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Lexus LS400Model year report

1997 Lexus LS400 Problems

Complaints
13filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
111,500miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 4.0L 8-cyl RWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Lexus LS400 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1997 Lexus LS400. The part named most often is brakes, with 3 complaints (23% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control (3) and electrical system (2). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 111,500 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes 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: Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “As I was driving, my vehicle started accelerating on it's own. When I had previously checked the speed odometer it said 50. All of a sudden the vehicle started gaining speed. I took my foot off of the gas pedal and the speed kept accelerating. I pressed the brakes and the brakes did not work! The vehicle kept accelerating. I saw a side road and turned onto it. I kept trying to stop the vehicle and it kept going. I thought to pull the emergency brake and it slowed the vehicle considerable, but it kept moving. The engine continued to accelerate. …”

NHTSA complaint #10663131, filed 2014-12, 230,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “While driving my 1997 Lexus LS400 in ca on the 605 fwy, west toward 210 fwy, all systems on the car locked (steering wheel, brakes, gas pedal) as I was changing lanes. I had no control of the car and after spinning several times ran into the center divider. I was very lucky not to go over the divider into oncoming traffic and be killed. I sustained neck and head injuries and the car was totaled. I was very lucky that I survived and that no other cars or people were involved. Early in 1998 I received a recall notice and took the car in to Lexus on 2/24/98. …”

NHTSA complaint #10313402, filed 2010-02, 25,000 miles

Electrical system: “Vehicle does not start when hot. Starter does not turn. Vehicle was never recalled for NHTSA campaign id: 98v016000. My car has a production date of 7/97. Cut off date for this campaign was 6/97. I believe my vehicle should have been recalled for the repair of the magnetic switch in the starter. A no start condition exists and a fire can result if the solenoid shorts out. This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed.”

NHTSA complaint #10761776, filed 2015-09, 198,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 198,000 miles.

0%0–1025%10–2525%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–15050%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 111,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

319982000200220142019
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 1997 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 automatic172319$4,350

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 1997 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. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 27 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 1997 Lexus LS400 have?

NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1997 Lexus LS400 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Lexus LS400 is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 3 complaints (23% of the total), followed by vehicle speed control with 3.

Has the 1997 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 1997 Lexus LS400 get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Lexus LS400 (LS 400, 4.0L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 17 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,350 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Lexus LS400 reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 111,500 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 198,000 miles; 50% 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.