1996 Lexus LS400 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Lexus LS400, and owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Lexus LS400
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Starter assembly (electrical system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Due to improper assembly of the terminal for the starter motor magnetic switch, an electrical short circuit can occur if electrically-conductive liquid, such as road splash with deicing salt, enters this area.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the magnetic switch.
19 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Lexus LS400 have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 115,889 miles. Complaints peaked in 1997 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Per lexus technical service bulletin eg002-97, which doesn't appear on the NHTSA website but which can be found online by clicking on the link from post #77 at this web page: http://us.lexusownersclub”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 27, 2015 · Engine and engine cooling
“The NHTSA website for reporting/displaying vehicle safety problems for my 96 lexus ls400 (safercar.gov) shows there were only 12 service bulletins, yet in fact there were many many more not shown on t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 9, 2015 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Lexus LS (LS 400). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17 / 24 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Lexus LS400 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Lexus LS400 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 Lexus LS400 | 1 | 24 |
| 1991 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 21 |
| 1992 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 8 |
| 1993 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 65 |
| 1994 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 68 |
| 1995 Lexus LS400 | 1 | 39 |
| 1996 Lexus LS400 | 1 | 19 |
| 1997 Lexus LS400 | 1 | 13 |
| 1998 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 45 |
| 1999 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 22 |
| 2000 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 12 |
| 2001 Lexus LS400 | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1996 Lexus LS400
How do I know if my 1996 Lexus LS400 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Lexus LS400; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Lexus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 98V016000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Lexus models
- ES3501,365 complaints
- RX957 complaints
- RX350808 complaints
- RX300722 complaints
- IS 250719 complaints
- ES300681 complaints
- ES668 complaints
- IS596 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.