Most common 2003 Lexus LX470 problems
Share of the 18 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Lexus LX470 complaints by model year
Best LX470 years: 2004, 1998, 2002. Compare all years →
2003 Lexus LX470 recalls (3)
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.
Steering › Gear box › Shaft pitman
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2007 Lexus lx470 vehicles. The construction of the steering shaft is such that the snap ring on the shaft May disengage when the vehicle experiences an unusually severe impact to the front wheels.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the snap ring with a newly designed one and install an additional component which will prevent separation of the steering shaft. This service will be performed free of charge.
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the daytime running lights do not meet luminous intensity standard.
Remedy: Dealers will install a resistor, which will decrease the luminous intensity of the drl. Owner notification began June June 10, 2005. Owners should contact Lexus at 1-800-255-3987.
What 2003 Lexus LX470 owners say
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Lexus LX470. The contact stated that the horn and GPS did not function. In addition, some of the warning indicators did not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the GPS computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column was damaged due to a remedy of NHTSA campaign number: 10V346000 (steering). The spiral cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
I was driving my Lexus lx 470 to church on Sunday October 26, 2014. While driving around 45 miles per hour, my vehicle's steering wheel suddenly turn 90 degrees to the right and the vehicle pulled over the cub. I was scared to death and nervous but luckily slammed on the breaks on time. The truck stopped and there was no accident because I was on the right lane and no other vehicle was beside me. After recovering from the shock, I looked at the dashboard and saw a red light with "vgrs" illuminated. I called home and told my husband the situation. He asked me to stay put and brought me our second car. He took the Lexus home and started to research the problem. He found several complaint online about the same problem and realized that Lexus company new about the problem but chose not to do anything about it. …
Brakes
We experienced a complete loss of the hydraulic braking system on our Lexus lx 470 SUV while driving the vehicle. Shortly after the initial repair (grounding wire?) the system again failed. The system was again repaired by the dealership, with subsequent loss of the braking system for a third time almost resulting in a serious accident (children on board). The dealership called in the factory technician who diagnosed a problem with the actuator?as of this time the brakes are still not working even after repair of the actuator. This vehicle is a death trap waiting to happen. I was reading some technical bulletins and understand that some Lexus suvs have had a problem with the brake booster. This is a life or death issue. Vehicles like this need to be recalled.
I started the car up after dinner. About 2 minutes later four warnings lights related to the braking system went off (ABS vtrac brake vsc) followed by a long warning buzz and then a complete lost of braking power from the pedal and the handbrake. I was able to come to a complete stop and then tried to restart the vehicle to remedy the problem. It did not solve the problem and so for safety reason I called for a tow to the closest Lexus dealership. The dealer at first told me I have to replace the brake master cylinder which costs about $3000 plus tax. However 30 minutes later they called me back and told me now the car is working fine after they've driven it for about 5 miles and couldn't replicate the symptoms. So I went to the dealer and picked up the vehicle. About three days later, the same thing happened away while I was going about 15mph. …
Electrical system
I took the car to Lexus of glendale for routine service, which was completed, and three days later, as I was driving on 5 freeway from coalinga to los angeles, all of a sudden, I heard a grinding noise from the engine, and the car stalled, I was able to pull over ta ds a nearby service station (chevron) in valencia. I noted a check engine light, and the vehicle became undriveable. The vehicle was towed to Lexus of glendale, who discovered that one of the spark plugs had come loose and lodged in the engine shalt, thus breaking one of the piston rods, with a resultant engine knock. I was informed by the dealer that I have to replace the engine, and that cost me over $8,000. Lexus of glendale was not able to tell me why the spark plug came loose in the first place, since I have owned this care for over 10 years, will good maintenance record, and no accidents
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Lexus LX470. The contact stated that the horn and GPS did not function. In addition, some of the warning indicators did not illuminate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the GPS computer system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering column was damaged due to a remedy of NHTSA campaign number: 10V346000 (steering). The spiral cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
2003 Lexus LX470 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.7L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Lexus LX470 a good car?
Based on 18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 LX470 rates average: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the LX470 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 LX470?
The steering — 5 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about gear box › shaft pitman. Next are the brakes (4) and electrical system (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Lexus LX470 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2003 Lexus LX470, 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 LX470?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1998 and 2002. See the full Lexus LX470 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Lexus LX470 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 155,000 miles; 8% 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.