NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 85 owner complaints for the 2004 Lexus GX470. Most complaints involve structure (24) and air bags (20). The EPA rates it 15 mpg combined.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“Rusted out frame, missing entire sections of it in the rear end, body mounts are floating, Lexus inspected the car at 144,000~ miles and deemed it unsafe to drive, was owned by a friend of mine and now it is up for sale at morse road auto sales inc in columbus ohio.”
“I am writing to formally request an investigation into a safety defect affecting the dashboard on my 2004 Lexus GX470. Over the past several months, I have observed significant cracking along the top of the instrument panel. I believe this defect poses a serious safety hazard: if the dashboard material fractures or delaminates, it could interfere with proper expansion and deployment of the front passenger airbag in the event of a collision. Despite the severity of this condition, Lexus has only issued a “limited-service campaign” rather than a full safety recall. Under that campaign, Lexus offers repair assistance only to owners located within certain regions and only if they pay a service fee. I contacted Lexus Headquarters, and requested a complete, no-cost replacement of the defective dashboard assembly, and was declined without satisfactory justification. I consider this response inadequate because: 1.Safety Risk to Occupants oThe dashboard crack traverses the airbag deployment zone. oIf the material fails, the passenger airbag may not be deployed correctly or on time. 2.Insufficient Remedy oA limited-service campaign does not guarantee replacement or cover…”
“THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET AVAILABLE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE "ACTUATOR" REPLACEMENT PART # 36100-6D190, IS CRACKING AROUND 90,000 TO 100,000 MILES AND LEAKING OIL ON STREETS AND ANYWHRE YOU PARK. THE CAUSE IS FROM LEXUS SERVICE AT THE 100,000 MILE TUNE UP, IN MANY CASES, IF A OWNER HAS NEVER USED THEIR 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND SERVICE ENGAGES 4 WHEEL DRIVE DURING SERVICE AND THEN CRACKING THIS DEFECTIVE PART THAT HAS NOT BEEN USED IN 10 YEARS. THAT WAS MY SITUATION, WHERE I DLEIVERED A PERFECT VEHICLE TO LEXUS OF GREENVILLE SC FOR 100,000 TUNE UP SERVICE, AND THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME LEAKING. IT WAS REPORTED IMMEDIATLY WITH NO RESULT TO FIX. $3500 PART. I HAVE HAD A FEW MEETINGS WITH LEXUS CORPORATE OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS TOO, CASE# 1706011926. [XXX] ' *PM”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GX 470 Auto 5-spd, 8 cyl, 4.7 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 14 | 17 | 15 | $4,150 | 592 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 11, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 85 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (24), air bags (20), power train (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2004 Lexus GX470 at 15 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).