2003 Lexus Lx470 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Steering (4) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (2) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Lexus Lx470 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags:side/Window 2016-02-05 · campaign 16V065000 · 320,409 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: 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.
Steering:gear Box:shaft Pitman 2010-07-29 · campaign 10V346000 · 39,159 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (82)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment 2022-04-13 · Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lexus safety recall and service campaign - technician certification requirements 4.13.2022
Wheels 2022-01-12 · Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pol: this consolidated tire warranty guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by lexus. this information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. customers can find this information o
Power Train:automatic Transmission:fluid/Lubricant 2020-08-05 · L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. this bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty
Power Train:manual Transmission:lubricant 2020-08-05 · L-SB-0002-20 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: vehicles may display evidence of a fluid leak or fluid seep from powertrain components. this bulletin explains how to determine the differences between a fluid leak versus a fluid seep. cases that are determined to be a ?leak? should be repaired accordingly and will be covered under warranty
Steering 2020-06-23 · L-SB-0174-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: obsolete notice june 23, 2020: this bulletin is now obsolete. please see l-sb-0023-20.
Wheels 2020-06-23 · L-SB-0023-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: supersession notice the information contained in this bulletin supersedes service bulletin nos. st004-01, su001-08, and l-sb-0174-08. the aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. be sure to review the entire content of this service bulletin before
Showing the 6 most recent of 82 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-11-06 · Steering · 2 mi“my 2003 lexus lx470 has faulty vgrs ecu. steering wheel spins to 180 degrees. on october 11, 2018, when i backed it out from the driveway, the steering wheel turned 180 degrees. i drove it to 35mph w/ steering wheel at crooked 25-minute angle and on a sharp right turn, the steering wheel spun 180 degrees again. after about 2 miles, it settled…”
2017-03-20 · Air Bags“tl* the contact owns a 2003 lexus lx470. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v065000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. the contact called several dealers who were unable to provide a specific date for when the part would become available. the…”
2016-09-15 · Engine · 260,401 mi“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 to a nearby service station (chevron) in valencia. i noted a check engine light, and t…”
2016-09-15 · Electrical System · 260,401 mi“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, an…”
2016-09-15 · Engine · 260,401 mi“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, a…”
2016-05-04 · Service 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.…”
2016-02-08 · Steering · 170,000 mi“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 wher…”
2015-09-11 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel · 76,230 mi“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 proble…”
2014-10-30 · Steering · 205,000 mi“i was driving my lexus lx 470 to church on sunday october 26, 2014. while driving around 45 miles per hour, my vehicle's steering wheel suddenly turn 90 degrees to the right and the vehicle pulled over the cub. i was scared to death and nervous but luckily slammed on the breaks on time. the truck stopped and there was no accident because i was o…”
2014-09-21 · Suspension · 101,000 mi“entire under carriage and frame found to have extensive rust effecting structural integrity / safety, critical safety systems (brake lines, suspension structure), frame, fuel lines, fuel tank, and steering linkage. this is general attack corrosion with structural failure, corrosion fatigue, etc. there were / are no extenuating circumstances under a…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.