Most common 2002 Lexus LS430 problems
Share of the 30 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus LS430 complaints by model year
Best LS430 years: 2004, 2005. Years to avoid: 2001, 2002. Compare all years →
What 2002 Lexus LS430 owners say
Body & structure
As I was turning onto a road from a private driveway the car suddenly accelerated causing the car to cross over both lanes of the road and crash into a mailbox. The result was damage to the front of my car and a broken mailbax post.
I had opened the trunk on my Lexus ls-430 (2002) for my 11 yrs old son to take his sports gears out of the trunk. He was leaning down inside the trunk when suddenly the trunk lid came crashing down striking on his hips, it was good it did" hurt his back. The injury resulted in tremendous pain .after the incident I inspected the trunk and found their was no resistance while going up and down with the trunk and found that the hydraulic trunk struts necessary for the safe operation of the trunk had both failed. .several times contacted the Lexus dealer and Lexus corporation to fix the shocks. But they declined, as they stated the car is out of warrant period my car has only 32000 miles.
Locks & latches
I had opened the trunk on my Lexus ls-430 (2002) for my 11 yrs old son to take his sports gears out of the trunk. He was leaning down inside the trunk when suddenly the trunk lid came crashing down striking on his hips, it was good it did" hurt his back. The injury resulted in tremendous pain .after the incident I inspected the trunk and found their was no resistance while going up and down with the trunk and found that the hydraulic trunk struts necessary for the safe operation of the trunk had both failed. .several times contacted the Lexus dealer and Lexus corporation to fix the shocks. But they declined, as they stated the car is out of warrant period my car has only 32000 miles.
The trunk lid of my 2002 Lexus ls 430 has two pneumatic struts which provide lift and keep the lid up in the open position. Now, over time the struts slowly failed to keep the trunk lid open, and in a gentle breeze, the lid will come down with guillotine force. It has hit my head several times with painful results and now I am afraid to load items in my trunk without another person there to hold it open. I think that the "lift assist" of the pneumatics should be only auxiliary to a mechanism that holds the trunk in a full open position. I have never had a vehicle whose trunk lid did not stay in the open position once lifted, regardless of age.
Speed control & acceleration
Tl contact owns a 2002 Lexus LS430. When attempting to enter a parking space, the vehicle accelerated without intention. Even after repeated brake application the vehicle would not stop. Consequently she crashed into several vehicles and a building. The vehicle was in the process of being inspected to determine the cause of the failure. There were no injuries. The failure and current mileages were 72,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while applying brake pressure at 2 MPH in a driveway, the engine revved at a high rate, and the vehicle lurched forward into the garage without warning. There were no injuries sustained. There was minor damage sustained to the front of vehicle. The police were not alerted. The dealer and manufacturer were notified.
2002 Lexus LS430 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Lexus LS430 a good car?
Based on 30 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 LS430 rates use caution: 1.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the LS430 at the same age. It is one of the LS430 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 2002 Lexus LS430?
The body & structure — 10 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body › trunk lid. Next are the locks & latches (6) and speed control & acceleration (4).
How many recalls does the 2002 Lexus LS430 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2002 Lexus LS430. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Lexus LS430?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004 and 2005. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 2002. See the full Lexus LS430 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Lexus LS430 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 59,000 miles; 33% 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.