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2003 Lexus GX470

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Lexus GX470 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 28.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

5 reports
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110,000 miles · Jan 22, 2019
StructureSuspensionUnknown Or Other

FRAME IS ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT, EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON AN OTHERWISE SPOTLESS VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS COMMON TO THE EARLY/MID 2000'S TOYOTA TUNDRA, TACOMA, AND 4RUNNER, THE LATTER OF WHICH SHARES FRAME COMPONENTS. TOYOTA, FOR WHATEVER REASON, COVERED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA THROUGH RECALLS, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT DO…

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FRAME IS ROTTING FROM INSIDE OUT, EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON AN OTHERWISE SPOTLESS VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT WAS COMMON TO THE EARLY/MID 2000'S TOYOTA TUNDRA, TACOMA, AND 4RUNNER, THE LATTER OF WHICH SHARES FRAME COMPONENTS. TOYOTA, FOR WHATEVER REASON, COVERED THE TUNDRA AND TACOMA THROUGH RECALLS, BUT SO FAR HAS NOT DONE A RECALL ON THE 4RUNNER OR GX470.

NHTSA ODI #11171320

40,000 miles · Aug 17, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 3 YEARS TO GET THE CRACKED / MELTING DASHBOARD REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL I RECEIVED OVER 3 YEARS AGO. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND THEY SAID I WAS STILL # 49 IN LINE TO GET THIS DONE. REALLY ? AFTER 3 YEARS. HOW PATIENT DOES ONE NEED TO BE ? I BELIEVE A CIVIL SUIT IS IN ORDER HERE. WITH THE TIME…

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I HAVE BEEN WAITING OVER 3 YEARS TO GET THE CRACKED / MELTING DASHBOARD REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL I RECEIVED OVER 3 YEARS AGO. I SPOKE TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND THEY SAID I WAS STILL # 49 IN LINE TO GET THIS DONE. REALLY ? AFTER 3 YEARS. HOW PATIENT DOES ONE NEED TO BE ? I BELIEVE A CIVIL SUIT IS IN ORDER HERE. WITH THE TIME AND TRIPS TO THE DEALER FOR THIS AND IT'S STILL NOT HANDLED - SOMEONE WITH SOME AUTHORITY NEEDS TO PRESS THIS ISSUE WITH LEXUS.

NHTSA ODI #10896577

28,478 miles · Aug 20, 2014
Unknown Or Other

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A GX470 LEXUS. THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHER VEHICLES IS GARAGE KEPT. I DON'T DRIVE SOME OF MY VEHICLES A LOT AS WITH MY GX470 BECAUSE OF THE GAS MILEAGE AND DIFFICULTY IN PARKING VERSES MY C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ AND OTHER CARS. BUT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED SEVERE CRACKING IN MY FRONT DASH WHILE …

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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A GX470 LEXUS. THIS VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHER VEHICLES IS GARAGE KEPT. I DON'T DRIVE SOME OF MY VEHICLES A LOT AS WITH MY GX470 BECAUSE OF THE GAS MILEAGE AND DIFFICULTY IN PARKING VERSES MY C-CLASS MERCEDES BENZ AND OTHER CARS. BUT IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR I NOTICED SEVERE CRACKING IN MY FRONT DASH WHILE TAKING A LONG TRIP. THE CRACKING IS SO SEVERE THAT IT GOES ACROSS THE FRONT DASH WHERE THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS ARE LOCATED. THE CRACKING HAS ALSO CAUSED THE SPEAKERS SOUND TO BE DISTORTED. I CONTACTED LEXUS, BUT AT THE TIME I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LEXUSES GX470S THAT HAVE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. ONE OF THE THINGS I WOULD SUGGEST IS THAT THOSE LEXUS OWNERS LIKE MYSELF THAT IS GOING TO FILE A LAWSUIT SHOULD GET TOGETHER. MY EMAIL ADDRESS IS: [XXX] I ALSO THINK THAT A WAY TO GET THE ADDITION OF LEXUS AND POTENTIAL LEXUS BUYERS THAT HAVE NO IDEA THAT THIS PROBLEM THAT KIA OWNERS DON'T HAVE TO FACE IS THE PLAN A PROTEST OF LEXUS DEALERSHIPS NATIONWIDE. SATURDAY IS A BIG DAY IN THE CAR BUSINESS; BELIEVE ME I USE TO WORK IN THE INDUSTRY. TO HAVE EVEN JUST THREE TO FOUR PROTESTORS WITH SIGNS WARNING POTENTIAL LEXUS CUSTOMERS OF WHAT LEXUS OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING AND THE FACT THAT LEXUS IS REFUSING TO MAKE THIS RIGHT WILL GET LEXUS ATTENTION. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM BASED ON THE CONSUMER BUT LEXUS AND WHATEVER COMPANY THAT THEY CONTRACTED WITH TO PRODUCE THESE DASH. I AM PERSONALLY GOING TO SUE LEXUS. I WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE MY PLEADINGS WITH ANYONE ELSE, BUT I CANNOT GIVE LEGAL ADVISE OF ANY KIND BECAUSE I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY. PLEADINGS ARE PUBLIC RECORD. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10626506

5 miles · Jan 17, 2004
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE OWNED 2 GX470'S AND BOTH HAVE HAD A "KNOCKING" WHEN YOU STOP THE VEHICLE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH SOMEONE HAS TAPPED ME FROM BEHIND MY VEHICLE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE, DEALER AND TECHNICIAN CLAIM THIS IS NORMAL FOR AN SUV. I HAVE OWNED A MERCEDES ML 430 AND THERE WAS NEVER A THUMP FROM THE REAR. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054329

1 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Unknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON, A SULFUR LIKE ODOR ENTERED THROUGH THE A/C VENT. THE CONDITION CAUSED HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE DRIVER ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TURNED THE A/C OFF TO ALLOW THE FRESH AIR TO REMOVED ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE AN…

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WHEN DRIVING WITH THE AIR CONDITION ON, A SULFUR LIKE ODOR ENTERED THROUGH THE A/C VENT. THE CONDITION CAUSED HEADACHES AND NAUSEA. THE DRIVER ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS AND TURNED THE A/C OFF TO ALLOW THE FRESH AIR TO REMOVED ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMPLETE THIS QUESTIONNAIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10044658

Official recalls

2

03V088000 · Seats:mid/rear Assembly

Mar 10, 2003

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO LOCK ONE OF THE TWO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MIDDLE ROW LEFT REAR SEAT (LARGER SIDE OF THE BENCH SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER). DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM STORAGE CASE, THE STOPPER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. THIS ELEVATED POSITION MISALIGNS THE LATCH TO THE STRIKER.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH ONLY ONE LATCH LOCKED, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE LLS CASE PANELS AROUND THE SEAT STOPPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-888-333-9376.

03V031000 · Equipment:other:labels

Feb 11, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) DATA WAS PRINTED ON THE CERTIFICATION REGULATION LABEL. THE GVWR IS INCORRECTLY REFLECTED ON THE LABEL AS 6,100 LBS. THE CORRECT GVWR SHOULD BE 6,000 LBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT MEET THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS.

Remedy: AS EACH LABEL IS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SPECIFIC, OWNERS WILL BE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THEIR LOCAL LEXUS DEALER FIRST TO PLACE AN ORDER FOR THE CORRECTED LABEL. ONCE THE LABEL HAS ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE OWNER WILL BE CONTACTED FOR LABEL REPLACEMENT. OWNER BEGAN APRIL 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.