1993 Lexus LS400 problems

Filed Feb 28, 2017 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 165,000 miles · CA

The first time my ecu failed was when I was parked I want to drive and the engine would not go above 1000rmps. I got the ecu replaced this was around 2013. The second time was a month ago. I was driving home from work had a huge thud in the engine and the same thing my car could no longer go above 1000rpms and couldn't get threw the intersection. The car behind me had to slam on there breaks because my car had lost all power. I made it home and was able to get a tow truck. By the time the tow truck arrived the car would start but then completely die. Took it to a mechanic they had it for a week said it fixed itself. One hour after I got it the car started to act up again. The car is back in the shop. They had to send the ecu out to get repaired. I did some research and apparently the parts lexus used on the ecu are faulty and leek. Causing the motherboard to short. I still have not gotten my car back and don't know if the car will be fixed once they get the computer back. Please research more as this is not a cheap fix and for it to happen twice....which I'm sure you already know is not something common to have to repair on a car let alone twice. Will send more documentation once I get my car back. Or feel free to contact me.

Filed Dec 10, 2016 · Electrical · 160,000 miles · TX

Dash functions don't work at times. Speed, fuel level,etc are not indicated when car is at rest or moving. This has been a recurring problem with the result that I fear driving the car and won't sell it as it is now. At around $1800 to repair with no guarantee the replacement is not buggy, I feel betrayed and dismissed by toyota.

Filed Sep 15, 2016 · Acceleration · 201,600 miles · CA · crash

Tl* the contact owned a 1993 lexus ls400. While driving at a low rate of speed, the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the vehicle drove over a curb and crashed up a slope near a wooded area. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. In addition, there was an abnormal noise heard near the engine compartment and front end of the vehicle as the vehicle surged at an extremely high rate of speed. The failure was reported to the insurance company and the manufacturer. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a collision center. The contact was waiting on a response from the manufacturer regarding the unintended acceleration failure. The approximate failure mileage was 201,600.

Filed Apr 18, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 155,000 miles · TN

Recently the car began to stumble under acceleration while driving up a hill or merging into traffic or maintaining speed while driving on the interstate. I initially thought it was a fuel supply issue so I changed out the fuel filter, without any improvement in the problem. I was going to change the fuel pump also and while researching on the internet I learned of a problem with bad electrolytic capacitors inside the car's ecu (engine computer) which can mimic a fuel supply problem. I am a trained electronics technician, so I removed and disassembled the vehicle's ecu and replaced 2 capacitors (cost, less than $1) that I could see were bad (leaking electrolyte fluid). I test drove the car and the "fuel supply problem" was gone, it drove normally again and did not stumble when the accelerator pedal was pressed. I ordered the other 5 or 6 electrolytic capacitors in the ecu (from an outside source, the dealer will only sell a complete ecu for $2000 plus) to hopefully prevent future occurrences. In conclusion, it appears the bad capacitors are the result of a "large-scale industrial espionage foul-up". Not a joke! This resulted in defective capacitors being used in many electronic assemblies (consumer electronics, automotive, household, etc.) until the issue was discovered, see www.badcaps.net for the story. I forget where I learned of the capacitor problem on the ls400, but it was just by searching online. So basically, lexus is charging customers over $2000 to repair a safety issue (that is caused by less than $5 worth of parts (retail cost) and a little soldering skills/labor) that was the result of improperly designed/manufactured electronic components from their supplier.

Filed Apr 18, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · TN

While traveling on the interstate at night-time, the lighting on the instrument panel went completely dark and it became impossible to read any of the cars instrumentation such as vehicle speed and warning indicators. At various times since then the gauges in the instrument panel have also become unreliable, these include the fuel level gauge, the speedometer, and the tachometer. At times they will not move from their "0" setting, such as when the vehicle is powered off, until they warm-up or you bang the dash with your hand and at other times they will not work at all. The lighting problem still occurs on the instruments also. The dealer said all they could do was replace the instrument panel and components in the dash at a cost of over $2000 plus labor, so often I just have to guess how fast I am driving or how much fuel is in the car as the repair would be almost as much as I paid for the car (the instruments were working when I purchased the car).

Filed Oct 22, 2013 · Electrical, Lights · 115,000 miles · IN

While driving or when first starting the vehicle the whole dash will go dark and not light back up or keep flickering. You are unable to see how fast you are going or any warning lights and the gas gauge does not work when the dash lights go out. Driving alone is unsafe and even with our 2 children makes it very unsafe not knowing how fast you are going and fuel gauge not working so you could run out of fuel and left stranded with kids on the road. Many complaints have been made about this problem and lexus refuses any acknowledgement of this problem and something really needs to be done!

Filed Jan 18, 2011 · Electrical · 221,000 miles · FL

My 1993 lexus ls400 dashlights went out while driving from atlanta, ga to miami, fl on january 8th, 2011. I could not see the speedometer or any gauges! I have sent the circuit boards to a licensed electrical engineer to get it fixed. Everything is good now but almost crashed at night and almost got a ticket because I could not see the gauges!

Filed Feb 24, 2010 · Electrical · 112,000 miles · DC

Electrical problem: instrument panel.

Filed Dec 3, 2009 · Electrical · KS

The gauge cluster lighting on my 1993 lexus ls400 does not come on unless it is above 75 degrees or so outside or in the passanger compartment. The lighting of the gauge cluster is not just needed at night. With the gauges being electronicly lit you can't see your speed, revs, engine temp, or fuel level day or night unless the car is fully warmed up or it's hot outside. Needless to say that in the winter even during the day, the lights are no where neer warm enough to light up. Lexus has no suggestions other than replace the unit with an expensive brand new one that will have the same problem in a few years. They have not made any change to the circutry or lighting in order to accomadate for their problem.

Filed Nov 27, 2009 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · NC

1993 lexus ls400 cluster light failure resulting in the dashboard lights being completely unreadable. Unable to determine speed, gas level or any warning lights. Read in the lexus forums that this is very common and lexus refuses to recall even though death or injury could result.