2003 Lexus GX470

Early-defect pattern

29.6% of complaints about the 2003 Lexus GX470 came in its first year of service — a higher share than 97% of the 228 2003 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (16 complaints), typically at 1.0 yr or about 2,500 miles.

Complaints: 54
Median age at failure: 1.4 yr
Median mileage: 28,478 n=47
Crash / fire / tow: 9.3% of reports
Safety recalls: 2

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

03V088000 2003-03-10

Seats:mid/rear assembly

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO LOCK ONE OF THE TWO LATCHES ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MIDDLE ROW LEFT REAR SEAT (LARGER SIDE OF THE BENCH SEAT DIRECTLY BEHIND THE DRIVER). DUE TO THE THICKNESS OF THE LEXUS LINK SYSTEM STORAGE CASE, THE STOPPER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. THIS ELEVATED POSITION MISALIGNS THE LATCH TO THE STRIKER.

IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED WITH ONLY ONE LATCH LOCKED, THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT MAY BE IMPROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

03V031000 2003-02-11

Equipment:other:labels

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PART 567, "CERTIFICATION." THE INCORRECT GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) DATA WAS PRINTED ON THE CERTIFICATION REGULATION LABEL. THE GVWR IS INCORRECTLY REFLECTED ON THE LABEL AS 6,100 LBS. THE CORRECT GVWR SHOULD BE 6,000 LBS.

THE CERTIFICATION LABEL DOES NOT MEET THE INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS AS DESCRIBED IN THE REGULATIONS.

In owners’ own words

Power train 900 mi 5 mo in service

WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE MAKES A THUMPING NOISE. AT TIMES IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS TAPPING ME IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE AND EACH TIME I AM TOLD IT IS A "NORMAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE." *NLM

Power train 5,000 mi 7 mo in service

WHEN DESCENDING A HILL AT 40-45 MPH IN DRIVE AND GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAINTAIN SPEED TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTS TO "4" AND OFTEN TO "3". THIS OCCURS REPEATEDLY, BUT IS NOT PREDICTABLE. WHEN REACHING THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE TOP GEAR, I MUST EITHER (1) DEPRESS THE GAS PEDAL HALFWAY AND RELEASE IT OR (2) MANUALLY MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER FROM "D" TO "4" AND BACK.THIS DOWNSHIFTING IS ABRUPT AND UNPREDICTIBLE. I AM CONCERNED IF IT HAPPENS ON SNOW OR ICE, THAT THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE TRACTION AND SLIDE.*AK

Power train mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service

WHEN HARD ACCELERATING SULFUR SMELL ENTERS CABIN MAKES ME NAUSEATED... WONDER IF CARBON MONOXIDE IS ENTERING CABIN ALSO . WHEN STOPPING OR STOPPED DRIVE SHAFT BUMPS HARD LIKE SOMEONE HITTING BACK OF VEHICLE. *JB

Other GX470 model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2003 Lexus GX470

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other GX470 model years

How to read this