What breaks most · 1998 to 2007 model years
Lexus LX470 problems by year
Owners have filed 86 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Lexus LX470 across model years 1998 to 2007. Three years stand out: 2003 for steering complaints, 2000 for stability control complaints and 1999 for brakes complaints. The quietest years are 2004, 1998 and 2001.
- Years to check closely: 2003, 2000, 1999
- Fewest complaints: 2004, 1998, 2001
- Complaints on file
- 861998 to 2007, all trims
- Worst year
- 200318 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 101 fires · 4 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 101kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 18Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 1 | Brakes (2) | |
| 14 | 1 | 1 | Brakes (3) | |
| 17 | 2 | 1 | Stability control (4) | |
| 5 | 1 | 1 | Speed control and throttle (3) | |
| 5 | 0 | 1 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 18 | 1 | 3 | Steering (5) | |
| 2 | 0 | 3 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | Suspension (2) | |
| 9 | 2 | 3 | Air bags (5) | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | Suspension (1) |
What fails on the 2003 Lexus LX470
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 28% |
5 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 22% |
4 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
| Air bags | 11% |
2 | 1 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop brakes parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 11% |
2 | 0 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 6% |
1 | 0 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 6% |
1 | 0 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2003 Lexus LX470 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
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It is a known problem that alot of these made are missing the relays for the foglights and rear heat, and parking brakes freeze up.
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Vehicle locks up on right hand curves over 30 mph causing vehicle to slide into other lanes. Very dangerous condition which intermittent and unpredictable. Similar problems with same make, model and year across the web.
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Started vehicle....ABS and brake light came on as well as an audible buzzer. Drove the truck 3 miles and lost all brakes, pedal to the floor and had to use hand brake (emergency brake) to get stopped.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Lexus LX470 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2003, 2000, 1999 carry the most filings on the Lexus LX470. The 2003 alone has 18 complaints, led by steering.
What is the most common Lexus LX470 problem?
On the 2003 model year, the most-reported component is steering with 5 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Lexus LX470 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Lexus LX470 complaints that include mileage is about 101,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.