AI Damage1998 Lexus LS400: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Lexus LS400 filed 45 complaints with NHTSA, most often about vehicle speed control and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 45
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Vehicle speed control 31% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 4% of all complaints
- Vehicle speed control: 14 complaints (31% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 9 complaints (20% of all).
- Tires: 6 complaints (13% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 45 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While trying to park, vehicle suddenly surged forward and ran into a store before stopping. Consumer had brakes applied. Contacted dealer. Jlg
At a stop vehicle lurched out of control and accelerated without touching gas pedal. Brakes did not stop vehicle, and rearended another vehicle. Damaged hood and grill on vehicle. Contacted dealer and vehicle was repaired.
Sudden acceleration when applying brakes to bring vehicle to a stop, causing vehicle to rear end another vehicle in front of consumer. Driver received a sprained waist. Dealer notified.
While stationary, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts were made. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
The airbags in the front of the car dropped and it weighs the front of the car down so I need to warm up the car so that the front engine rises and doesn't scrape when you turn the wheel. Please advise if this can be checked by lexis for safety reasons free of charge.
Tl contact owns a 1998 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the hood of the vehicle was fully opened in a secured position and without warning, it suddenly released in a downward position and closed. The hood released on the contacts left hand and caused injury to the middle finger.
I then noticed the air bag light came on in the dash. After the "snap" it was easier to turn the steering wheel clockwise and counter clockwise. I don't know what is wrong but will take the car to the dealer to check this out.
Also can this cause an underhood fire in my vehicle while I'm continuing to start my vehicle with this problem persisting? Thank you for your time. 3. Vehicle has not been repaired yet.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,630 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the LS400 has 28 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 45, above average.
What to check before buying
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Lexus LS400?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: vehicle speed control, electrical system, tires. Total complaints: 45. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: unintended acceleration (16%), airbag warning light (9%), tires: bulges, blowouts (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Lexus LS400?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1998 Lexus LS400 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1998 models
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.