Problems · NHTSA complaints

2012 Lexus LS460 problems

Owners filed 8 complaints about the 2012 Lexus LS460 with NHTSA between Apr 2014 and May 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (3).

Complaints
8
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags3
  2. Service brakes2
  3. Electrical system1
  4. Structure1
  5. Steering1
  6. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  7. 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 7, 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
20141
20151
20160
20170
20180
20192
20200
20210
20222
20230
20241
20251

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

Air bags

3 reports2 crashes
“Someone hit from front left head on but the airbags did not deploy. Car was damaged the extent that it maybe totalled. I am working with ALSTATE Insurance at this time.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 19, 2022Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11485175

Service brakes

2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LEXUS LS460. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BRAKES SHOOK AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT CALLED CHATHAM PARKWAY LEXUS AT 888-379-0084 (LOCATED AT 1120 CHATHAM PKWY, SAVANNAH, GA 31405) AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE BRAKE FAILURE AND FOUND TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER: SB0036-15R1. THE CONTACT PROVIDED THE BULLETIN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2019Service brakesODI 11288166

Electrical system

1 report
“unknown”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2025Electrical systemODI 11661789

Structure

1 report
“See attached document for complaint”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2024Unknown or other, StructureODI 11609606

Steering

1 report
“THE 1ST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN NOVATO, CA MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM THE IGNACIO BLVD BRIDGE OVER 101N TO NAVE DR. AFTER A RAIN THE PREVIOUS DAY. WHEN THE FRONT OF THE CAR SLID SLIGHTLY, THE SKID CONTROL TURNED THE WHEELS SHARPLY TO THE LEFT FORCING THE CAR INTO THE LANE TO MY LEFT. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN THAT LANE OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BUT LEXUS REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE INSISTING IT MUST BE REPRODUCED BY A DEALER FOR THEM TO ACT. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE AS NO DEALER HAS FACILITIES TO DO THIS. THE 2ND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A HILL AT THE INTERSECTION OF WILLARD & PARNASSUS IN SAN FRANCISCO ON 3/14/14. I HAD MADE A U-TURN TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE ON WILLARD AND WAS FACING DOWNHILL. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT RAPIDLY ROLLED FORWARD WHICH IS NOT EXPECTED IN AN AUTOMATIC. I SUBMITTED VIDEO EVIDENCE OF THIS TO LEXUS AND THIS PROBLEM WAS REPRODUCED BY FREEMAN LEXUS IN SANTA ROSA WHICH, HOWEVER, HAS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND LEXUS REFUSES TO DO SO THOUGH THIS, TOO, COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS 3RD INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4/14/14 WHEN, AT WOODLAND MARKET IN ROSS, I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE AND THE REAR VIEW…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2014Steering, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10583321

Electronic stability control (esc)

1 report
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026

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