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Electrical system

Lexus LS400 Electrical problems by year

125 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Lexus LS400's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Electrical complaints by model year

YearElectrical complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20003000
19994000
19987000
19972001
19963001
199511001
199444000
199342000
19922000
19911000
19906010

Electrical recalls

Latest LS400 electrical complaints

1995 Lexus LS400Electrical system

The instrument cluster lights are all out. Only the warning and shift indicators lights are on. I can't see how fast I am going or how much fuel I have in the car.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11210495
1998 Lexus LS400Electrical system

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.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11092540
1994 Lexus LS400Electrical system

Instrument cluster illumination fails, leaving instruments invisible due to instrument design. At the same time, the fuel gauge stops indicating fuel level. On my particular vehicle, this happens when outside temperature exceeds 75 degrees fahrenheit. In cooler temperatures, the illumination and fuel gauge resume function. Also, occasionally the tachometer and speedometer needles will stick at zero, will resume function when hitting the dash over top of the gauges hard with fist. The speedometer indicator needle...

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has stopped illuminating under all conditions. Car has 159k miles and just purchased 4 days ago. I have read that these are very common and expensive problems with this car. I realize the car is now 23 years old, but there should be an inexpensive solution to these problems, or at least some compensation or co-payment from the manufacturer due to the expense of these repairs. Repair cost would be 30% of what I paid for the car.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11002430
1993 Lexus LS400Electrical systemAcceleration & cruise controlDriver assistance

The first time my ecu failed was when I was parked I want to drive and the engine would not go above 1000rmps. I got the ecu replaced this was around 2013. The second time was a month ago. I was driving home from work had a huge thud in the engine and the same thing my car could no longer go above 1000rpms and couldn't get threw the intersection. The car behind me had to slam on there breaks because my car had lost all power. I made it home and was able to get a tow truck. By the time the tow truck arrived the car...

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would start but then completely die. Took it to a mechanic they had it for a week said it fixed itself. One hour after I got it the car started to act up again. The car is back in the shop. They had to send the ecu out to get repaired. I did some research and apparently the parts lexus used on the ecu are faulty and leek. Causing the motherboard to short. I still have not gotten my car back and don't know if the car will be fixed once they get the computer back. Please research more as this is not a cheap fix and for it to happen twice....Which I'm sure you already know is not something common to have to repair on a car let alone twice. Will send more documentation once I get my car back. Or feel free to contact me.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Vehicle speed control · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 10957724
1993 Lexus LS400Electrical system

Dash functions don't work at times. Speed, fuel level,etc are not indicated when car is at rest or moving. This has been a recurring problem with the result that I fear driving the car and won't sell it as it is now. At around $1800 to repair with no guarantee the replacement is not buggy, I feel betrayed and dismissed by toyota.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10934343
1990 Lexus LS400SuspensionEngine & coolingFuel systemTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemLightsVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structure

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

Filed Incident Suspension · Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline · Power train · Electrical system · Exterior lighting · Visibility · Structure · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10916975
1996 Lexus LS400Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 116,000. Updated 02/23/16*lj updated 05/04/18*jb *tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10808803
1997 Lexus LS400Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine & cooling

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 no start condition exists and a fire can result if the solenoid shorts out. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10761776
1995 Lexus LS400Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact replaced the alternator and battery, but the failure persisted. The contact also changed the wires to the battery cables. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 214,000. The vin was not available.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10711769
1995 Lexus LS400Electrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

The evening of 3/7/15 my wife and I drove from cedar rapids, ia. To our home in muscatine, ia. As we exited i-80 after almost one hour of constant interstate driving, the car stalled at approximately 5 mph as we came to the stop sign at the end of the exit ramp. We lost power steering and power brakes as well, causing panic. This is not the first time this has happened in the two years we have owned this car. It seems to occur after prolonged interstate driving only. It did not occur that morning because we...

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broke up the trip to cr with a stop in iowa city. This is a horribly dangerous condition and after researching on the internet last night, a very inherent problem with this model and year. Toyota's tsb eg003-96 speaks of it and its remedy, published 10/7/96. The remedy is to replace the faulty ecm with part 89661-50224; a very expensive fix and presumably the reason toyota did not voluntarily recall the car. There was no forced recall either, but should have been due to the many complaints reportedly submitted to the nhtsa and potential deadly consequences of losing control of the vehicle due to faulty ecm programming. Please make this posting available to any potential 1995 ls400 owners and/or force a recall of this vehicle. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 10692841
2000 Lexus LS400Electrical system

Owner was driving an a busy street at 25 miles per hour and noticed the instrument cluster was not working. Owner drove vehicle into a parking lot. Vehicle was stopped. Vehicle was restarted and instrument cluster began to function again. Owner drove the vehicle from the parking lot, hit a small pothole. The instrument cluster failed again. Owner took the vehicle to dealer. Vehicle was inspected and the instrument panel, circuit board and gauge kit were replace at a cost of $1335.02. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10622431
2000 Lexus LS400Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemWheels & tiresEquipment & accessories

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 lexus ls400. The contact had a new key made for her vehicle, which caused the ignition to fail. The vehicle would stall and the contact would be unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 104,000. Updated 09/16/14*lj the consumer stated the dealer refused to replace the key or refund the cost of the batteries. The dealer failed to determine that the tires were rotten during service check, failed to provide working batteries for keys and original copy of key. There was an overflow of transmission fluid four times. Updated 1/16/2015 *js

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Tires · EquipmentNHTSA 10621534
1995 Lexus LS400Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 lexus ls400. While driving various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly stall. In addition, the instrument panel indicators would randomly illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10615542
1990 Lexus LS400Electrical systemBody, doors & structure

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.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Latches / locks / linkagesNHTSA 10594578
1993 Lexus LS400Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

Recently the car began to stumble under acceleration while driving up a hill or merging into traffic or maintaining speed while driving on the interstate. I initially thought it was a fuel supply issue so I changed out the fuel filter, without any improvement in the problem. I was going to change the fuel pump also and while researching on the internet I learned of a problem with bad electrolytic capacitors inside the car's ecu (engine computer) which can mimic a fuel supply problem. I am a trained...

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electronics technician, so I removed and disassembled the vehicle's ecu and replaced 2 capacitors (cost, less than $1) that I could see were bad (leaking electrolyte fluid). I test drove the car and the "fuel supply problem" was gone, it drove normally again and did not stumble when the accelerator pedal was pressed. I ordered the other 5 or 6 electrolytic capacitors in the ecu (from an outside source, the dealer will only sell a complete ecu for $2000 plus) to hopefully prevent future occurrences. In conclusion, it appears the bad capacitors are the result of a "large-scale industrial espionage foul-up". Not a joke! This resulted in defective capacitors being used in many electronic assemblies (consumer electronics, automotive, household, etc.) Until the issue was discovered, see www.Badcaps.Net for the story. I forget where I learned of the capacitor problem on the ls400, but it was just by searching online. So basically, lexus is charging customers over $2000 to repair a safety issue (that is caused by less than $5 worth of parts (retail cost) and a little soldering skills/labor) that was the result of improperly designed/manufactured electronic components from their supplier. *Tr

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 10583578

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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