NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 152 owner complaints for the Lexus LS 400, covering model years 1995 to 2001. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (45), and Vehicle Speed Control is the component owners name most often.
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.
Decode your Lexus LS 400 VIN
See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.
1 recall campaign on file
· 152 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
· 7 model years with data (1995–2001)
most complaints: 1998 (45 for that model year)
· top component: Vehicle Speed Control (37 complaints)
· latest recall 98V016000 (reported Jan 27, 1998)
29 complaints reporting a crash (19.1%)
· 2 complaints reporting a fire (1.3%)
· 12 complaints reporting an injury (7.9%)
· 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)
Lexus LS 400 complaints by model year
7 model years · NHTSA complaints
The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 45 of 152, or 29.6%. Next come 1995 (39) and 1999 (22). The fewest are for 2001, with 2 complaints.
Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Lexus LS 400 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Lexus LS 400 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year
Complaints
Reporting a crash
Reporting a fire
Reporting an injury
Reporting a death
1995
39
4
0
2
0
1996
19
4
1
0
0
1997
13
2
1
2
0
1998
45
7
0
3
0
1999
22
7
0
3
0
2000
12
3
0
2
0
2001
2
2
0
0
0
All model years
152
29
2
12
0
Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.
Most-reported Lexus LS 400 components
top 15 · NHTSA categories
Vehicle Speed Control is the component named most often, in 37 complaints (24.3% of all 152), followed by Electrical System (33) and Seat Belts (12).
Components named most often in Lexus LS 400 complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Lexus LS 400 complaints (top 15)
Component
Complaints
Share of complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
37
24.3%
Electrical System
33
21.7%
Seat Belts
12
7.9%
Tires
12
7.9%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
11
7.2%
Power Train
10
6.6%
Engine
7
4.6%
Suspension
7
4.6%
Unknown or Other
7
4.6%
Visibility
7
4.6%
Air Bags
6
3.9%
Engine and Engine Cooling
5
3.3%
Steering
5
3.3%
Exterior Lighting
4
2.6%
Fuel System, Gasoline
4
2.6%
One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.
What NHTSA owner complaints mean
These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.
They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.
Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.
Lexus LS 400 recalls
1 campaign · newest first
Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name LS 400, newest first. The only campaign, 98V016000, covers model years 1995, 1996 and 1997.
1 recall campaign
Lexus LS 400 recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign
1996: 1 campaign
1997: 1 campaign
CampaignReportedComponent, defect and remedy
NHTSA campaign 98V016000
Reported
Electrical System › Starter Assembly
Model years 1995–1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to improper assembly of the terminal for the starter motor magnetic switch, an electrical short circuit can occur if electrically-conductive liquid, such as road splash with deicing salt, enters this area.
Consequence:
A starter motor no-start condition or an underhood fire can result.
Remedy:
Dealers will repair the magnetic switch.
Filed by Toyota Motor Corporation
Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.
How to read this recall list
This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.
What each recall field means
What each recall field means
Field
What it tells you
Campaign number
NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component
The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary
What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence
The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy
What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.
NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Lexus LS 400, covering model years 1995 to 2001. The campaign, 98V016000, was reported on January 27, 1998 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 1995, 1996 and 1997 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).
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Which Lexus LS 400 model year has the most complaints?
The 1998 model year, with 45 of the 152 complaints in NHTSA’s file (29.6%). The next are 1995 (39) and 1999 (22). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.
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What is the most common Lexus LS 400 complaint?
Vehicle Speed Control is the component named most often: 37 complaints, or 24.3% of all 152. Electrical System (33) and Seat Belts (12) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.
▶▼
Does every recall on this page apply to my Lexus LS 400?
Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Lexus dealer.
▶▼
How many Lexus LS 400 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?
Of the 152 complaints, 29 report a crash, 2 a fire, 12 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.
Other Lexus models
8 models · most complaints first
The Lexus models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Lexus VIN decoder with every Lexus model page, WMI code and VIN note.
Lexus ES 3502007–2023 · 11 recalls · 1,451 complaints
Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.