Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Lexus LS430 problems

Owners filed 36 complaints about the 2004 Lexus LS430 with NHTSA between Nov 2004 and Jul 2023. The most-cited component is vehicle speed control (6).

Complaints
36
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Vehicle speed control6
  2. Exterior lighting5
  3. Air bags4
  4. Engine3
  5. Steering3
  6. Structure3
  7. Wheels2
  8. Visibility/wiper2
  9. Fuel system, gasoline2
  10. Visibility2
  11. Engine and engine cooling2
  12. Tires2
  13. Power train1
  14. Fuel/propulsion system1

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
20041
20054
20062
20073
20082
20092
20106
20115
20121
20131
20141
20150
20163
20172
20180
20190
20201
20211
20220
20231

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

6 reports4 crashes
“WHEN PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE AT A LOW SPEED (2 MPH) CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED EVEN THOUGH ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT BEING DEPRESSED. OPERATOR'S FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL IT HIT A PARKED VEHICLE. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS BEING TURNED TO THE RIGHT COMING INTO THE PARKING SPACE. THERE WAS A HIGH CURB (~10 INCHES HIGH) AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND A MEDIAN BUT THE CAR JUMPED OVER THIS AND STRUCK THE PARKED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDIAN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2017Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10959529

Exterior lighting

5 reports
“ON CERTAIN VEHICLES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS OPERATED QUICKLY, A SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY SEPARATE FROM A RETAINING COLLAR LOCATED IN THE INNER PART OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS SMALL PIECE OF METAL MAY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE PARKING LOCK MECHANISM. RECALL *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2020Power train, Exterior lighting, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11325317

Air bags

4 reports2 crashes
“AIRBAG FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2010Air bagsODI 10371139

Engine

3 reports
“Sometimes, the car's RPM goes up to 4 and stays there as the car is unable to shift into the next gear. So, the car is not really accelerating at times when this happens. I have to pull over and turn off the car and start it again and sometimes it works correctly and at other times it doesn't. I've started to get check engine lights from time to time that point to solenoid issues. This makes driving this car very dangerous as this issue happens randomly. Thanks, [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2023EngineODI 11533848

Steering

3 reports
“TAKATA RECALL IT WAS RAINING I WAS COMING OUT OF ANTLOCH CHURCH RD TO TURNING ON AUGUSTA RD PEIDMONT SC 29673 WHEN I HEAR A BIG BOOM AND PULL OVER AT THE SPINX TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND HAD THREE BIG POTHOLES IN THE ROAD I COULD SEE THAT MY WHEELS WAS BENT AND ALSO IT WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2017Steering, WheelsODI 10991306

Structure

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS LS 430. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS PLACING ITEMS IN THE TRUNK WHEN THE TRUNK LID UNEXPECTEDLY SLAMMED SHUT. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER FINGER AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2012StructureODI 10442652
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.