was pre-existing. *Bf the damages occurred while being sipped from florida to new jersey. *Sc

Driving at 25 mph I heard a beeping sound and the vsc off light on the dash came up along with the check engine light. I believe my vehicle then went into fail safe mode because the vehicle would no longer allow me to accelerate with gas pedal. However vehicle would move approximately 12(mph) on its own when I release constant pressure from the brake pedal. When I placed in neutral or park position, rpm's would rise to about 2000(rpm). Turned off power to vehicle and restarted, still vehicle would only move...

Stopped at a red light and the car accelerated to the point it was spinning tires. Car was put into park and the car was brought under control. *Ak

Consumer states while applying brakes suudenly vehicle surged forward. Dealer notified. *Ak

While trying to park, vehicle suddenly surged forward and ran into a store before stopping. Consumer had brakes applied. Contacted dealer. *Ak jlg

While parking vehicle at 5 mph, and without warning, vehicle suddenly lunged foward, slamming into a wall. Vehicle was towed to a body shop. Please provide any further information.*Ak

At a stop vehicle lurched out of control and accelerated without touching gas pedal. Brakes did not stop vehicle, and rearended another vehicle. Damaged hood and grill on vehicle. Contacted dealer and vehicle was repaired.*Ak

Driving under normal conditions, traction control warning beeper and light would come on, car would swerve as brakes and accellerator would actuate without input from driver. This happened four times over the past year. Each time car was taken to dealership. They say they can't duplicate the problem so take car back and bring it in when it does it again. We have done that 4 times now. Problem does not get fixed. While we can't predict when it will occur, the swerving was more pronounced on this last episode...

Automatic traction control light comes on, there is a beeping sound, and vehicle swerves like it is going into a curve, usually to left. Problem will occur randomly over 40 mph, weather conditions do not play a factor in defect. *Ak consumer states when problem occurs, the accelerator, brakes, and steering are actuated without any input from the driver and problem is not weather related, dealer has kept vehicle long periods of time, one instance for almost 1 month, always comes back and can not figure out the problem, consumer feels the problem is related to computer or sensor defect. *Slc

The bridgestone tires on the vehicle experienced two flats on both right rear and left rear within 4 months, consumer replaced all the bridgestone tires due to problems, tires were replacement tires not original equipment. *Mjs

Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, causing an accident where no one was injured, the vehicle was towed to dealer who could find no problem even though this happened twice in one day. *Slc

NO SUMMARY

Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 85mph on highway and it was a 100 degrees. She heard a bumping noise. Tire was hitting up against the vehicle. Right rear tire tread had came apart. Bridgestone e33255/60yr16 high speed.*Ak

Tread separation while driving. Was able to stop before the tire blew out. Sears called bridgestone about the defect and they replaced it free of charge, since they knew about the problem with that tire. However, they would not rplace the remaining three tires, which could incurr the same separation and potential blow out.*Ak( dot number: tire size: p22560v16 )

Sudden acceleration when applying brakes to bring vehicle to a stop, causing vehicle to rear end another vehicle in front of consumer. Driver received a sprained waist. Dealer notified. *Ak *ml