Most common 2003 Lexus GX470 problems
Share of the 46 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus GX470 complaints by model year
Best GX470 years: 2004, 2008. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
2003 Lexus GX470 recalls (2)
Seats › Mid/rear assembly
On certain vehicles equipped with the Lexus link system, it May be difficult to lock one of the two latches on the bottom of the middle row left rear seat (larger side of the bench seat directly behind the driver).
Remedy: Dealers will remove the lls case panels around the seat stopper. Owner notification began April 8, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Equipment › Other › Labels
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of part 567, "certification." the incorrect gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) data was printed on the certification regulation label. The gvwr is incorrectly reflected on the label as 6,100 lbs. The correct gvwr should be 6,000 lbs.
Remedy: As each label is vehicle identification number specific, owners will be requested to contact their local Lexus dealer first to place an order for the corrected label.
What 2003 Lexus GX470 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
My Lexus GX470 has been returned on four separate occasions for the same defect, the last time(4th) my car was in for service, I was notified that nothing else could be done for my car at this current time. According to Lexus, the thumping sensation from the drive shaft is normal, design characteristic I believe is what one Lexus rep. Referred to it as. Other Lexus reps. Say it is an isolated problem, it doesn't happen to all gx 470's. Regardless, after attempting four (4) separate times to fix this problem 1st time- Lexus disassembled the drive shaft and re-packed it, seemed fine for 3000 miles then the problem reappeared. 2nd time- Lexus replaced the propeller shaft, problem reappeared after 1500 miles. 3rd time - Lexus replaced the entire drive shaft, problem reappeared after 6000 miles. 4th time - sorry! …
I bought the 470 gx with 7 miles on it. It began to "lurch" at about 2500 miles. When I reported it to Lexus, they agreed that this was a problem on some of the new gx's. The problem became worse, and they received authorization to replace the driveshaft. This has not corrected the problem and they are again ordering a new drive shaft. The reason I believe this is a safety issue is because it always happens at a full stop, and it feels like someone is hitting the car from behind. The safety concern is the sensation of movement of the car, this is startling and could potentially cause a driver to remove their foot from the brake. I can't tell if the car actually moves, however if it does, this could possibly lead to an accident (ie. "fender-bender" or worse at a pedestrian crossing).
Suspension
Frame is rotting from inside out, excessive corrosion on an otherwise spotless vehicle. This is a known issue that was common to the early/mid 2000's Toyota tundra, tacoma, and 4runner, the latter of which shares frame components. Toyota, for whatever reason, covered the tundra and tacoma through recalls, but so far has not done a recall on the 4runner or GX470.
Rear suspension arm broke a way from a frame section that appears rotted. No other rust on vehicle. This happened while driving on smooth road and made very difficult to control. Scared to think if this happened at highway speed. Again..this is a clean..no rust vehicle
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that the brake warning indicator illuminated. Also, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed. The contact activated the hazard lights and engaged the emergency brake when the failure occurred. The dealer (pohanka Honda of fredericksburg, 60 s gateway dr., fredericksburg, va 22406, [phone]) was called and stated that the cause of the failure could be the brake master cylinder. The dealer (pohanka Lexus chantilly, 13909 lee jackson memorial hwy, chantilly, va 20151, [phone]) was also contacted, but had not diagnosed the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 183,400.
When I was driving my Lexus GX470 (2003) with my family on a local street at around 35 MPH, my vehicle suddenly stopped by itself. The brakes engage by itself and the vehicle stability control activated with beeps. Fortunately, no one was behind me. I took my car to the local mechanic, he checked the brakes, calipers..etc, he said everything is fine but he couldn?t find any reason why it happened, he asked me to contact Lexus dealer. I called the Lexus dealer service center, I explained the service representative about what happened, he told me to check the brake calipers, I told him the mechanic already checked it. Anyway, even the Lexus dealer couldn't explain why it happened.
2003 Lexus GX470 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Lexus GX470 a good car?
Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 GX470 rates avoid: 2.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the GX470 at the same age. It is one of the GX470 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Lexus GX470?
The transmission & drivetrain — 11 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › driveshaft. Next are the suspension (7) and brakes (6).
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus GX470 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Lexus GX470, the most recent from March 10, 2003 (mid/rear assembly). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus GX470?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full Lexus GX470 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Lexus GX470 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 33,000 miles; 54% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.