1990 Lexus LS400 problems & reliability
24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1990 Lexus LS400. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
6 complaints report injuries (6 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 6 | 25% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 21% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 13% |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 13% |
| Structure | 3 | 13% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 8% |
| Steering | 2 | 8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 17 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“S10 appropriate handling - enclosing an agenda report service history may 2014 - may/june 2016 on black 1990 lexus ls 400. *smd the consumer stated each time the repair shop performed services on her vehicle, it led to another problem(s). A clamp was missing. A wire left dangling, a hose was not placed on correctly or…”
Latches/locks/linkages · filed Oct 17, 2016
“My car, made by toyota, has all the same problems, faulty parts, as the cars that were recalled for sudden acceleration. I have had the sudden acceleration problem happen twice and I am currently unable to drive the car because of a faulty resistor that controls the fuel feed tot the fuel pump keeps causing the car to…”
Fuel/propulsion System · filed Oct 6, 2015
“In approximately 1995, I experienced the "sudden acceleration" problem twice with my lexus ls. At the time, no one had ever heard of it and the dealer said he could not reproduce it and could do nothing. After that I was more careful with the floor mats and thought I had solved the problem. For the last 7 to 8 years…”
Vehicle Speed Control · filed Sep 16, 2015
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
25 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1990 Lexus LS400. The 10 most recent:
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Safety Recall 22 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be…
Lexus PRO19-02 - · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 12, 2022
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Lexus Safety Re · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2020
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
L-SB-0179-17 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01…
L-SB-0008-20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 6, 2020
TSB: Replacement Certification Labels. OBSOLETE NOTICE November 28, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0179-17.
L-SB-0048-08 Obs · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 5, 2017
LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
L-SB-0066-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
LSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals…
L-SB-0066-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 10, 2015
Auto matic Transmission Replacement kPrecautions
LSB008214 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE-October 16, 2014: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0082-14.
L-SB-0041-11 Rev · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 16, 2014
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1990 Lexus LS400 in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1990 Lexus LS400?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.