AI DamageLexus GX470: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Lexus GX470 across 7 model years: 210 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 20% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- Structure: 43 complaints (20% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 41 complaints (20% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 26 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 25 complaints (12% of all), 7 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 24 complaints (11% of all), 14 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 210 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 43 | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 41 | 6 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 7 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 24 | 14 | 0 |
| Suspension | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Front air bags did not deploy in 35 mph rear end collision with another stationary vehicle on a busy interstate. The other car was totaled out. There was a passenger in the vehicle as well.
Brakes totally failed while descending a steep incline on a city/ state highway causing loss of control and impact with a tree. Air bags failed to deploy.
Hit side road on highway that was gravel. Turned wheel to get back on highway and suv rolled 1 1/2 times - had taken it in a couple years prior due to back wheels not being stable on gravel roads and was told the stability control was fine which it wasn't.
I have a 2004 gx470 suv. Today I was in a parking lot, trying to back out and leave. With one foot on the accelerator, I found it stuck, which was odd, as I had not experienced it before. So I pressed on it again, I thought, lightly.
The lexus gx470 has many major safety issues that are going to end up in deaths for example the sunroof draining system overflows and drains on and near the brake pedals and the then overflows onto the floor boards causing the whole general area to be extremely slippery and at times rendering the brakes unusable.
When I applied the brake, I heard a strange sound and the vehicle jerked violently. The vehicle failed to decelerate, therefore I attempted to re-apply the brakes once more. At this point, the brakes did not seem to be working and the vehicle continued to accelerate beyond my control.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.