What years of the Lexus LS460 should I avoid?

NHTSA data points to 2007, 2008, and 2010 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 90, 100, and 80 respectively. Brakes are the top reported problem area across all three.

Which Lexus LS460 year is the best?

The 2011 LS460 is the only year rated Good, with a complaint index of 30, no recalls, and just 5 total complaints.

Is the 2008 Lexus LS460 reliable?

The 2008 LS460 has the highest complaint index (100) and complaint count (79) of any LS460 year, driven mainly by brake complaints (43%) and engine complaints (19%). It is rated Avoid relative to other LS460 years.

Does the Lexus LS460 have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the 2007-2017 LS460 lineup, covering fuel pressure sensor sealing, a valve spring defect, and a steering control ECU programming issue on 2009-2010 models.

What is the most common problem on the Lexus LS460?

Brakes are the top problem area across all LS460 years, accounting for 92 of 212 total complaints, or 43%.

Lexus LS460 Best and Worst Years (2007–2017)

Avoid the 2007, 2008, and 2010 Lexus LS460, which carry complaint indexes of 90, 100, and 80 and lead the model in brake and engine complaints. The 2011 LS460 is the only Good year with an index of just 30 and no recalls; 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017 also score low but lack an official verdict.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2007 Avoid 2008 Avoid 2010

Model years: 11; 2007–2017
NHTSA complaints: 212
Recall campaigns: 4
Crashes reported: 16
Fires reported: 3
Top problem area: Brakes

LS460 Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Lexus LS460 problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2007	Avoid	90	74	4	1	2	Brakes	19.5	—
2008	Avoid	100	79	5	1	2	Brakes	19	—
2009	Caution	50	10	0	0	2	Brakes	18.5	—
2010	Avoid	80	17	4	0	2	Brakes	18.5	—
2011	Good	30	5	0	0	0	Engine	18.5	—
2012	No verdict	20	3	0	0	0	Brakes	18.5	—
2013	Caution	60	9	2	0	1	Brakes	18.5	—
2014	Caution	70	8	1	1	1	Brakes	18.5	—
2015	No verdict	40	4	0	0	1	Brakes	18.5	—
2016	No verdict	0	1	0	0	0	Engine	18.5	—
2017	No verdict	10	2	0	0	0	Fuel System	18.5	—

LS460 years to avoid: what went wrong

2008 Lexus LS460 Index 100 · 79 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2008 LS460 has the highest complaint index in the lineup, at 100, and the most complaints of any year at 79. Brakes drove 43% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 75,000. Engine complaints made up 19%, at a median of 30,200 miles, including reports of sudden acceleration and a case of engine compartment smoke traced to a defective starter. Structure and body and electrical issues rounded out the top problem areas. Two recalls apply: the same fuel pressure sensor and valve spring campaigns issued for 2007.

2008 brakes problems →2008 engine problems →

2007 Lexus LS460 Index 90 · 74 complaints · 2 recalls

Owners of the 2007 LS460 most often reported brake problems, which made up 38% of that year's complaints with a median failure mileage of 100,000. Engine complaints, including reports of sudden unintended acceleration, followed at 16%, with a median mileage of 60,095. Structure and body issues accounted for another 16%. NHTSA lists two recalls for this year, covering a fuel pressure sensor sealing issue and a valve spring defect. The complaint index of 90 ranks 2007 as the second-worst year for the LS460.

2007 brakes problems →

2010 Lexus LS460 Index 80 · 17 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2010 LS460 shows a complaint index of 80, with brakes as the top problem area at 41% of complaints and a median failure mileage of 98,000. Owners also reported steering complaints (18%) tied to a recall for a variable gear ratio steering ECU programming issue, along with engine and fuel system problems. Two recalls apply to this year: the fuel pressure sensor sealing campaign shared with 2007-2008, and the 2010 steering ECU recall specific to 2009-2010 models. Several sample complaints describe crashes after loss of braking control.

Most common Lexus LS460 problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group. A complaint naming two components counts once in each.

Brakes92 (43%)
Engine38 (18%)
Other25 (12%)
Structure & Body22 (10%)
Fuel System20 (9%)
Electrical System14 (7%)
Transmission & Powertrain14 (7%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires13 (6%)
Visibility & Wipers8 (4%)
Steering7 (3%)

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Lexus LS460 should I avoid?: NHTSA data points to 2007, 2008, and 2010 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 90, 100, and 80 respectively. Brakes are the top reported problem area across all three.
Which Lexus LS460 year is the best?: The 2011 LS460 is the only year rated Good, with a complaint index of 30, no recalls, and just 5 total complaints.
Is the 2008 Lexus LS460 reliable?: The 2008 LS460 has the highest complaint index (100) and complaint count (79) of any LS460 year, driven mainly by brake complaints (43%) and engine complaints (19%). It is rated Avoid relative to other LS460 years.
Does the Lexus LS460 have any recalls?: NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns across the 2007-2017 LS460 lineup, covering fuel pressure sensor sealing, a valve spring defect, and a steering control ECU programming issue on 2009-2010 models.
What is the most common problem on the Lexus LS460?: Brakes are the top problem area across all LS460 years, accounting for 92 of 212 total complaints, or 43%.