Most common 1998 Lexus LS400 problems
Share of the 45 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus LS400 complaints by model year
Best LS400 years: 2000, 1997. Years to avoid: 1998. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1998 Lexus LS400:
Unintended engine speed increase/sa
On May 13, 2003 the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received an April 25, 2003 letter from mr. Peter boddaert petitioning the agency to conduct a petition analysis of certain 1997 through 2000 model year Lexus 300 and 400 series vehicles for problems of vehicle speed control linkages which results in sudden, unexpected excessive (vehicle) acceleration even though there is no pressure…
What 1998 Lexus LS400 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Twice, with two different drivers, this vehicle has accelerated/surged at a stop. The vehicle was able to be held steady by pressing the brake as hard as possible, but vehicle still surged and tried to move forward. On the first incident, the vehicle was put in neutral and continued to rev momentarily. After the first incident, the Lexus OEM floor mat (standard, not all season) was removed. The same event occurred again tonight with a different driver and the floor mat still removed. I am quite concerned this May be related to other Toyota recalls.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Lexus LS400. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The vehicle traveled into a residential garage and crashed into a wall. A police report was not filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The shop technician diagnosed the wrong problem. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 153,000 and the current mileage was 160,000. Updated 07/22/14 ma
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 Lexus LS400. While stationary, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle started after several attempts were made. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the starter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer (arrowhead Lexus in peoria, arizona) was made aware of the failure and stated that an unknown recall on the vehicle had closed/expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The recall information was not provided. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
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.
Wheels & 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 )
Pe00 020; consumer was traveling about 85mph on highway and it was a 100 degrees. She heard a bumping noise. Tire was hitting up against the vehicle. Right rear tire tread had came apart. Bridgestone e33255/60yr16 high speed.
1998 Lexus LS400 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1998 Lexus LS400 a good car?
Based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 LS400 rates avoid: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the LS400 at the same age. It is one of the LS400 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 1998 Lexus LS400?
The speed control & acceleration — 14 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about linkages. Next are the electrical system (9) and wheels & tires (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 Lexus LS400 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Lexus LS400. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus LS400?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000 and 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998. See the full Lexus LS400 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1998 Lexus LS400 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 111,000 miles; 0% 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.