2013 Lexus LS Recalls & Complaints

Incident: August 31, 2026 · Filed: October 13, 2026

After retrieving my vehicle from the Lexus dealership following diagnostic service, I drove the car home with no electrical issues. All hub electronics, displays, and interior systems functioned normally during the entire drive. The next morning, while the vehicle was parked, turned off, and untouched overnight, the brake actuator pump began running on its own. I recorded video evidence of the pump operating without any driver input. This uncommanded pump activation drained the battery to the point where the vehicle would not start. This pump activity occurred without brake warning lights and without diagnostic trouble codes at that moment. Prior to actuator replacement, the vehicle had repeatedly set brake system codes including: C1391 – Accumulator internal leak C1241 – Low battery voltage caused by pump overrun C1319 – Brake control malfunction These codes directly align with the failure mode described in Lexus bulletin L‑SB‑009‑23. During the repair process, the dealership invoiced me for a retired brake actuator part number, which is no longer valid according to Lexus Technical Service Bulletin L‑SB‑009‑23. Upon personal inspection, the part physically bolted into my vehicle carries a different part number than the one listed on my invoice. This discrepancy indicates: The dealership may have installed a non‑OEM, incorrect, or superseded actuator The repair performed does not match the documented parts on the invoice The vehicle may contain a brake actuator not recognized in the Lexus parts system The repair may not comply with Lexus’ own technical guidance or safety standards This raises significant concerns about repair integrity, parts authenticity, and compliance with manufacturer safety procedures.

Filed: December 22, 2025

My ABS Brake System warning lights all came on a few days ago, giving me error codes c1253 and c1256. These codes pertain to a manufacturers defect with Lexus, wherein Lexus generated a customer convenience program that said any LS460 that is less than 10 yrs old OR less than 150k miles can be brought to any dealer and have this brake system replaced at Lexus expense. Please see the attached Lexus notice to dealers. My car is 13 yrs old BUT has only 108k miles; so I asked Lexus Corporate to approve my repair and they denied it due to age. This is a SAFETY issue due to a manufacturers defect from Lexus; therefore I should not have to pay for something simply because I have a low mileage car. Lexus should pay for this due to it being a SAFETY issue. Please help me get Lexus to do so. BTW, I am a long-term Lexus customer having purchased 5 Lexus cars.

Incident: July 1, 2023 · Filed: January 27, 2025

losing 2qts of oil every 2000 miles. manufacture say this is normal. I have low engine oil level warning light and have to put 2 quarts of oil in the engine

Incident: August 17, 2024 · Filed: September 16, 2024

The ABS system failed. Mechanic stated it was the ABS actuator. Left front wheel locks up when brakes are applied with force. Safety is jeopardized since the ABS system no longer works. Cannot bring vehicle to safe stop in an emergency braking situation. The problem was reproduced by an independent service center. The vehicle had not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance. Lexus has been notified and said that I just missed the window on the service bulletin, which ended in March of 2024. There were no warning lamps before the system failure. The system failed during a trip.

Incident: August 12, 2024 · Filed: August 12, 2024

For 2 years now I’ve been getting intermittent abs and traction light come on. It never showed a code when a scanner was plugged in. Every now and then the light would come on when I start the car. As soon as I drive it’s gone. Now I have the brake icon on too and my brakes are very weird with it grabbing really hard at times and slow to release. It’s the brake actuator that everyone has problems with. I only have 76k miles on my car. I had the valley plate leak at 49k miles. So these 2 things are problems everyone have that Lexus isn’t admitting it’s their fault. They are not willing to fix the actuator on my car because they supposedly sent a customer letter that I’ve never received

Incident: September 5, 2023 · Filed: October 11, 2023

I am detailing an alarming and persistent issue with unexpected brake activation on my 2013 Lexus LS 460. Over a span of time, the vehicle's brakes have been activated spontaneously on four different occasions, putting me and my passengers in potential danger. Incident Descriptions: 1. Location: I-69 southbound, near Huntington. - Scenario: Alone in the car. Noted a shiny truck about 2,000 ft ahead under a bridge with sun reflection. - Brakes activated hard for approx. 3-5 seconds. - Active cruise and lane-keep assist were on. 2. Location: Westbound on Interstate 70, just past the Indiana line. - Scenario: My wife, [XXX] , was with me. A semi-truck with wind skirts was being overtaken when the rear wheels locked up. - This caused a sideways skid toward the truck, causing tire smoke and chaos among trailing vehicles. - Managed to drive down to the median at high speeds, stopping just before a bridge. Multiple dashboard lights illuminated. 3. Location: 69 south of Anderson IN - Scenario: - On the way to the dealership, the brakes activated similarly as in the first scenario. 4. Location: Ohio on interstate 30 just before Indiana line... Not sure how far... - Scenario: After dealership repairs and 10,000 miles of incident-free driving, the brakes suddenly activated. - I was with my engineer, [XXX] . Reflective tapes on road barrels might have triggered the brakes. The car came to a full stop despite full gas pedal depression. Fortunately the closest vehicle behind us was approximately 2,000 ft back so I was able to get off the road at a slower speed of approximately 5-10 mph with full control all the way to stop. Once the vehicle stopped we were able to take right back off again with no further incidents to date. Concerns: - The spontaneous nature of the braking makes it difficult and dangerous to drive in traffic, especially near larger vehicles. - There are situations, like quick lane changes for exits, where the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)