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Lexus LX470Model year report

2003 Lexus LX470 Problems

Complaints
18filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
142,150miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns 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
13 mpgcombined, 4.7L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 12 city / 16 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Lexus LX470 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus LX470. The part named most often is steering, with 5 complaints (28% of the total), followed by brakes (4) and electrical system (4). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 8% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 142,150 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 61 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the shaft pitman and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 3 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: Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “I was driving my Lexus lx 470 to church on sunday october 26, 2014. While driving around 45 miles per hour, my vehicle's steering wheel suddenly turn 90 degrees to the right and the vehicle pulled over the cub. I was scared to death and nervous but luckily slammed on the breaks on time. The truck stopped and there was no accident because I was on the right lane and no other vehicle was beside me. After recovering from the shock, I looked at the dashboard and saw a red light with vgrs illuminated. I called home and told my husband the situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10651451, filed 2014-10, 205,000 miles

Brakes: “I started the car up after dinner. About 2 minutes later four warnings lights related to the braking system went off (ABS vtrac brake vsc) followed by a long warning buzz and then a complete lost of braking power from the pedal and the handbrake. I was able to come to a complete stop and then tried to restart the vehicle to remedy the problem. It did not solve the problem and so for safety reason I called for a tow to the closest Lexus dealership. The dealer at first told me I have to replace the brake master cylinder which costs about $3000 plus tax. …”

NHTSA complaint #10535774, filed 2013-08, 155,000 miles

Electrical system: “The speedometer is unreadable between 10-60 MPH. There is no illumination, therefore you have no idea of the speed of the vehicle. I notified the dealer, and was told this is not common. Then I notified Lexus company, and they said contact the dealer . This is a safety concern--my wife is afraid to drive, for fear of speeding or other speed problems, as with other Lexus vehicles. We have had this vehicle Lexus certified dealer maintained since we bought the vehicle, and think this a dangerous situation. …”

NHTSA complaint #10763147, filed 2015-09, 76,230 miles

Air bags: “The contact owns a 2003 Lexus LX470. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v065000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The contact called several dealers who were unable to provide a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #10967322, filed 2017-03

Mileage when problems were reported

8% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 91,000 and 205,000 miles.

8%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7525%75–10017%100–15050%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 142,150 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

200420112014201652018
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 2003 Lexus LX470 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
LX 470 4WD/AWD4.7L 8-cyl5-speed automatic121613$5,150

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 2003 Lexus LX470 → · 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. 61 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 61 bulletins →

Other model years of the Lexus LX470

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2006934,8993—13—Not enough data
2005848,9003—13—Not enough data
20041249,3503—13—Not enough data
200318142,1503—13—Stable
2002530,8001—13—Not enough data
20015117,0001—13—Not enough data
200017120,6571—13—Stable
199914106,0001—13—Not enough data
19985240,0001—13—Not enough data

All Lexus LX470 model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Lexus LX470 have?

NHTSA recorded 18 consumer complaints for the 2003 Lexus LX470 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Lexus LX470 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 5 complaints (28% of the total), followed by brakes with 4.

Has the 2003 Lexus LX470 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Lexus LX470 get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Lexus LX470 (LX 470, 4.7L 8-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 12 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Lexus LX470 reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 142,150 miles and the middle half falls between 91,000 and 205,000 miles; 8% 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.