NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
32 reports6,000 miles · Mar 10, 2014
Air Bags
AFTER A SHORT TIME OF BUYING MY WIFE'S GX470, A SMALL CRACK APPEARED IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOCATION. AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AS MY WIFE STATED IT WAS MORE LIKE A LINE IN THE DASH. THROUGH THE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THESES CRACKS HAVE GROWN, AND NOW THE ENTIRE DASH IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. W…
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AFTER A SHORT TIME OF BUYING MY WIFE'S GX470, A SMALL CRACK APPEARED IN THE DASH ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LOCATION. AT THE TIME WE DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT AS MY WIFE STATED IT WAS MORE LIKE A LINE IN THE DASH. THROUGH THE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THESES CRACKS HAVE GROWN, AND NOW THE ENTIRE DASH IS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER IT WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY AND THEY STATE THAT NOW THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WE TAKE EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF HER CAR AND ALWAYS PARK IT IN THE GARAGE. THE DEALERSHIP ONCE STATED THAT THE PROBABLE PROBLEM WAS SUN RELATED, BUT THAT STATEMENT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE, AND THIS ISSUE REALLY UPSETS ME SINCE LEXUS SEEMS TO HAVE A WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE DASH CRACKING ISSUES. I EVEN FOUND THIS TOPIC BEING DISCUSSED IN LENGTH IN THIS LEXUS FORUM: HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/427349-CRACKED-DASHBOARD.HTML THE DEALER FINALLY DID OFFER TO REPLACE THE DASH IF I PAID FOR THE LABOR, WHICH WAS LIKE $800. I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A KNOWN DEFECT IN THESE DASHES. IT NOW APPEARS MORE CLEARLY THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BEING THAT IT IS IN THE AIRBAG LOCATION. I AM REQUESTING THAT LEXUS STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND REPLACE OUR DASH DUE TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568319
67,711 miles · Mar 5, 2014
Structure
DASH PAD HAD HAIR LINE CRACKS THROUGHOUT. THEN STARTED TO PEEL AROUND AIR BAGS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10567518
88,403 miles · Sep 24, 2013
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,403 AND THE CURRENT MILEA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,403 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 11/30/13
NHTSA ODI #10545103
92,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013
Suspension
VEHICLE LOST SENSE OF SHOCK ABSORPTION, BOUNCY WITH DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING. TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO LEXUS KINGSPORT, TN DEALERSHIP, AND REPAIRED. CIRCA 7 MONTHS LATER, RECURRENCE OF DIFFICULTIES, AND AGAIN, REPAIRED AT LEXUS KINGSPORT DEALERSHIP. CIRCA 1 MONTH AGO, WHILE ON LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL (NORTH CAROLINA TO SOUTH CAROLINA)…
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VEHICLE LOST SENSE OF SHOCK ABSORPTION, BOUNCY WITH DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING. TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO LEXUS KINGSPORT, TN DEALERSHIP, AND REPAIRED. CIRCA 7 MONTHS LATER, RECURRENCE OF DIFFICULTIES, AND AGAIN, REPAIRED AT LEXUS KINGSPORT DEALERSHIP. CIRCA 1 MONTH AGO, WHILE ON LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL (NORTH CAROLINA TO SOUTH CAROLINA) VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, AND "HEIGHT SUSPENSION" DASH WARNING LIGHT ON, AND IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO PERFECTION AUTOMOTIVE, SPECIALIZING IN LEXUS REPAIRS, AND INFORMED I MUST TAKE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO LEXUS HILTON HEAD ISLAND FOR SAFETY REPAIR ON THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM AGAIN. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN SAFELY WHEN THIS CENTRAL VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. THIS HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ON THREE OCCASIONS, BEGINNING WITH VEHICLE REACHING 90,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10504171
60,237 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR SUV AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IT IN A BANK PARKING LOT IN NILES, IL. THE SUV ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT MY WIFE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING HER TO DRIVE OVER A GREEN SPACE, HIT A SIGN ON BANK'S PROPERTY, DRIVE OVER A LARGE BUSH AND A WIRE FENCE AT AN ADJACENT PARK AND FINALLY STOP AFTER REPEATEDLY P…
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MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR SUV AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK IT IN A BANK PARKING LOT IN NILES, IL. THE SUV ACCELERATED SUDDENLY WITHOUT MY WIFE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING HER TO DRIVE OVER A GREEN SPACE, HIT A SIGN ON BANK'S PROPERTY, DRIVE OVER A LARGE BUSH AND A WIRE FENCE AT AN ADJACENT PARK AND FINALLY STOP AFTER REPEATEDLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. WE TOWED THE CAR TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND FROM THERE TO A BODY SHOP. WE HAD THE CAR FOR 8 YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS ISSUE OCCURRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DAMAGE WAS ASSESSED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA ODI #10480321
120,000 miles · Oct 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAT SHIELD HAD DET…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAT SHIELD HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BOLTS WERE WORN. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 120,000. A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE HEAT SHIELD LOCATED ABOVE THE MUFFLER HAD FALLEN OFF AND WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN THE MUFFLER AND THE FLOOR PAN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VIBRATION NOISE HEARD WAS THE HEAT SHIELD RATTLING ON THE MUFFLER ITSELF. UPDATED 06/05/12
NHTSA ODI #10432770
5 miles · Jul 6, 2011
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD BECAME OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10410748
80,000 miles · Jan 26, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND UNEVEN. THE BRAKE CALIPERS PISTONS WERE CEASING. THE RADIATOR COIL AND THE FRONT SV JOINT DRIVE SHAFT ALSO LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTROL SYSTEM LIG…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED CAUSING VIBRATION WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WERE WORN AND UNEVEN. THE BRAKE CALIPERS PISTONS WERE CEASING. THE RADIATOR COIL AND THE FRONT SV JOINT DRIVE SHAFT ALSO LEAKED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT DUPLICATE OR CONFIRM ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT DUE TO THE FAILURE THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE AND THEN HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA ODI #10378747
20,000 miles · Jan 9, 2011
Power Train
THUMP FROM DRIVE TRAIN WHILE COMING TO A STOP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10375321
70,000 miles · Nov 16, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT. DURING THE FAILURE THE VSC LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHO STATED THAT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. HE EXPERIENCED A RECURRING FAILURE IN WHICH THE BRAKES WOULD ENGAGE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARDS THE RIGHT. DURING THE FAILURE THE VSC LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #10365928