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Lexus LS400Model year report

1998 Lexus LS400 Problems

Complaints
45filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
110,166miles, 10 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns 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
19 mpgcombined, 4.0L 8-cyl RWD · 17 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Lexus LS400 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1998 Lexus LS400. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 14 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system (9) and tires (6). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110,166 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 29 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Fuel system (1), Body and structure (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Vehicle speed control: “Time, date and location: monday, may 19 at approximately 3:30 pm at the blockbuster parking lot in stafford, va vehicle: 1998 Lexus LS400 I was pulling into a parking space in front of the blockbuster. I had my foot on the brake to slowly pull into the space. Suddenly, the engine revved and the car jumped the curb and repeatedly hit the front of the blockbuster. I pushed down hard on the brake, but it would not respond. I put the car in park and the car stopped.”

NHTSA complaint #10228267, filed 2008-05, 103,000 miles

Electrical system: “1. Vehicle has trouble starting. 2. Starter failure. Have to turn ignition several times (15-20) to get the starter to rotate. I know there was a NHTSA campaign 98v016000 on the 1995 through 1997 Lexus LS400 for the starter assembly due to improper assembly of the terminal for the magnetic switch. My question is can my vehicle be covered under this campaign considering the 1998 LS400 was built in 1997. Also can this cause an underhood fire in my vehicle while I'm continuing to start my vehicle with this problem persisting? Thank you for your time. 3. Vehicle has not been repaired yet.”

NHTSA complaint #10144033, filed 2005-11, 110,700 miles

Tires: “Tread separation while driving. Was able to stop before the tire blew out. Sears called bridgestone about the defect and they replaced it free of charge, since they knew about the problem with that tire. However, they would not rplace the remaining three tires, which could incurr the same separation and potential blow out. ( DOT number: tire size: p22560v16 )”

NHTSA complaint #727869, filed 2000-08

Brakes: “At a stop vehicle lurched out of control and accelerated without touching gas pedal. Brakes did not stop vehicle, and rearended another vehicle. Damaged hood and grill on vehicle. Contacted dealer and vehicle was repaired.”

NHTSA complaint #891432, filed 2001-06

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 85,000 and 129,500 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7530%75–10050%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: 110,166 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’9813’00’02’04’08’14’18
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 1998 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-cyl5-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

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Lexus LS400 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by 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. 29 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 29 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 1998 Lexus LS400 have?

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1998 Lexus LS400 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Lexus LS400 is reported most often?

Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 14 complaints (31% of the total), followed by electrical system with 9.

Has the 1998 Lexus LS400 been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Lexus LS400 get?

The EPA rates the 1998 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 1998 Lexus LS400 reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110,166 miles and the middle half falls between 85,000 and 129,500 miles; 0% 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.