Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Lexus LS430 problems

Owners filed 25 complaints about the 2003 Lexus LS430 with NHTSA between Aug 2002 and Aug 2017. The most-cited component is structure (9).

Complaints
25
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Structure9
  2. Air bags3
  3. Vehicle speed control3
  4. Engine and engine cooling2
  5. Tires2
  6. Latches/locks/linkages1
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic1
  8. Wheels1
  9. Power train1
  10. Equipment1
  11. Seat belts1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Steering1
  14. Other / unknown1

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 Nov 8, 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
20021
20034
20041
20052
20061
20071
20082
20092
20105
20113
20120
20130
20141
20151
20160
20171

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

Structure

9 reports
“TRUNK STRUTS FAILED TO HOLD THE TRUNK IN AN OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE TRUNK TO FALL AND INJURE A PERSON. MULTIPLE TIMES. TRUNK WAS PROPERLY OPENED AND RAISED TO A FULL OPEN POSITION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 2, 2011StructureODI 10428196

Air bags

3 reports1 crash
“TAKATA RECALL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2017Air bagsODI 11015548

Vehicle speed control

3 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LS430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING INTO A PARKING SPACE WITH HER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AT 5 MPH, THERE WAS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED (#2771757). THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS AN ELECTRIC FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED WHO STATED UNLESS THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO HAVE THE FAILURE, SHE COULD BRING IT IN, BUT IF THERE WAS NO MORE FAILURE SHE DID NOT HAVE TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 7, 2011Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10405437

Engine and engine cooling

2 reports
“2003 LEXUS LS430 SEIZED ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN MOTION!!! THE CAR HAS A LENGTHY REQUIRED MAINTENANCE UP-KEEP HISTORY WITH ONE LEXUS DEALERSHIP ONLY. I HAVE ALL THE PRINT OUTS SINCE OCT 2002 - 10,329.06 IN MINOR UPKEEP...AND OR OIL CHANGE, ETC REG. MAINTENANCE. I THINK THAT WE WERE CHARGED FOR A COUPLE OF RECALLED ITEMS LIKE A EXT. LIGHT BUT WE WEREN'T TOLD ANYWAY THE CAR HAS TO DATE..3/2/2010 NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. THE CAR HAS OIL/WATER AND WAS NOT DAMAGED. IT RAN FINE !!!!!!! NO OVER HEAT LIGHT, NO ACCELERATING...NOTHING LIKE THAT IT IS SUCH A SHAME. I AM UP BEAT AND WAS JUST LOOKING FOR PROBABLY SOMETHING SIMPLE LIKE A TPS OR FUSE... BUT HAS BEEN SAID BY LEXUS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG. I WAS SHOCKED THOUGH BECAUSE LEXUS DOES KNOW IT WILL BE 14 THOUSAND DOLLARS THOUGH TO REPAIR. (A NEW ENGINE) I HAVE PLEADED WITH THE CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THAT SINCE THE CAR HAS 130.000 MILES IT IS NOT THEIR RESP. TO HELP ME WITH A SOLUTION. MY FAMILY HAS PURCHASED 4 VEHICLES FROM LEXUS. WE HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS. WHY NOW ARE THEY TURNING THEIR BACKS??? PLEASE HELP ME I AM RENTING A VEHICLE AT A RATE OF $30 A DAY FROM ENTERPRISE AND A SINGLE MOTHER OF…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2010Engine and engine coolingODI 10315863

Tires

2 reports
“ORIGINAL DUNLOP TIRES ON2003, LEXUS LS, 430 WORE OUT AFTER17640 MILES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2004TiresODI 10062051

Latches/locks/linkages

1 report
“THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 12, 2011Structure, Latches/locks/linkagesODI 10406010
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.