Lexus LS Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

The contact owns a 2019 Lexus LS500. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH and made a knocking sound. The contact was able to drive 15 MPH and pulled over off the roadway. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence and then to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle, and the contact was informed that the engine was blown. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,000.

My vehicle has the V6 twin turbo engine that’s been recalled on other years and models and was diagnosed with an internal engine failure. The mechanic at the dealership couldn’t figure out the problem so an expert TAS Lexus specialist was called in and couldn’t figure out the problem either. They’ve had the car for 3 months and since they don’t know how to fix it they are telling me to just replace the engine with a used engine at a cost of $25,000. The vehicle is just out of warranty and Toyota/Lexus is refusing to cover any of the costs. The vehicle was serviced regularly so this shouldn’t have happened. This is a common problem with this model of engine. I believe it’s a design flaw as this model engine is assembled at different plants/locations and over long periods of time that would indicate a design flaw and not due to Toyota’s official stance of debris left in engine block during assembly. Toyota should recall and replace all these engines at no charge to the owner of the vehicle.

Both headlight assemblies on a 2021 Lexus LS 500 show external lens delamination, along with visible condensation inside the sealed units. The vehicle has been garage kept, has not been involved in any accidents, and has no external damage to the headlight assemblies. The outer lens surfaces are deteriorating, and moisture is present inside components that are designed to be sealed. The condition has progressively worsened over time. These issues reduce headlight clarity and light output, negatively affecting forward visibility during nighttime driving and creating a potential safety hazard.

I was driving and my sunroof exploded sounding like a gun shot. The sunroof shattered and was blown apart on all 4 sides. Glass fell in my face and all over me

OEM Bridgestone Turanza EL440 RFT 245/45 R20 These tires have not retained recommended air pressure for more than a few weeks at a time since new. Inspection earlier this year by a Bridgestone dealer found no problem with a tire that had lost 5 psi in a week. The tire subsequently began making a rotational noise that the Lexus dealer diagnosed as a slipped belt. Having replaced the defective tire, I now have the same noise symptoms arising in another tire. The dealer can find no reason for the chronic air loss in the two left side tires which, given the developing rotational noise, I expect will soon have similar belt failure. Dealer personnel admit that these tires are problematic. Bridgestone customer service has been unresponsive.

The car slipped because of tread wear on the inner side of all four tires. Car has manufacturer installed tires.

Large lump/lumps on the lower left / bottom portion of the driver's seat, protruding from the seat bottom closest to the lower bolster. As a direct result my left leg loses its circulation, it causes numbness and muscle pain in thigh and groin due to this. Regardless of seat adjustment the lump / imperfection in the seat cushion is present. This can become dangerous during longer drives and trips. According to the Lexus forums this is a known issue in the 2018-2024 LS500 that Lexus is apparently aware of but has not resolved or seriously looked into. My Lexus service advisor admitted that she has heard of this problem from other LS500 owners and said that the issue has been reported to Lexus. Despite this known issue, no technical service bulletin has been issued by Lexus and no corrective action has taken place. The imperfection in the seat can create a safety issue during trips due to it causing numbness, pain and discomfort in the leg. This is not an issue one would expect in owning a $100K plus vehicle.

Recently I purchased a CPO Lexus 2018 LS 500. I realized I am not able to enter Coordinate in the GPS Navigation system. Lexus took away the most import tool (The coordinate Entry) in navigation system away, this make the navigation system useless and easy to get lost when cell service not available especially in and around State and Nation Park area.

All 4 tires have tread wear on the inner side. Took it to lexus they said no remedy is available ended up selling the car. May cause slip and accident

The vehicle exhibited 3 episodes of premature battery failure. Mileage of the vehicle is 6000 miles. Without any warning the car would just not start from a gas pump or such locations in the middle of the road. This is a dangerous problem because there was no warning that the battery is running low or there is any problem. Car runs 100 miles every day. Lexis dealership diagnosed battery failure and replace the battery but this is a safety issue particularly because it happens in the middle of the night when you are driving in a remote location and gas pumps tell you to switch off engine before filling And there is no warning sign to indicate that there is a problem with the battery THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A SAFETY ISSUE

VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING. RECALL ANNOUNCED TO US 1/20/2020. HAVE ATTEMPTED NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE DEALERSHIP DO THE FREE RECALL REPAIR. EVEN WHILE THERE FOR OIL CHANGES AND REGULAR SERVICES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR. HAVE BEEN TOLD EACH TIME THEY NEED TO ORDER THE PART AND THEY WILL CALL ME. 10 MONTHS OF THIS NOW AND CAR IS UNSAFE- THEY KEEP STALLING ON DOING THE REPAIR THAT IS A SAFETY RISK FOR MYSELF AND FAMILY. WANT THIS DOCUMENTED IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO US AND WE HAVE AN INJURY OR DEATH BECAUSE THE CAR HAS BEEN HESITATING AND THEY CONTINUE TO TELL US THEY DON'T HAVE THE FUEL PUMP TO DO THE REPAIR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS LS 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM TENTH GEAR TO FOURTH GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE RPMS REVVED UP AND THE CONTACT FLICKED THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO GO BACK TO THE TENTH GEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED 6 TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHNSON LEXUS OF RALEIGH LOCATED AT (5839 CAPITAL BLVD, RALEIGH, NC 27616 (919) 436-3916). THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TEST DRIVEN. A SPECIALIST WAS BROUGHT IN FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO ASSIST WITH THE DIAGNOSTIC AND INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A LOANER FOR THE DURATION OF THE INSPECTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM, WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO AID IN PREVENTING A CRASH. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, IT RELEASED THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IMMEDIATELY AND THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ACTIVATED. AS A RESULT, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE RELEASED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO JIM HUDSON LEXUS (LOCATED AT 3410 WASHINGTON RD, AUGUSTA, GA 30907, 706-650-9999) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC BOX INDICATED THAT A COLLISION WAS NOT DETECTED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND THE ACTUATORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,300. *LN THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE PEDESTRIAN HOOD POP UP FEATURE ACTIVATED AS DESIGNED.*JB

APEAL AGAINST THE RECALL DONE BY LEXUS TOYOTA ON MAY 16TH, 2019, I TOOK MY CAR LEXUS 2018 LS 500 TO THE DEALER, LEXUS OF WOODLAND HILLS, WHERE I BOUGHT IT, FOR BEING RECALLED BY THE COMPANY. (NHTSA RECALL NO. 19V-134) AFTER RECALL DEFECTS WERE FIXED, I DROVE ABOUT 4,000 MILES AND TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR MAINTENANCE. AT THIS TIME, TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF DEEP LARGE SCRAPES ON ALL FOUR TIRES, WHICH I HAD NEVER SEEN IN THE ENTIRE DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE WERE POINTED OUT BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER VIOLENTLY INSISTED ON THE SCRAPES WERE NOT CAUSED BY THE DEFECTS. AFTER TREMENDOUS ARGUMENT, THE DEALER WROTE, 'DIAGNOSTICS IS REQUIRED TO DETERMINE THE RECOMMENDED CORRECTION FOR YOUR CONCERN.' THE CAR ALSO HAS STABILITY PROBLEM. FROM THE BEGINNING, IT LACKS STABILITY COMPARED WITH LS460 TRADED-IN. I VISITED LEXUS OF GLENDALE, SANTA MONICA, AND THOUSAND OAKS. THEY WERE SURPRISED AT CONDITION OF SCRAPES, BUT THEY WITHHELD COMMENT. I HAD NO CHOICE, BUT TO APPEAL TO LEXUS OF TOYOTA. I CONTACTED; <DATE> <CONTACTED TO THE PERSON OF..> <BY > 10/02/19 TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. EMAIL 10/16/19 LEXUS CASE MANAGER PHONE 10/18/19 LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER EMAIL 10/22/19 LEXUS EXECUTIVE OFFICE PHONE 10/24/19 LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER EMAIL 10/31/19 LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER EMAIL 11/06/19 FACTORY REP. AT LEXUS OF BEVERLY HILLS. 11/11/19 LEXUS EXECUTIVE OFFICE EMAIL THEIR RESPONSE WAS 'VERY NEGATIVE' AND GAVE ME HARDEST TIME TO APPEAL. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A RIGHT FOR SAFETY STANDARD GUARANTEED AND DECIDED TO APPEAL. *JS

I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TODAY WITH LEXUS CORPORATION BECAUSE BOTH MY DEALERSHIP, NEW COUNTRY LEXUS OF LATHAM, AND LEXUS CORPORATION HAVE CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE DANGER THEY HAVE PLACED MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE PURCHASED THREE LEXUS' OVER THE YEARS FROM NEW COUNTRY LEXUS AND AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE FROM BOTH MY DEALER AND LEXUS CORPORATION. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT NEW COUNTRY AND LEXUS CORPORATION WOULD PUT ME AND MY FAMILY AT RISK OF INJURY AND/OR DEATH. PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT I HAVE REACHED OUT TWICE TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THREE TIMES TO LEXUS CORPORATION. THEREFORE, I AM DOCUMENTING MY CONCERNS IN THE EVENT OF A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OCCURRING IN WHICH I WILL HOLD BOTH LEXUS CORPORATION AND NEW COUNTRY LEXUS RESPONSIBLE. ON FEBRUARY 26, 2019 A SAFETY RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED REGARDING CERTAIN RUN-FLAT TIRES WHICH INCLUDED MY NEW VEHICLE, 2018 LS 500. I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS RECALL NOTICE UNTIL FRIDAY MARCH 29, 2019. THE PREVIOUS WEEK, ON MARCH 24TH, I WAS ON MY WAY TO KENNEDY AIRPORT IN NEW YORK CITY AND HAD A BLOW-OUT CROSSING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BRIDGE. THE SIDE WALL OF MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD BLOWN OUT (PICTURE ATTACHED). THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO VEER INTO TRAFFIC WHICH I FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO AVOID. I WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO A 24HR TIRE REPAIR STATION WHERE A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS PUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE TOWING CHARGE AND NEW TIRE COST ME $400 WHICH LEXUS HAS REFUNDED ME A CHECK FOR $400. TO THIS DAY I CONTINUE TO BE TOLD THE TIRES ARE ON BACK ORDER AND I AM STILL DRIVING ON DEFECTIVE TIRES. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY 6 MONTHS.

THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM BLOWS FUSES AND STOPS WORKING, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH CONTINUES TO INDICATE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO WAY TO LEARN THAT THE COLLISION SYSTEM IS OFFLINE UNLESS YOU'RE WILLING TO SIMULATE A NEAR CERTAIN COLLISION (WHICH I DID WITH THE DEALER IN MY CAR AND HE FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM), OR HAVING AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW. IF THE FUSE IS BLOWN, OBVIOUSLY THE SYSTEM SHOULD SHOW AN ERROR WHEN IT'S ENGAGED - NOT A GREEN INDICATOR.

Driver's seat is painful after 15 minutes. It is available for inspection. Causing shifting of position and pinching of nerves reduced feeling to foot. Problem has not been confirmed by dealer. Vehicle has been inspected by manufactures dealer. Problem first appeared 7/26/2025

My 2025 Lexus LS500, with only 500 miles, has two serious defects in the front passenger seat, creating a safety hazard. The massage function is non-functional, grayed out in the infotainment system, and the seat belt fails to tighten or retract, leaving significant slack when buckled. Issues appeared during normal city driving (dry conditions, <10 mph, no accidents or modifications). The seat belt, when pulled and buckled, remains loose with several inches of slack, failing to secure an occupant. This was tested 5+ times, stationary and moving. The massage feature (part of the 28-way adjustable seat package) is grayed out, indicating a system fault, likely in the seat’s control module or air bladders. No warning lights (e.g., SRS) are on, and no diagnostic codes are retrieved yet. The loose belt poses a severe risk in a collision, as it cannot restrain the occupant, increasing chances of ejection or injury (e.g., head/neck trauma). A dealer visit is planned under warranty, but this manufacturing defect in a new vehicle is alarming. Vehicle was bought new from Lexus of Glendale, Glendale, CA. Photos of the grayed-out controls and slack belt are available. This may affect other 2025 LS500s and warrants investigation to prevent injuries or fatalities.