Lexus LS
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History
10 model years analyzed (2017–2026). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database — the same data used by federal regulators.
Checking a specific Lexus LS? Run a VIN check for its exact history.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
AI Interpretation
Low ConfidenceAverageBased on the limited data, complaints for the Lexus LS (2017-2026) are concentrated in the UNKNOWN OR OTHER and WHEELS components, each with 4 complaints. The 2018 model year accounts for the majority of complaints (10 out of 15). No crash-related complaints were reported, but the low total complaint count and low confidence level suggest caution in drawing conclusions.
- The 2018 model year has the highest number of complaints (10 out of 15).
- WHEELS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER components each have 4 complaints, the most among reported components.
- No crash-related complaints were reported across all model years.
- WHEELS: 4 complaints reported, making it one of the most frequent complaint components.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: 3 complaints reported.
- TIRES: 2 complaints reported.
The 2018 model year has the most complaints (10), driven primarily by WHEELS and UNKNOWN OR OTHER components. The 2021 model year also shows elevated complaints (4), with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM being a notable component.
Model years 2017, 2020, and 2022 show zero complaints, which may indicate fewer reported issues, but the low sample size means this could be due to low reporting rather than superior reliability.
- Inspect wheels and tires for any signs of damage or premature wear.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, especially for the 2018 model year.
- Request service records for electrical system repairs or issues.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase, focusing on reported components.
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
11 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
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Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 15 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
15 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
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.
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.
Showing 15 of 15 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check a Specific Lexus LS
This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Lexus LS has 15 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Lexus LS has 11 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 0 of the Lexus LS's 15 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the AI Rating Calculated?
The AI reliability rating (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision — always verify with a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Lexus LS vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Lexus LS vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Lexus LS has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.