2013 Lexus LS

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.

Reported

Dec 2025

Incident date

Dec 2002

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Jul 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Sep 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

Aug 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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)

Reported

Oct 2023

Incident date

Sep 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My 2013 Lexus LS460 with ~50,000mi had its brake actuator failed (C1391 - Leak in the accumulator). A month prior to code C1391 being triggered, the vehicle experienced inconsistent braking pressure with severe brake pedal modulation required to stop the vehicle. Traveling at speeds under 30 MPH the vehicle would intermittently hesitate to stop. Moreover, a squawk noise was present when depressing the brake pedal. Code C1391 was triggered on 11/18/2021. Upon contacting Lexus dealers and national customer service (Guest incident #211121-000001) to repair the part under warranty, Lexus denied warranty. Inquiry was also made for Lexus dealers and Lexus customer service as to the correct brake actuator part number required for replacement. Both Lexus dealers and national customer service provided the wrong/superseded replacement part number (i.e., part 44050-50110). Below is the customer's research model LS460 brake actuators: -Per 2016 ZLG warranty: 2007-2012 LS460 came with part 44050-50090, 44050-50130 to be replaced by 04003-45450 actuator. -Per 2016 LSB-0047-19: 2013-2017 LS460 came with part 44510-50070 and 44050-50110 to be replaced with the same model 44050-50110 actuator for brake squawk noise. -Per 2019 LSB-0047-19: 2007-2017 LS460 came with part 44050-50110, 44050-50130, 44050-50150, 44050-50170, 44050-50090 to be replaced with 44050-50170 if repairs fail to remedy the brake squawk noise. It appears Lexus has attempted to revised the brake actuator various times to arrive at part 44050-50170, for which continues to fail. It also appears many superseded units are still being sold as replacements for failed actuators online through Lexus dealerships and Lexus authorized retailers. It must also be noted that a failing brake actuator (even prior to code C1391) will cause the brake booster pump to prematurely fail as the brake booster has to constantly pressurize the system causing it to overheat. Both repairs are urgent costing $3000-3500 each.

Reported

Dec 2021

Incident date

Nov 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Brake pedal on vehicle requires significant force to trigger brake lamps to turn on. In many instances, the vehicle can come to a complete stop before the brake lamps are triggered. Consumer has resolved the issue and would like to withdrawal the complaint.

Reported

Dec 2021

Incident date

Nov 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

WHILE COMING TO STOP, CAR SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY ACCELERATED. HARD BRAKING HELD THE CAR AND ONLY PLACING CAR IN PARK STOPPED THE ACCELERATION,

Reported

Aug 2020

Incident date

Mar 2017

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH MY BRAKE ACTUATOR AND ABS SYSTEM. LEXUS HAD A WARRANTY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS ISSUE WITH THE PRIOR GENERATION 07 TO 10 LEXUS LS460 YET THIS ISSUE PERSISTS WITH 2013 LS460 .THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM MY CAR HAD ALMOST NO BRAKING ABILITY AND IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY THE SO CALLED FIX COST $8000. OTHER LEXUS LS460 OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS IN THE LEXUS FORUMS AND BLOGS THESE COMPLAINTS ARE IN THE THOUSANDS.

Reported

Nov 2019

Incident date

Nov 2019

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THIS IS A WHISTLEBLOWING COMPLAINT AGAINST TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION SO PLEASE RE-DIRECT MY COMMUNICATIONS AS APPROPRIATE. AFTER I POINTED OUT TO LEXUS CORPORATE IN WRITING THEIR CAR SEAT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THE LS460 WAS INCORRECT THEY ACKNOWLEDGED IT WAS INCORRECT AND ADVISED ME TO STRAP MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY. THIS IS ALL DOCUMENTED IN EMAIL. THIS COMMUNICATION TOOK PLACE APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AGO. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY ALL OWNERS OF THE INCORRECT CAR SEAT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS IN THE MANUAL BUT THEY HAVE NOT. I AM A REGISTERED OWNER OF MY LEXUS LS460 SO WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A COMMUNICATION REGARDING THE CORRECT CHILD CAR SEAT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS IF THEY NOTIFIED ANYBODY. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN OF OTHER LEXUS LS460 OWNERS. I ALSO RETAINED TWO MESSAGES ON MY HOME ANSWERING MACHINE THAT CORPORATE LEXUS LEFT ME REGARDING THE CAR SEAT INSTALLATION DISCUSSION AS EVIDENCE OF OUR VERBAL DISCUSSION TO SUPPORT THE EMAILS.

Reported

Feb 2019

Incident date

Aug 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

2013 LEXUS LS460. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED UPON ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LUNGED FORWARD. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL THEN REVERSE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. THE INSPECTION STATED THE ACCELERATOR WAS PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED PRIOR TO THE IMPACT. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *JS

Reported

May 2018

Incident date

Jan 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash

3 SETS OF BRAKES AND 3 OTHER BRAKE REPAIRS IN 24,000 MILES, BEGINNING WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. LEXUS SAYS THAT THIS IS A "NORMAL OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE" AFTER WE ASKED THEM TO FIX THEM, AND WENT THROUGH THEIR LEMON LAW PROCESS. BRAKES EITHER SQUEAL LOUDLY OR GRAB TIGHT AND SHUDDER.

Reported

Apr 2016

Incident date

Mar 2014

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE NEAR US. . SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. PULLED OVER TO FIND A 10" DIAMETER HOLE IN THE SUNROOF. THE VISOR WAS CLOSED AND WAS FULL OF GLASS FRAGMENTS, BUT WAS NOT DAMAGED, INDICATING AN OUTWARD EXPLOSION. NO MARKS OR SCRATCHES ON CAR. VERY SCARY. CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT WARRANTY, AND WAS DECLINED.

Reported

Sep 2015

Incident date

Sep 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 LEXUS LS 460. WHILE PULLING INTO THE GARAGE AT APPROXIMATELY 0- 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, WHICH TRAVELED DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE PUSHING INTO THE GARAGE WALL. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 7/13/15*CN

Reported

May 2015

Incident date

May 2015

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

Crash