NHTSA vehicle safety data

2002 Lexus LX470 Recalls & Complaints

The 2002 Lexus LX470 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Lexus dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Lexus LX470. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2002 Lexus LX470 owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Lexus LX470, describing incidents dated September 9, 2002 to August 11, 2019.

Most-cited components

Service Brakes 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 5 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11245852 · Filed August 22, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LX470. WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S WARNING SENSOR BEGAN BEEPING AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT DROVE 15 MPH UNTIL SHE REACHED HER…
ODI #10455459 · Filed April 17, 2012
TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. A LOUD BANG, GRINDING AND SMELL OF BURNING TRANSMISSION FLUID. SMALL FIRE FROM LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. HIGHER RATE OF THESE TYPES OF FAILURES FOR 2000 - 2002 LX470 SUV'S *JS
ODI #10076209 · Filed June 14, 2004
WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND SOAKING THE INTERIOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO THE SPOILER. THEY PATCHED THE HOLES IN SPOILER AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE HATCH. BUT THE LEAK RECURRED. CURRENTLY, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE…

Read all 5 complaints

TOYOTA/FMVSS 108/DRL

NHTSA #04V434000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported September 8, 2004 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 75,395 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign SSC 5LB · Owners notified June 10, 2005 · Vehicles built December 23, 1997 – August 4, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD BLIND THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DRIVING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LEXUS RECALL NO. SSC 5LB.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

2002 Lexus LX 470

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Lexus LX470.

Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11245852

Incident: August 11, 2019 · Filed: August 22, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LEXUS LX470. WHILE DRIVING ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S WARNING SENSOR BEGAN BEEPING AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED ABRUPTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT DROVE 15 MPH UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOUTH BAY LEXUS (3215 PACIFIC COAST HWY, TORRANCE, CA 90505, 310-325-9999), BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE DEALER NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THEIR DIAGNOSTICS SHOWED NO FAILURES RELATED TO THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 164,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Power Train

ODI #10455459

Fire

Incident: August 14, 2011 · Filed: April 17, 2012

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. A LOUD BANG, GRINDING AND SMELL OF BURNING TRANSMISSION FLUID. SMALL FIRE FROM LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. HIGHER RATE OF THESE TYPES OF FAILURES FOR 2000 - 2002 LX470 SUV'S *JS

Structure

ODI #10076209

Incident: September 9, 2002 · Filed: June 14, 2004

WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND SOAKING THE INTERIOR. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS DUE TO THE SPOILER. THEY PATCHED THE HOLES IN SPOILER AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE HATCH. BUT THE LEAK RECURRED. CURRENTLY, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE WATER WAS SEEPING THROUGH THE LIGHT IN THE THIRD DOOR HATCH WHICH HAD A LEAK. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10057903

Incident: February 7, 2004 · Filed: February 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, AND THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE POWER AND STEERING FOR A PERIOD OF ONE MINUTE. DURING THAT TIME VEHICLE SWERVED LEFT TO RIGHT, BUT DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLES OR OBJECTS ON THE ROAD. TRACTION LIGHT WENT OFF, AND VEHICLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. IT WAS FOUND THAT HYDRAULIC UNIT ON THE BRAKE BOOSTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Air

ODI #10040963

Incident: July 31, 2003 · Filed: September 30, 2003

AT THE 20K SERVICE ON OUR 2002 LEXUS LS430 WE WERE INFORMEDTHAT WE NEEDED THE FRONT AND REAR BARK PADS REPLACED AND THE DICS TURNED AT OUR COST OF $588. WE WERE TOLD THAT LEXUS REDESIGNED THE SENSORS AND WE WOULD NEED TO REPEAT THIS EACH 20K. HOW CAN A CAR THAT SELLS FOR OVER 60 THOUSAND DOLLARS HAVE SUCH A BAD REDESIGN?

Other Lexus LX470 model years

Check your 2002 Lexus LX470 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Lexus LX470 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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