Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Lexus GX470 problems
Owners filed 33 complaints about the 2005 Lexus GX470 with NHTSA between Jan 2006 and Dec 2023. The most-cited component is structure (10).
Complaints
33
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure10
- Air bags10
- Vehicle speed control4
- Service brakes2
- Seat belts2
- Electrical system2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Tires1
- Steering1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Seats1
- Suspension1
- Other / unknown5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
0
3
3
2
0
3
5
3
3
5
1
0
0
2
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
10 reports1 crash
“Manufacture paint failure of the “blizzard pearl white” color. Existing recall for the 2005 GX 470 models needs to be extended to include more vins experiencing peeling paint on the roof, hood and doors.”
Air bags
10 reports1 related recall
“SAFETY RECALL GLB (NHTSA RECALL ID 16V065) ISSUED FEBRUARY 2, 2016. IT HAS BEEN ONE FULL YEAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE CAR! THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS, AND HAVE NO PLAN ON WHEN THEY WILL GET PARTS.”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports2 crashes
“S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING - LETTER TO THE SECRETARY FROM COMPLAINT REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF HIS 2005 TOYOTA LEXUS GX470 *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS HER HUSBAND WAS ENTERING THE GARAGE, HE SLOWED DOWN TO MOVE AROUND A GARBAGE PAIL IN THE GARAGE. AT THAT MOMENT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT A STORAGE SHELF AND THEN CRASHED THROUGH THE REAR WALL OF THE GARAGE. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED IT TO GO OVER THE FOUNDATION LIP OF THE REAR WALL. FORTUNATELY, THAT IS WHAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM GOING FURTHER . THE CONSUMERS HUSBAND TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES DURING THE ACCELERATION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. *JB”
Service brakes
2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE FIRST OCCURRED AT 60,000 MILES. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND SHOOK WHEN DRIVEN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FRONT BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.”
Seat belts
2 reports1 crash
“THE LEXUS GX470 HAS MANY MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES THAT ARE GOING TO END UP IN DEATHS FOR EXAMPLE THE SUNROOF DRAINING SYSTEM OVERFLOWS AND DRAINS ON AND NEAR THE BRAKE PEDALS AND THE THEN OVERFLOWS ONTO THE FLOOR BOARDS CAUSING THE WHOLE GENERAL AREA TO BE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY AND AT TIMES RENDERING THE BRAKES UNUSABLE. THEN THE 2ND ISSUES IS THE SEAT-BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS FUNCTION CORRECTLY AT TIMES THE UNLATCH DURING HARD BRAKING. THE 3RD ISSUE IS THE STEERING WHEEL MATERIAL FAILS IN THE HIGH HEAT THE SAME AS THE DASHBOARD THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY VOLUNTARY RECALLED. THIS ISSUES IS SEEN ON ALMOST ALL LEXUS GX SERIES IN FL IF YOU REVIEW THE FORUM BOARDS VIA A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH YOU WILL SEE 1000'S OF OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME COMPLAINTS.”
Electrical system
2 reports
“THERE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR YEARS WITH CERTAIN TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES DASHBOARDS CRACKING. THIS IS NOT ONLY A COSMETIC ISSUE BUT A SAFETY ISSUE (PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG) AS WELL AND EVEN TOYOTA REPAIR MANUALS SAY TO REPLACE THE DASH IF THERE ARE ANY CRACKS YET DEALERS ARE NOT ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM AND ARE MAKING OWNERS PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A NEW DASH WHEN CLEARLY THERE'S A DEFECT IN THE MATERIALS USED TO MAKE THE DASH. THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR OVER 5YRS. AND TOYOTA / LEXUS HAS BEEN WELL AWARE OF IT, YET AS OF FEBRUARY 2014 THERE HAS STILL BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED? HERE'S THE PROBLEM W/ LEXUS GX470 MODELS: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/427349-CRACKED-DASHBOARD.HTML HERE'S THE PROBLEM W/ TOYOTA 4RUNNER MODELS: HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/MAINTENANCE-DETAILING/59435-CRACKED-DASH.HTML HTTP://WWW.TOYOTA-4RUNNER.ORG/4TH-GEN-T4RS/122935-***CRACKED-DASHBOARD-ACTION-REQUEST***.HTML THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE TOO, JUST GOOGLE "TOYOTA CRACKED DASH". *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.