Lexus · LX · 2003
3
Recalls
20
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2003 Lexus LX has 3 recalls and 20 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: steering (4 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2003 Lexus LX page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is steering with 4 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
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. The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
Remedy Status
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. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-271-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is G0C and GLB.
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. IF THE SNAP RING BECOMES DISENGAGED AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS THEN REPEATEDLY TURNED TO THE LOCKED POSITION, OVER TIME THE STEERING SHAFT MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED.
Remedy Status
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. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 23, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LEXUS AT 1-800-255-3987.
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 Status
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.
MY 2003 LEXUS LX470 HAS FAULTY VGRS ECU. STEERING WHEEL SPINS TO 180 DEGREES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2018, WHEN I BACKED IT OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 DEGREES. I DROVE IT TO 35MPH W/ STEERING WHEEL AT CROOKED 25-MINUTE ANGLE AND ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE S...
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO...
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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 S...
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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 TO A NEARBY SERV...
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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 ...
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THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE BETWEEN 10-60 MPH. THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON. THEN I NOTIFIED LEXUS COMPANY, AND THEY SAID "CONTACT THE DEALER". THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN--...
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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 BREAK...
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ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME FOUND TO HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST EFFECTING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / SAFETY, CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS (BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION STRUCTURE), FRAME, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND STEERING LINKAGE. THIS IS GENERAL ATTACK CORROSION WITH STRUCTURAL FAILURE, CORROSI...
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OUR 2003 LEXUS LX 470 IS EXPERIENCING SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST SIMILAR TO THE SAME MODEL YEAR AS THE TOYOTA TUNDRA AND SEQUOIA WHICH WERE RECALLED. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE LX FRAMES CAME FROM THE SAME FACTORY INFERIOR QUALITY OF STEEL AND/OR RECEIVED IMPROPER UNDERCOATING. *JS
THE FRAME AND UNDERBODY COMPONENTS HAVE AN EXCESSIVE ABOUT RUST ON THEM. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE CORROSION PREVENTION COATING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED. THE RUST IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A VEHICLE THAT IS 10 YEARS OL...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 20 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2003 Lexus models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2003 Lexus LX has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 20 owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Lexus LX.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2003 Lexus LX.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2003 Lexus LX are steering (4 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (2 reports), engine (2 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2003 Lexus LX. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.