Most common 2003 Lexus LS430 problems
Share of the 23 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 2003 Lexus LS430 owners say
Body & structure
Trunk support struts not functioning appropriately, causing trunk lid to abruptly fall and injuring anything in the path of closure. We noticed the increasing lack of ability to hold the lid open, never understanding that it actually was suppose to also lift the lid (it never did lift the lid and we have owned the car for four years/ 45,000 miles) and could have been potentially replaced during the warranty period (seems like early life failure). When asking the dealership service advisor he said, yes these do seem to weaken often and they could be replaced for $500. The consequence prior to the dealership visit was the trunk lid falling and hitting my back causing bruising. Since my shoulder helped to eliminate the blow it certainly could have been a lot worse. Potentially someone who had their hands at the base of the trunk could either have severe damage or potential loss of limb. …
Hydraulic trunk supports failed, with heavy trunk falling on head of person working in trunk. May have caused a concussion, at least a groove in top of head. Person stunned for several minutes. If the trunk had hit person in the back while leaning over into the trunk, it May have broken a vertebrae. If it had hit fingers in lower part of trunk, it May have chopped them off, particularly a child's. These hydraulic supports wore out at around 60-70 thousand miles. Not realizing the danger, I neglected contacting Lexus about replacing them. However, this danger should not be overlooked or unattended to by other owners of Lexus cars. When Lexus was contacted at this late date, they offered minimal assistance with the problem, plus a bit of a runaround. I suggest contacting an imported parts dealer for the easily installable parts at a substantially reduced price.
Wheels & tires
Center cap on wheel fell off; dealer and manufacturer refuse to honor new car warranty.
It is only 10 weeks since they bought vehicle and two tires had blown up while driving. Dunlop sport 500 size p225/55r17, dot#95hms. Dealer notified, nothing they could do.
Speed control & acceleration
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Lexus LS430. The contact stated that while entering into a parking space with her foot on the brake at 5 MPH, there was sudden acceleration and the vehicle crashed into a building. No one was injured and the vehicle was destroyed. The police were called and a report was filed (#2771757). The dealer was contacted who offered no assistance. Prior to the accident, there was an electric failure. The dealer was called who stated unless the vehicle continued to have the failure, she could bring it in, but if there was no more failure she did not have to bring the vehicle in. The insurance company was contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no other assistance. The failure mileage was 78,000.
I was driving east on highway 156 on 2/26 approaching a traffic signal that was red where I intended to make a right turn. I applied the brakes and was traveling 10 to 15 MPH when the car spontaneously accelerated at very high speed. I shifted into park and turned off the ignition while braking as hard as I could. The car continued approximately 1/2 mile when everything shut down. I couldn't even activate the emergency flashers. [redacted]
2003 Lexus LS430 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Lexus LS430 a good car?
Based on 23 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 LS430 rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the LS430 at the same age. 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 LS430?
The body & structure — 8 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frame and members. Next are the wheels & tires (3) and speed control & acceleration (3).
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus LS430 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 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 2003 Lexus LS430 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 65% 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.