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Lexus LS400Model year report

1990 Lexus LS400 Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
125,000miles, 10 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 4.0L 8-cyl RWD · 16 city / 22 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Lexus LS400 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1990 Lexus LS400. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (25% of the total), followed by air bags (5) and latches, locks and linkages (3). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 10% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 125,000 miles. Of all complaints, 6 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (1), Other or unknown (1), Suspension (1), Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Accelerator pedal sticks and engine continues to accelerate. I can only stop it by pushing on the brake hard, putting it in neutral or turning off engine. Sometimes if I have room in front of my car, I can stop it by pumping the brake. This has occurred several times. I cannot tell what causes it. Definitely not floor mat.”

NHTSA complaint #10307216, filed 2010-02, 120,000 miles

Air bags: “Consumer stated while traveling at 30 MPH, another vehicle ran a light and the consumer hit the vehicle. Consumer's vehicle was totaled. The driver side airbag did not deployed. The passengers neck and back was injured as a result. Passengers were wearing seat belts.”

NHTSA complaint #10032423, filed 2003-10, 140,000 miles

Latches, locks and linkages: “Passenger door lock mechanism on my 1990 Lexus LS400 has failed to the point where door will not open from outside nor inside. Lexus dealer wants $800 to fix the problem and the possibility of damaging door panel and scratching window. This is clearly a safety hazard that Lexus (toyota) should pay for. I have asked them to pay for it they refused. I am also adding the fact that the dealership has had other LS400's that they've fixed for this specific safety problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10016883, filed 2003-05, 139,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

10% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 140,000 miles.

0%0–1010%10–250%25–5010%50–750%75–10060%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 125,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

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Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1990 Lexus LS400 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
LS 400 RWD4.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic162218$4,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1990 Lexus LS400 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus LS400

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20001281,5000—19—Not enough data
19992284,5000—19—Stable
199845110,1660—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199713111,5001—19—Not enough data
199619116,0001—19—Stable
199539118,0001—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19946890,0000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199365107,5000—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992875,0000—18—Not enough data
199121119,8120—18—Stable
199024125,0001—18—Stable

All Lexus LS400 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Lexus LS400 have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1990 Lexus LS400 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1990 Lexus LS400 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (25% of the total), followed by air bags with 5.

Has the 1990 Lexus LS400 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Lexus LS400 get?

The EPA rates the 1990 Lexus LS400 (LS 400, 4.0L 8-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Lexus LS400 reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 125,000 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 140,000 miles; 10% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.