There are 20 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2004 Lexus GXin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Rusted out frame, missing entire sections of it in the rear end, body mounts are floating, Lexus inspected the car at 144,000~ miles and deemed it unsafe to drive, was owned by a friend of mine and now it is up for sale at morse road auto sales inc in columbus ohio.
Vehicle maintained per manual. Frame rusted thru in numerous places, viable holes obvious. Vehicle deemed unsafe from Pep Body service personnel. Attached a frame picture from passenger side.
The contact owns a 2004 Lexus GX470. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked when he noticed there was a crack on the dashboard. The contact was not sure what caused the dashboard to crack. The dealer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer informed the contact that there had been a Customer Support Program for the dashboard failure which expired in 2017. The contact had not been made aware of the special program. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.
VEHICLE MAINTAINED PER MANUAL. FRAME RUSTED THRU IN NUMEROUS PLACES, VIABLE HOLES OBVIOUS. VEHICLE DEEMED UNSAFE UPON INSPECTION. LEXUS HDQTRS IN PLANO, TX AND PARSIPPANY NJ REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE. I MAILED A PACKAGE OF CORRESPONDENCE AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO YOUR ADDRESS VIA CERTIFIED MAIL OCT 7,2020, RETURN RECEIPT NOT REC'D. FRUSTRATED WITH LACK OF RESPONSE.. TOYOTA REPLACED OR REPURCHASED TRUCK W/SAME FRAME, LEXUS REFUSED RECEIVED CASE # 11362013, YOURAGENCY.
DICSCOVERED DURING MINOR REPAIR,FRAME OF VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY DETERIORATED DUE TO RUST T.FRAME PERFORATED IN NUMEROUS PLACES. RATED UNFIT TO DRIVE ,LEXUS DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY. VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF COMPLETE FRAME REPLACEMENT . VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. RUST APPEARS AT BOX FRAME AND WELDS THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY. *JS
2004 LEXUS GX 470. HAS FRAME ROT DUE TO THE CONDINSATION HOSE RELEASED ON TOP OF THE PASSANGER SIDE FRAME. IT RUNS DOWN THE PASSANGER SIDE FRAME AND PUT HOLES IN IT DUE TO INPROPER PLACEMENT. NOW THE PASSANGER SIDE DOOR IS SLIGHLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT WHEN CLOSED. I HAVE HAD TO WRAPP STEEL AROUND THE FRAME. FROM FRONT DOOR TO FRONT OF BACK WHEEL. CONTACTED LEXUS AT 1800-255-3987 IN PLANO TEXAS FOR CASE NUMBER [XXX]. THEN SAID ONLY A MINOR WARRANTY FOR CORRESION AND IT IS NOT COVERED. ALSO THE PERSON ON THE PHONE REFUSED TO GIVE ME TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS MAILING ADDRESS. THIS RUST IS ON TOP OF THE FRAME AND I BELIEVE WOULD TAKE 10-15 YEARS TO SHOW UP. THERE IS NOW MANY HOLES IN ONLY THE PASSANGER SIDE FRAME. HERE ARE PICTURES PICTURE 6100 SHOWS THE HOSE OVER THE FRAME. IS IT POSSIABLE THE CAR COULD BRAKE WHEN DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO RUST HOLE IN FRAME AND TRANSMISSION SUPPORT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE REST OF THE FRAME IS IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT MUST BE A DEFECT WITH MATERIALS USED FOR THE FRAME, I WOULD EXPECT SAME TYPE OF DAMAGE TO THE REST OF THE FRAME. THE CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED, AND IT IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHERWISE, AFTER CLOSE TO 103,000 MILES. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO THE TOYOTA FRAME RUST ISSUES THAT WERE REPORTED SINCE, TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE GX SHARES THE SAME FRAME AS OTHER TOYOTA SUVS/TRUCKS. LEXUS REFUSED TO HELP W/ THE REPAIR ETC. AND THEY DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE, I HAVE TO TOW IT OUT OF THEIR DEALERSHIP. ATTACHED, MY SHOP REVIEW, LEXUS REVIEW AND PICTURES FROM MY MECHANIC. I AM ASKING LEXUS FOR THE PICTURES THEY TOOK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN SHOP.
PEARL WHITE PAINT IS PEELING OFF LIKE PAPER ON MY 2004 GX 470 WHAT IS GOING ON WITH LEXUS PAINT I HAVE OWNED 3 LEXUS CARS NEVER HAD THIS TO HAPPEN TO THE OTHER CARS NEEDS HELP IN SANFORD NC
ENTIRE FRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT ALMOST NOTHING IS HOLDING THE CAR TOGETHER AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ON REGULAR BASIS AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN PARKED IN GARAGE AT NIGHT AND ON MOST WEEKDAYS. CAR SHOULDN'T BE RUSTED OUT WHEN CARED FOR METICULOUSLY (DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE).
I HAVE A 2004 GX470 SUV. TODAY I WAS IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO BACK OUT AND LEAVE. WITH ONE FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR, I FOUND IT STUCK, WHICH WAS ODD, AS I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE. SO I PRESSED ON IT AGAIN, I THOUGHT, LIGHTLY. I WAS TAKEN COMPLETELY BY SURPRISE, AS I SEEMED TO HAVE FLOWN BACKWARDS, AS I HAVE A V8 ENGINE, MY ACCELERATION WAS QUICK AND MY CAR IMMEDIATELY RAMMED INTO 2 PARKED CARS BEHIND ME. I WAS IN A STATE OF SHOCK AND VERY SCARED, SINCE IT WAS SO FAST AND SUDDEN. HAS ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE? THANK YOU. *TR
THERE IS A HUGE CRACK IN THE DASH THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY GX DRIVERS AND IS OBVIOUSLY A FAULT IN LEXUS' MANUFACTURING. *TR
2004 Lexus GX470 factory-installed Blizzard White paint is peeling off in sheets. Was told by certified body shop that there is a clear defect with the primer. The areas affected are the hood, roof, and near back windows - no impact or other damage is present. This is unsafe as it will lead to the corrosion of the body of the car. There was a recall for the 2008-2009 models with this paint color, but this needs to be extended to the 2004 model year as well. There were no warning messages and the car is available for inspection.
1. MY DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED, I TOOK IT TO WOODFIELD LEXUS IN CHICAGO, THEY DID SOME PATCH WORK, BUT NOW MORE CRACKS HAVE APPEARED AND I FEEL IT MAY INTERFERE WITH AIRBAGS. HTTP://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/GX-FIRST-GENERATION/603916-MY-DASHBOARD-IS-CRACKING.HTML BY GOING THOUGH THE FORUMS, IT SEEMS COST OF REPLACING 1200 TO 3000 DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE PART WHICH SHOULD NOT CRACK IN THE FIRST PLACE. OBVIOUSLY IT IS DEFECTIVE MATERIAL, LEXUS HAS BEEN USING TO MAKE DASHBOARDS 2. CHROME PLATING ON MY WHEELS IS COMING OFF BADLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD MATERIAL WAS DEFECTIVE AND BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,403 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 11/30/13
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LEXUS GX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED, WHICH COULD EXPOSE THE AIR BAGS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD AN INTERNAL SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000. ..UPDATED 03/08/17 *BF *CN
THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2004 LEXUS GX 470 STARTED TO SHOW A FEW CRACKS BACK IN 2011. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. THE VEHICLE IS ALWAYS GARAGE-STORED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A REAL PROBLEM THAT LEXUS REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. *TR
DASH PAD HAD HAIR LINE CRACKS THROUGHOUT. THEN STARTED TO PEEL AROUND AIR BAGS. *TR
WE FIRST NOTICED WHAT LOOKED LIKE TINY BUBBLES UNDER THE DASH AND THE RAISED AREAS STARTED TO SHOW TINY SPLITS AND SINCE THEN HAS CONTINUED TO BUBBLE, SPLIT AND CRACK. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT AREAS OF SPLITTING AROUND THE OUTLINE OF THE GAUGES, ACROSS THE TOP OF THE DASH, DOWN THE SIDES AND THEY CONTINUE TO GROW IN SIZE AND INTO OTHER AREAS. IN 2010 WROTE YOUR HEADQUARTERS AND AFTER A FEW MONTHS RECEIVED A CALL FROM ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. HE ASKED SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND I TOLD HIM THE CAR HAD BEEN GARAGED SINCE WE BOUGHT IT IN 2006 FROM A LEXUS DEALER IN CLEARWATER. HE GAVE ME THE USUAL QUESTION AND ANSWER INVESTIGATION AND SAID HE COULD DO NOTHING. FINALLY, HE SAID SINCE I HAD NOT HAD EVERY OIL CHANGE AND REPAIR DONE AT A LEXUS DEALER AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED I WAS NOT ENTITLED TO ANYTHING AND I SHOULD HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. I FELT THE LEXUS I OWNED SHOULD NOT HAVE A DASH THAT WAS DETERIORATING AFTER THIS SHORT PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP AND IT HAD TO BE A DEFECT. YOUR REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED FOR LEXUS TO PAY FOR ONE-HALF THE COST OF THE DASH REPLACEMENT, BUT I FELT THAT THE DASH WAS DEFECTIVE AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR ME TO PAY TO HAVE ANY PART OF THE REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THE ONLY REASON THE DASH COULD BE SPLITTING IS THE MATERIAL IT WAS FORMED WITH OR WHATEVER PROCESS WAS USED. I REALIZE AS OF THIS YEAR THE CAR IS TEN YEARS OLD, BUT THIS HAS BEEN ON ONGOING PROBLEM NOT A NEW ONE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. I HAVE HAD FEW PROBLEMS WITH THE LEXUS AND ONLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS IT NEEDED ANY EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. AFTER CHECKING PRICES AT DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS I DID USE THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE THEY WERE VERY CLOSE IN PRICE TO THE OTHER ESTIMATES THAT I HAD GOTTEN AND SINCE THEIR REPAIRMEN WERE TRAINED AND UPDATED ON LEXUS REPAIRS I RESPECTED AND APPRECIATED THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. *TR
AUTO: LEXUS 2004 GX470 SUV PART: DRIVER'S LEFT FOOT REST. PROBLEM: THE PART IN QUESTION BECAME UN-BOLTED TO THE VEHICLE INSIDE CABIN DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR AND BECAME WEDGED UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. DRIVER (MY WIFE) APPLIED BRAKE APPROACHING STOP SIGN ONLY TO FIND BRAKE PEDAL STUCK. FRANTIC REPEATED BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION BY HER FINALLY DISLODGED FOOT REST FROM UNDER BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE JUST BARELY STOPPED PRIOR TO ENTERING INTERSECTION. DEALERSHIP HAS AGREED TO REPAIR PART. *NM
THE PAINT ON THE PLASTIC FENDERS, BUMPERS, AND THE METAL ROOF HAS BEEN FADING FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS. THE FADING STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 1-2 YEARS OLD, EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN VA AND HAS BEEN USED IN CA SINCE 2006. WE HAVE ABOUT 110,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE SEEN SIMILAR MAKE/MODEL LEXUS GX 470S THAT APPEAR TO HAVE THE SAME FADED PAINT IN THE SAME ARES ON THE VEHICLE AS OURS. IN ADDITION, THE PAINT APPEARS TO BE DETERIORATING AND DISAPPEARING FROM THE ROOF AND ON THE EDGES OF THE DOORS. THIS COULD LEAD TO RUST PROBLEMS. OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THIS WITH THE LEXUS DEALERS HAVE NOT MET WITH SUCCESS; THE DEALERS MORE OR LESS DISMISSED OUR COMPLAINT. OUR BODY SHOP MECHANIC TOLD US HE BELIEVES THE PAINT IS DEFECTIVE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026