Most common 2000 Lexus LS400 problems
Share of the 12 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 2000 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 2000 Lexus LS400 owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Dt: the caller said while driving 50 MPH the vehicle accelerated to a faster speed very quickly. There was an accident. The caller sustained injuries. A police report was taken. The caller said the vehicle was accelerating without warning for about a year. The caller called the manufacturer the day of the accident and told them about the problem. Dealer said they would get back to him. He was told nothing was wrong with the car a few weeks before the accident. Dealer was contacted after the accident, and they said they will set up an appointment to find the cause of the problem. On September 26, 2005 at 8:00 am, manufacturer said they would call in two days. This was before the accident. After the accident they said they would come and look at the vehicle. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Lexus LS400. The contact stated that while slowly pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle suddenly accelerated abnormally. The vehicle crashed into a wall and the air bags deployed. The vehicle was destroyed. The dealer was notified and advised that they would investigate the failure. The failure and current mileages were 100,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Vehicle was taken to dealer for master key addition . Master key was made by dealer and was defective causing damage to ignition. (21 April 2014) at intervals key could not be removed from ignition. Ignition would lock. Dealer refused to replace key or to refund $186.00 paid by owner for additional master key. Tires 4-03-2014 as apart of the vehicle inspection tires were checked by technician, deemed to be safe. Cracks became noticeable in the side walls of the tires on 6-17-2014. New tires were placed on vehicle by different company on 6-17-2014 this company determined all four of the tires to be rotten and not safe to be used as a spare. Old rotten tires remain in the possession of this owner.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Lexus LS400. The contact had a new key made for her vehicle, which caused the ignition to fail. The vehicle would stall and the contact would be unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 104,000. Updated 09/16/14 the consumer stated the dealer refused to replace the key or refund the cost of the batteries. The dealer failed to determine that the tires were rotten during service check, failed to provide working batteries for keys and original copy of key. There was an overflow of transmission fluid four times. Updated 1/16/2015
Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Lexus LS400. The contact had a new key made for her vehicle, which caused the ignition to fail. The vehicle would stall and the contact would be unable to remove the key from the ignition. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 104,000. Updated 09/16/14 the consumer stated the dealer refused to replace the key or refund the cost of the batteries. The dealer failed to determine that the tires were rotten during service check, failed to provide working batteries for keys and original copy of key. There was an overflow of transmission fluid four times. Updated 1/16/2015
Tl contact owns a 2000 Lexus LS400. While driving 15 MPH, the speedometer dial remained on zero and never registered the speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and they stated that the entire instrument panel needed to be replaced. The speedometer could not be repaired until the entire cluster failed. The repair would cost $1,500. The speedometer is currently working again without being repaired; however, it could fail again at any moment. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 44,000 and current mileage was 50,073.
2000 Lexus LS400 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Lexus LS400 a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 LS400 rates average: 38% fewer complaints than a typical year of the LS400 at the same age. It is one of the best LS400 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 2000 Lexus LS400?
The speed control & acceleration — 6 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2000 Lexus LS400 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2000 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 2000 Lexus LS400 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 38% 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.