Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Lexus LS. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Front Air Bag May Not Deploy Properly/FMVSS 208
- Summary
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Lexus LS500 and 2018-2020 Lexus LS500 Hybrid vehicles equipped with the "Executive Package." The front passenger seat may have been assembled with interference between internal parts that can cause the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor to incorrectly detect the occupant. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence
- Incorrect detection of an occupant may result in improper air bag deployment during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the front passenger seat, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 7, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 24LA03.
Tire Sidewall Reinforcement Layer May Crack
- Summary
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Lexus LS vehicles equipped with run-flat tires with a sidewall reinforcement layer inside the tire. The tire-on-wheel assembly process may have caused the reinforcement layer to crack, possibly resulting in the tire tread layer separating from the tire.
- Consequence
- If the tire tread layer separates from the vehicle, vehicle handling and stability may be affected, increasing the risk of crash.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and Lexus dealers will replace the affected tires, free of charge. The recall began April 26, 2019. Owners may contact Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. The Toyota number for this recall is KLC.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (14)
14 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 14 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 21.4% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 21.4% |
| Wheels | 3 | 21.4% |
| Engine | 2 | 14.3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 14.3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 14.3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 7.1% |
| Power train | 1 | 7.1% |
| Seats | 1 | 7.1% |
| Steering | 1 | 7.1% |
How 2018 compares with other LS years
Best and worst LS years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 14 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 28 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,950
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 314 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 28 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVT | Rear-Wheel Drive | 25 / 33 / 28 | $2,950 | 314 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVT | All-Wheel Drive | 23 / 31 / 26 | $3,150 | 340 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automatic | Rear-Wheel Drive | 19 / 30 / 23 | $3,550 | 387 |
| 3.4 L 6-cyl · 10-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 18 / 27 / 21 | $3,900 | 417 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2018 LS for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2018 Lexus LS FAQ
How many recalls does the 2018 Lexus LS have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 24V275000 (air bag), 19V134000 (tire). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2018 Lexus LS problems?
Owners filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (3), Unknown or other (3), Wheels (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2018 Lexus LS get?
EPA rates the 3.5 L 6-cyl · AV-S10 CVT version at 25 city, 33 highway and 28 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2018 LS compare with other years?
Among the 2012–2021 Lexus LS model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2018 the most (14). The 2018 drew 14. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.