1994 Lexus LS400 electrical problems

Filed Jun 29, 2017 · Electrical · 159,003 miles · TN

Instrument cluster illumination fails, leaving instruments invisible due to instrument design. At the same time, the fuel gauge stops indicating fuel level. On my particular vehicle, this happens when outside temperature exceeds 75 degrees fahrenheit. In cooler temperatures, the illumination and fuel gauge resume function. Also, occasionally the tachometer and speedometer needles will stick at zero, will resume function when hitting the dash over top of the gauges hard with fist. The speedometer indicator needle has stopped illuminating under all conditions. Car has 159k miles and just purchased 4 days ago. I have read that these are very common and expensive problems with this car. I realize the car is now 23 years old, but there should be an inexpensive solution to these problems, or at least some compensation or co-payment from the manufacturer due to the expense of these repairs. Repair cost would be 30% of what I paid for the car.

Filed Mar 27, 2014 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · WA

The dashboard panel goes "black" and all instrumentation fails and this has happened to me three times since I have had the car. Then second time at about 115000 and then again at approx 129500. When this occurs the car is not legally drivable as there is no way to know exact speed etc. This type of failure is not uncommon I have been informed by repair shops and should be investigated to verify the real unreported by owners times it has occurred. It is a very potential not to mention expensive to repair both in time and dollars, out of service approx. 10 days and costs over $1,150.00 until today when I heard about your site I did not know it existed or I would have reported each incident as it happened. Note incident date above inaccurate but it was the only date the computer would input so that is why it is what it is.

Filed Feb 20, 2014 · Electrical · 81,483 miles · CA

The instrument panel flickered and then went completely dark. First it would come back on after the car was driven for 10 minutes or more. Now it does not light up at all. I feel this is a safety issue.

Filed Oct 2, 2012 · Electrical, Steering · 120,000 miles · WA

When the vehicle is cold, the instrument panel does not light up. It takes about an hour of driving to "warm up" the dashboard and will eventually flicker. This happens constantly and seems to be an issue with all lexus ls400s. I am also having an issue with the power steering leaking. The leakage has caused my alternator to go bad. I have since replaced the alternator, steering pump and steering rack. The issue also seems to be for all lexus ls400s.

Filed Jun 18, 2012 · Electrical · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 1994 lexus ls400. The contact stated that the instrument panel was defective and she was unable to see any of the gauges. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 122,000.

Filed Oct 16, 2011 · Electrical · FL

1994 lexus ls400..dash lights and instrument gauges work intermittently when the outside temp is in the 60's or below..when the car warms, the lights and gauges will flicker on and off til the instrument cluster has warmed completely, usually 5-7mins..however, if the outside is 45degrees or below, the warm up time for the instrument cluster to be functional is greatly increased 2 as much as 20mins in my experience.. This can be extremely dangerous, as you are unable to see the gauges, more so @ night..I emailed lexus corp and they said they didn't know there was an issue w/this item because there weren't any complaints by the dealerships or consumers(that is not true obviously)..they instructed me that any of their dealers are capable of making the repair and instructed me to contact one..after speaking to service @my local lexus dealership,I found this is a $1,300 parts and labor repair and my car needed to be grounded immediately cause it is too dangerous to drive it like that and no loaner car would available as it was a repair item that's not covered to receive a loaner...estimated down time of vehicle, 2.5 weeks..I see and hear so many complaints of this particular items failure and want to know why isn't a mandatory recall put recall put forth? Manufacturer won't obviously, it would cost them money, nevermind that can be a dangerous failure to anyone driving.

Filed Oct 11, 2011 · Electrical · CA

The dash board lights just flicker awhile before coming on. I have tried to get lexus to fix this problem and was told that it is not on warranty. They would fix it for 1400.00. It is now worse and do not light up.

Filed Sep 25, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 163,000 miles · IN

I have a 1994 lexus ls 400, on days when the temp is below 70 degrees the cluster lights do not come on. When the vehicle warms up, which the time varies, the cluster lights flicker for several minutes and then they go on. When its colder they don't go on at all. It is impossible at night to see any gauges. Not sure why nothing is being done with lexus on this.

Filed Jan 10, 2011 · Electrical, Lights · 85,000 miles · LA

1994 lexus ls400 instrument panel lights not working when cold, and now even in the summer it takes longer for the lights to come on. In colder weather my lights don't go on until the car is driven approximately 60 miles. I cannot see how fast I am going, and the safety of road construction workers is a huge issue and I want to maintain a safe the safe legal speed. The odometer doesn't register, I don't know how much gas I have,. This continues to worsen and my fear is that eventually I will have no lights at all. Have checked into many web sites and seems to be a common issue, very expensive to repair.

Filed Nov 5, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 210,000 miles · IL

1994 lexus ls400 instrument panel lights not working when cold, and now even in the summer it takes longer for the lights to come on. In colder weather my lights don't go on until the car is driven approximately 60 miles. I cannot see how fast I am going, and the safety of road construction workers is a huge issue and I want to maintain a safe the safe legal speed. The odometer doesn't register, I don't know how much gas I have, the mileage is incorrect. This continues to worsen and my fear is that eventually I will have no lights at all. Have checked into many web sites and seems to be a common issue, very expensive to repair.