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2003 Lexus LX470

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

Limited mileage data: 12 of 18 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.

  • Steering. Review the 5 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 →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
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260,401 miles · Sep 15, 2016
Electrical System

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CH…

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I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS

NHTSA ODI #10906953

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingService Brakes

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.

NHTSA ODI #10863110

170,000 miles · Feb 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND GPS DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE WARNING INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GPS COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BAC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND GPS DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE WARNING INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GPS COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A REMEDY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V346000 (STEERING). THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10824907

76,230 miles · Sep 11, 2015
Electrical System

THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE BETWEEN 10-60 MPH. THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON. THEN I NOTIFIED LEXUS COMPANY, AND THEY SAID "CONTACT THE DEALER". THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN--MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE, FOR FEAR OF SPEEDING O…

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THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE BETWEEN 10-60 MPH. THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON. THEN I NOTIFIED LEXUS COMPANY, AND THEY SAID "CONTACT THE DEALER". THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN--MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE, FOR FEAR OF SPEEDING OR OTHER SPEED PROBLEMS, AS WITH OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE LEXUS CERTIFIED DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THINK THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10763147

Official recalls

3

16V065000 · Air Bags:side/window

Feb 5, 2016

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.

10V346000 · Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman

Jul 29, 2010

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 LEXUS LX470 VEHICLES. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE STEERING SHAFT IS SUCH THAT THE SNAP RING ON THE SHAFT MAY DISENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCES AN UNUSUALLY SEVERE IMPACT TO THE FRONT WHEELS. IF THE SNAP RING BECOMES DISENGAGED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS THEN REPEATEDLY TURNED TO THE LOCKED POSITION, OVER TIME THE STEERING SHAFT MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SNAP RING WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE AND INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL COMPONENT WHICH WILL PREVENT SEPARATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.

04V434000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Sep 8, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DO NOT MEET LUMINOUS INTENSITY STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD BLIND THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE JUNE 10, 2005. OWNERS 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.