Lexus LX470 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Lexus LX470 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 2007 drew the fewest (3) and the 2003 the most (18).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Among the fewest complaints |
3 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 13 |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 13 |
| 2001 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 1 | Vehicle speed control | — | 13 |
| 2002 | 5 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 13 |
| 2005 | 8 | 3 | Power train | — | 13 |
| 2006 | 9 | 3 | Air bags | — | 13 |
| 2004 | 12 | 3 | Suspension | — | 13 |
| 1999 Among the most complaints |
14 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 13 |
| 2000 Among the most complaints |
17 | 1 | Electronic stability control | — | 13 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
18 | 3 | Steering | — | 13 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Lexus LX470 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.
2003 Lexus LX470: 18 complaints
Most-reported: Steering 5 (28%); Electrical system 4 (22%); Service brakes 4 (22%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 155,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
2000 Lexus LX470: 17 complaints
Most-reported: Electronic stability control 4 (24%); Structure 3 (18%); Vehicle speed control 3 (18%).
Reports mention 2 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 129,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
1999 Lexus LX470: 14 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 5 (36%); Structure 2 (14%); Tires 2 (14%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 106,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Lexus LX470 years with the fewest complaints
2007 Lexus LX470: 3 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (33%); Power train 1 (33%); Service brakes 1 (33%).
1 recall campaign listed.
1998 Lexus LX470: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 4 (80%); Visibility 1 (20%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. 1 recall campaign listed.
2001 Lexus LX470: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Vehicle speed control 3 (60%); Electronic stability control 1 (20%); Service brakes 1 (20%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Lexus LX470 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 155,000 |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2000 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 129,000 |
| 1999 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 106,000 |
| 1998 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
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 LX470 recalls
- Inadvertent Side Curtain Air Bag Deployment (2003–2006 model years; 320,409 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V065000)
- TOYOTA/FMVSS 108/DRL (1998–2005 model years; 75,395 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2004; 04V434000)
- STEERING SHAFT (2003–2007 model years; 39,159 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2010; 10V346000)
- Incorrect Air Bag Installed/FMVSS 208 (2006 model year; 21 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2017; 17V548000)
All 4 Lexus LX470 recall campaigns · Lexus LX470 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 LX470 years FAQ
Which Lexus LX470 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2007 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (3). 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 LX470 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 2003, 2000 and 1999 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. 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 LX470 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (18 of 96 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Lexus LX470 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the Lexus LX470. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Lexus LX470 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.