Most common 2004 Lexus GX470 problems
Share of the 32 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 →
2004 Lexus GX470 recalls (1)
Air bags › Side/window
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2006 Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus LX470, 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia, 2004-2006 Toyota 4Runner and Lexus GX470 vehicles equipped with side curtain-shield-air bags.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag control module with one that has improved programming, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2016.
What 2004 Lexus GX470 owners say
Air bags
The car has been subject to 2 recalls. First, a recall for the self-destructing dashboard and for the curtain shield airbags. The company has refused to provide me with the part in order to proceed to a replacement of the affected parts.
After a short time of buying my wife's GX470, a small crack appeared in the dash on the passenger side airbag location. At the time we didn't think much about it as my wife stated it was more like a line in the dash. Through the years of ownership theses cracks have grown, and now the entire dash is cracked all the way across. We have taken our vehicle to the dealership after it was out of factory warranty and they state that now there is nothing they can do. We take exceptional care of her car and always park it in the garage. The dealership once stated that the probable problem was sun related, but that statement didn't make sense, and this issue really upsets me since Lexus seems to have a wide-spread problem with these dash cracking issues. …
Body & structure
The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed there was a crack on the dashboard. The contact was not sure what caused the dashboard to crack. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that there had been a Customer Support Program for the dashboard failure which expired in 2017. The contact had not been made aware of the special program. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
I have a 2004 GX470 SUV. Today I was in a parking lot, trying to back out and leave. With one foot on the accelerator, I found it stuck, which was odd, as I had not experienced it before. So I pressed on it again, I thought, lightly. I was taken completely by surprise, as I seemed to have flown backwards, as I have a v8 engine, my acceleration was quick and my car immediately rammed into 2 parked cars behind me. I was in a state of shock and very scared, since it was so fast and sudden. Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? Thank you.
Speed control & acceleration
My wife was driving our SUV and was attempting to park it in a bank parking lot in niles, il. The SUV accelerated suddenly without my wife pressing the gas pedal causing her to drive over a green space, hit a sign on bank's property, drive over a large bush and a wire fence at an adjacent park and finally stop after repeatedly pressing the brake pedal. We towed the car to the Lexus dealership and from there to a body shop. We had the car for 8 years and this is the first time that this issue occurred. A police report was filed and the damage was assessed by our insurance company.
I have a 2004 GX470 SUV. Today I was in a parking lot, trying to back out and leave. With one foot on the accelerator, I found it stuck, which was odd, as I had not experienced it before. So I pressed on it again, I thought, lightly. I was taken completely by surprise, as I seemed to have flown backwards, as I have a v8 engine, my acceleration was quick and my car immediately rammed into 2 parked cars behind me. I was in a state of shock and very scared, since it was so fast and sudden. Has anyone else experienced anything like this before? Thank you.
2004 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 2004 Lexus GX470 a good car?
Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 GX470 rates average: 39% fewer complaints than a typical year of the GX470 at the same age. It is one of the best GX470 years by this measure. 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 2004 Lexus GX470?
The air bags — 12 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the body & structure (9) and speed control & acceleration (4).
How many recalls does the 2004 Lexus GX470 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Lexus GX470, the most recent from February 5, 2016 (side/window). 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 2004 Lexus GX470 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 88,000 miles; 18% 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.