Fitment is what makes this one worth having open on the bench: the 1998 Lexus GS 400 service and repair manual is tied to this exact model year and to the 4.0L V8 (1UZ-FE) fitted to the Base car, so the clearances, torque values and diagnostic trees you work from are the ones Lexus published for it rather than figures carried over from an adjacent year or a different engine.
Engines
- 4.0L V8 GAS Naturally Aspirated
Trims
- Base
Known issues on the 1998 GS 400. One recall is on federal record for this model year, and it concerns the vehicle stability control system: a manufacturing defect in the yaw rate sensor can let the VSC operate improperly if the sensor is affected by certain electromagnetic waves, such as those from a cellular phone, and should that occur the brake may operate unexpectedly, affecting steering and speed control and increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Owners have filed 32 complaints for the year, and no technical service bulletins are on record. The diagnostic and repair procedures behind that system are here.
Whether you are tracing a stability control fault back to the yaw rate sensor or working through a scheduled service on the V8, it keeps you on the OEM procedure and the specification Lexus wrote for the 1998 GS 400.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE YAW RATE SENSOR FOR THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), THE VSC CAN OPERATE IMPROPERLY IF THE SENSOR IS AFFECTED BY CERTAIN ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVES, SUCH AS FROM A CELLULAR PHONE.
SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BRAKE MAY OPERATE UNEXPECTEDLY, AFFECTING STEERING AND SPEED CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR.
Lexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Lexus. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any custome
Brake Pedal Force Gauge SST for Parking Brake Inspection.
Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset
Auto matic Transmission Replacement kPrecautions
Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, PG003-97, PG003-93, PG002-90, L-SB-0048-08, PG007-07, PG016-01, PG015-01, PG004-97, P
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see L-SB-0008-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
Showing the 8 most recent of 69 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE DRIVER LIFTED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A TREE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE SPEED EXCEEDED MORE THEN 60 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. DURING THE CRASH, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, LEGS AND ARMS AN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS400. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ONTO A RAMP, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND AS HE DEPRESSED HIS BRAKES THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND REAR ENDED A TRUCK PUSHING HIM INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE TWO OTHER OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE WITH MINOR INJURIES TO THEIR KNEES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CALLED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,867. UPDATED 04/13/10. *L
WHILE DRIVING 7 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND IT CRASHED INTO A CEMENT WALL. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
PRODUCT DEFECT WHEN THE LEXUS GS400 HIT HEAD ON A CONCRETE ANTI-TERRORIST RESTRAIN T BETWEEN 40-50 MILES A HR. SPEED COULD HAVE BEEN FASTER ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR SHOP CAUSE THE ENGINE WAS KNOWED OF ITS MOUNTINGS, HAND BREAK HANDLE BROKE AND TURNED 90+ DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE COIN CHANGE CLOSED CONTAINER BROKE OPEN AND CRACKED AS IT THROUGH ITS CONTENTS ALL OVER THE DRIVERS AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE I WAS THROWN WITH FULL FORCE AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL WHICH HIT ME DIRECTLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LEXUS GS 400. WHILE DRIVING 17MPH IN A PARKING LOT, HIS FOOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BRICK WALL. THE SEAT BELT NEVER LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CONTACTS CHEST TO SLAM INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN INTO THE SEAT. THE ENGINE SIZE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS CONFIRMED BUT IS LISTED AS INVALID.
22 SETS OF TIRES WORN OUT ON THE FRONT. I HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A BUILDING--THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN ME BE CAUSE OF SLACK AND THE DECEPTION/FRAUD OF LEXEUS PO005-1. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A "SPECIFIC COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BELTS" OR THEY ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. PO005-1 HAS BEED WITH HELD FROM THE PUBLIC. LEXUS IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO COVERUP THE TB. WE HAVE OVER 250,000 VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH OUT THE PO005-1 NOT BEING . *TR
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, A RATHER BUSY STREET TRYING TO STOP. THE LEXUS WOULD NOT STOP, DUE TO THE STRUTS AND MOUNTS ARE BROKEN. WHICH I LEARNED FROM SEARS AUTOMOTIVE. THE DEFECTS INTERFERE WITH CAR OVERALL ABILITY TO STOP PROPERLY, IT ALSO SWAYS OVER INTO THE OPPOSITE LANES. BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP PROPERLY, I WAS REAR ENDED, BY ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS GOING ABOUT 35-45 MILES PER HOUR. THE DRIVER TOLD ME THAT HE THOUGHT I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. I NOW HAVE SEVERE BACK AND HEAD PAINS.
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD ON COLLISION, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30 MPH, UPON IMPACT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJURY TO DRIVER.*AK *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, HAD A FRONT COLLISION AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, NO AIR BAG LIGHT WARNING PRIOR TO THE CRASH. DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50MPH; AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50MPH; AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
CRASHED INTO REAR OF ANOTHER CAR AT 30-50 MPH, AIR BAGS DID INTO DEPLOY. *NLM *SCC **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734324
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF 1998 LEXUS GS400 ONCE ON JAN. 16,1999 WITH NO DAMAGE. I WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE. A SECOND TIME ON JAN. 1, 2001. I WAS PULLING UP TO A GAS PUMP AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INTO THE CURB AT THE PUMP AND ALSO HIT THE PUMP. BOTH INCIDENTS REPORTED TO DEALER, BUT WERE TREATED AS DRIVER ERROR. SECOND INCIDENT CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PUMP AND MODERATE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I AM REPORTING THIS AT THIS TIME, BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN NO REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM ON TOYOTA VEHICLES
Showing the 15 most serious of 32 complaints filed with NHTSA.
