Problems · NHTSA complaints

1999 Lexus LS400 problems

Owners filed 22 complaints about the 1999 Lexus LS400 with NHTSA between Mar 1999 and Dec 2012. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (12).

Complaints
22
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
102
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control12
  2. Electrical system4
  3. Structure2
  4. Tires2
  5. Engine and engine cooling1
  6. Interior lighting1
  7. Steering1
  8. Seat belts1
  9. Power train1
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic1

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19991
20002
20012
20022
20031
20042
20052
20060
20071
20081
20090
20107
20110
20121

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Vehicle speed control

12 reports6 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, HE APPLIED THE BRAKE DUE TO TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CRASH CAUSED DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES AS WELL AS AN INJURED KNEE OF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STRUCK. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND HE WAS INFORMED THE THROTTLE BODY WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, HE WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE TYPE OF FAILURE HE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT WOULD HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 02/19/13”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2012Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10487438

Electrical system

4 reports
“OUR 1999LS400 LEXUS IS EXPERIENCING MALFUNCTIONS WITH THE ELECTRONICS IN THE DASH. THE ODOMETER AND THE SPEEDOMETER ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. LEXUS WANTS 1200.00 TO PULL OUT DASH AND SEND AWAY TO REPAIR. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. I DON'T KNOW WHOSE REPLACING WHAT AND ARE THEY CERTIFIED LEXUS MECHANICS??? ARE THESE EARLY MODEL LS400'S HAVING ELECTRONICS PROBLEMS OR IS THIS JUST A SINGLE CASE? PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 25, 2010Electrical systemODI 10339955

Structure

2 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS LS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WORKING UNDER THE HOOD IT STARTED CLOSING CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL MECHANIC. TOYOTA WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 1, 2010StructureODI 10353316

Tires

2 reports
“RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON A 1999, LEXUS LS400. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, TIRE SIZE P225/60R16, DOT# ELA6 CBC528. MANUFACTURER AND TIRE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK *YH”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2002TiresODI 8017706

Engine and engine cooling

1 report
“I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE IT MIGHT PROVIDE A CLUE TO THE TOYOTA RACING ENGINE PROBLEM. ON EACH OF TWO DAYS BEFORE I TOOK MY 1999 LEXUS 400 TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS, THE ENGINE WOULD RACE AT AN ESTIMATED 4,000+ RPMS AND EMITTED A GRINDING SOUND AS THE CAR WAS STARTED. AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY, THE CAR WOULD RESTART WITHOUT A PROBLEM. STRANGELY, THE DEALER DID NOT RECORD THIS PARTICULAR COMPLAINT, BUT STATED THAT DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THAT STARTER WAS FAILING. I WAS CHARGED $990 FOR REPLACEMENT AND REPAIRS. I COULD NOT GET A SATISFACTORY ANSWER AS TO WHY A FAULTY STARTER WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO RACE. I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR OVER 10,000 MILES SINCE THEN WITHOUT A PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Vehicle speed controlODI 10319258

Interior lighting

1 report
“1999 400LS LEXUS DASH PANEL DEFECTIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 1, 2010Electrical system, Interior lightingODI 10315075
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.