Lexus GX470 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Lexus GX470 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2009 drew the fewest (1) and the 2004 the most (65).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Seats | — | 15 |
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
13 | 0 | Service brakes | — | 15 |
| 2007 Among the fewest complaints |
27 | 0 | Structure | — | 15 |
| 2006 | 28 | 1 | Air bags | — | 15 |
| 2005 Among the most complaints |
30 | 1 | Air bags | — | 15 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
46 | 2 | Power train | — | 15 |
| 2004 Among the most complaints |
65 | 1 | Air bags | — | 15 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Lexus GX470 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2004 Lexus GX470: 65 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 17 (26%); Structure 15 (23%); Power train 10 (15%).
Reports mention 10 crashes, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 88,403 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2003 Lexus GX470: 46 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 11 (24%); Suspension 7 (15%); Engine and engine cooling 6 (13%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 33,102 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2005 Lexus GX470: 30 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 10 (33%); Structure 8 (27%); Vehicle speed control 4 (13%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 70,580 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Lexus GX470 years with the fewest complaints
2008 Lexus GX470: 13 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 7 (54%); Vehicle speed control 3 (23%); Air bags 2 (15%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 5 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2007 Lexus GX470: 27 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 6 (22%); Vehicle speed control 5 (19%); Electronic stability control 3 (11%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Lexus GX470 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2007 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2006 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 81,000 |
| 2005 | 30 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 70,580 |
| 2004 | 65 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 88,403 |
| 2003 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 33,102 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Lexus GX470 recalls
- Inadvertent Side Curtain Air Bag Deployment (2004–2006 model years; 320,409 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V065000)
- TOYOTA/CERTIFICATION/GVWR (2003 model year; 5,878 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2003; 03V031000)
- TOYOTA/REAR SEAT LATCHING (2003 model year; 3,666 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2003; 03V088000)
All 3 Lexus GX470 recall campaigns · Lexus GX470 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Lexus GX470 years FAQ
Which Lexus GX470 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2009 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Lexus GX470 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2004, 2003 and 2005 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the structure. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Lexus GX470 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the structure (43 of 210 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Lexus GX470 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the Lexus GX470. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Lexus GX470 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.