IllustrationBATTERY DRAIN AND DAMAGING ALTERNATER . HEADLIGHTS FLICKERS AND GAS LEAK AND POWER STEERING PROBLEMS.
1999 Lexus GS400
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all GS400 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
4 reportsVEHICLE ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING. HAS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS MORE THAN ONCE WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY ON FREEWAY ON-RAMP. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS400. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOWER BALL JOINT MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND THEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR WIRE HAD TO BE REWIRED AND THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURREN…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LEXUS GS400. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE LOWER BALL JOINT MADE A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE AND THEN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR WIRE HAD TO BE REWIRED AND THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAS RESEARCHED A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS FOR THIS FAILURE ON THE INTERNET. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,000. UPDATED 04/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 04/27/09.*JB
WHILE DRIVING AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL JUST CUT OFF, WHICH COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP03003 · Unintended Engine Speed Increase/sa
Opened Jul 17, 2003 · Closed Sep 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
ON MAY 13, 2003 THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) RECEIVED AN APRIL 25, 2003 LETTER FROM MR. PETER BODDAERT PETITIONING THE AGENCY TO CONDUCT A PETITION ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN 1997 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR LEXUS 300 AND 400 SERIES VEHICLES FOR PROBLEMS OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES WHICH RESULTS IN SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED EXCESSIVE (VEHICLE) ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO PRESSURE [SIC]APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.IN SUPPORT OF HIS PETITION, MR. BODDAERT CITES A NUMBER OF ODI REPORTS CONCERNING VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LINKAGES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.INCLUDED AMONGST THE THIRTY-SIX REPORTS HE CITES IS ONE INVOLVING A LEXUS THAT COLLIDED WITH FIVE OTHER CARS IN THE SPACE OF ONE-HALF MILE BEFORE IT COULD BE STOPPED.ODI FOUND NO DATA INDICATING THE EXISTENCE OF A DEFECT TREND RELATED TO THE PETITIONER'S ALLEGATIONS AT THIS TIME.THEREFORE, THERE IS NO REASONABLE POSSIBILITY THAT AN ORDER CONCERNING THE NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WOULD BE ISSUED AS A RESULT OF GRANTING MR. BODDAERT'S PETITION.CONSEQUENTLY, IN VIEW OF THE NEED TO ALLOCATE AND PRIORITIZE NHTSA'S LIMITED RESOURCES TO BEST ACCOMPLISH THE AGENCY'S SAFETY MISSION, THE PETITION IS DENIED.