About Lexus Cars
Toyota is the parent company of the luxury car brand, Lexus. Development of the company’s premium sedans began in 1981, but the first model, the LS, was not released for mass consumption until 1989. The first four generations of the vehicles had V8 engines and rear-wheel drive. While the roll-out of the new model was met with tremendous success (they were frequently compared to Mercedes sedans), a recall for overheated wiring solidified the company’s reputation for customer service by flying employees out to owners and picking up vehicles to be repaired.
In its first two years in the U.S. market, Lexus sold 50,000-70,000 vehicles each year and quickly became the top-selling luxury import in the country. By 2003 a million Lexus vehicles had been sold in the U.S. The name Lexus was only known in international markets until 2005 when Toyota started using the name in its home market of Japan as well. One market where Lexus has not performed at its peak in Europe, where Mercedes, BMW, and Audi claim more brand loyalty than an emphasis on reliability.
Quick Facts
-
Lexus IS
is the most-recalled Lexus vehicle
-
Lexus ES 250
is the least expensive car from Lexus starting from
$ 21,800.00
-
Lexus ES 300h
has an MPG of
44 miles/gallon / 45 miles/gallon
which is the highest gas mileage in the city and on highways
-
Lexus RX 330
has the most trims available with 1714 variations released
Number of Lexus Sales in the United States
Lexus U.S. Sales Reports - By Month
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 23,131 | 22,995 | 31,054 | 25,876 | 29,671 | 26,121 | 29,816 | 33,487 | 25,344 | 26,436 | 29,340 | 41,380 |
| 2016 | 20,933 | 23,090 | 30,198 | 24,882 | 26,682 | 25,779 | 27,890 | 30,938 | 25,801 | 24,803 | 29,050 | 41,182 |
| 2017 | 15,572 | 18,338 | 27,935 | 22,216 | 25,401 | 24,395 | 28,902 | 30,801 | 26,196 | 22,894 | 27,118 | 35,461 |
| 2018 | 17,914 | 19,265 | 27,032 | 21,642 | 25,391 | 23,750 | 25,403 | 28,622 | 24,597 | 22,716 | 26,446 | 35,524 |
| 2019 | 17,420 | 20,122 | 29,249 | 21,360 | 24,537 | 23,047 |
Lexus Car Sales in The United States from 2015 to 2019
| Year | Car Sales |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 344,651 |
| 2016 | 331,228 |
| 2017 | 305,229 |
| 2018 | 298,302 |
| 2019 | 135,735 |
Average Pricing for Lexus Popular models
| Popular Lexus Models | Average Price |
|---|---|
| RX 350 | $ 39,034.43 |
| ES 300 | $ 31,040.62 |
| GS | $ 45,052.07 |
| RX 300 | $ 34,531.17 |
| GX 470 | $ 46,096.05 |
| IS 300 | $ 30,020.90 |
| CT 200h | $ 30,706.75 |
| GS 300/400 | $ 39,730.39 |
| SC 300/400 | $ 42,196.09 |
| GS 300 | $ 40,613.80 |
| IS F | $ 57,939.15 |
| RX 350L | $ 49,541.59 |
| LS 500 | $ 76,549.39 |
| RX 450hL | $ 50,620.00 |
Interesting Facts About Lexus
Lexus vehicles are designated with a string of letters and numbers rather than model names. The “LS” model of Lexus stands for “luxury sedan” while the numbers following indicate the size of the engine (displacement multiplied by 100), so a 3.5-liter engine is a 350. When a Lexus is a Model X, it means SUV, “h” stands for hybrid, “d” is diesel, and “t” is turbocharged. When a letter follows the engine displacement and type of engine, it indicates size, such as “L” for long wheelbase, “C” for a coupe, and “AWD” for all-wheel drive. A Lexus “F” series vehicle is a performance car.
Owners of Lexus vehicles are well-treated, even when they have to take their cars in for oil changes or other services. Dealerships are often equipped with high-end waiting areas, including refreshments and sometimes putting greens. The carmaker has even leased parking areas at event venues and shopping malls for use by Lexus owners only.
Lexus sent a specially made model LS600H to legendary Beatles singer Paul McCartney in 2008. The car was made to please the animal rights activist by foregoing its normal leather interior – and was a hybrid as well. Unfortunately, the gift was sent via private aircraft, leaving a significant carbon footprint in the atmosphere.
Owners of LS model vehicles may opt for an Agathis wood steering wheel, a premium option that takes 38 days to make. Using something called the Shimamoku technique, Lexus’ workers handcraft the part using layers of thin sheets of wood for a unique effect.
Master craftsmen at Lexus check 26,000 points on every finished vehicle for quality control purposes. The paint inspectors must pass four tests each year to remain certified and are responsible for 4,000 individual inspection points on each vehicle.
Air conditioning in a Lexus is more than air temperature: the company claims to send moisture-laden negatively charged ions surrounded by water molecules through the air conditioning vents, resulting in better skin and hair for passengers.
The host of the YouTube channel “The Smoking Tire,” Matt Farah, purchased a 1996 Lexus LS400 with 897,000 miles on it to see if he could get it over 1,000,000 miles. In fact, that Lexus made it to the seven-digit mark in 2016 and was featured in episodes of Farah’s show as well as at a museum.
How to Identify and Decode Lexus VINs
World Manufacturer Identifier
The first three characters of any U.S. VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). The WMI identifies the specific vehicle manufacturing company and the location where the vehicle was built. The WMI is assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and is regulated by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Lexus owners can check to see if their vehicle is part of a safety recall by visiting the VIN lookup hosted by NHTSA.
The first character used by Lexus denotes the country of origin. Lexus is a division of Toyota and shares many of the same WMI codes. Lexus vehicles will denote a country of origin of either J, for Japan, or 2 indicating Canada as the origin.
The second character denotes the manufacturing company. For Lexus vehicles, the second character will almost always be the letter T, indicating Toyota as the manufacturing company. Lexus vehicles built by Toyota in the United States will have a Y in the second position, indicating Toyota of America.
The third character of the WMI identifies the vehicle type. Lexus vehicles will use the following codes:
| D,G,K,X,1,2,7,N | Passenger Car |
| A,B,F,M,4 | Truck |
| E,L,3 | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (SUV) |
| 5 | Incomplete Vehicle (typically a convertible) |
The characters used in VINs four through eight are used to identify specific details about the vehicle. These characters will include model and trim information, safety equipment, engine, and other relevant information used to identify the particular vehicle.
Character four identifies the body type. Lexus shares the same codes as Toyota. Since 1996, Toyota has used the following codes:
| A | 2DR Sedan 2WD |
| B | 4DR Sedan 2WD / Standard Cab Truck, 4WD, Standard Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| C | 2DR Coupe 2WD |
| D | 3/5DR Liftback, Double Cab Truck, 4WD, Extra Long Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| E | Station Wagon, MPV, Double Cab Truck, 2WD, Extra Long Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| F | 2DR Convertible 2WD |
| G | 4DR Wagon 2WD |
| H | 4DR Wagon 4WD |
| J | 5DR Van AWD / Double Cab Truck, 2WD, Long Bed, Small Frame |
| K | 5DR Wagon 2WD / Double Cab Truck, 2WD, Extra Long Bed, Small Frame |
| L | 5DR Wagon 4WD / Double Cab Truck, 4WD, Long Bed, Small Frame |
| M | 5DR Door Van 2WD / Double Cab Truck, 4WD, Extra Long Bed, Small Frame |
| N | Standard Cab 1/2 Ton Truck, 2WD, Short Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| P | Standard Cab 1/2 Ton Truck, 4WD, Short Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| R | Standard Cab Truck, 4WD, Standard Bed, Full-Size Frame |
| S | 3DR Liftback 4WD |
| T | Extra Cab/Access Pickup, 2WD, Long Bed Small Frame |
| U | Extra Cab/Access Pickup, 4WD, Long Bed Small Frame |
| W | Extra Cab/Access Pickup, 4WD, Long Bed Small Frame TRD |
| X | 5DR Sport Utility Wagon |
| Y | Sport Van |
| Z | 5DR Wagon 2WD |
The fifth position is used to identify the engine. Toyota and Lexus share engine technology, and many engines are cross-referenced to both Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The list below is engine options for Toyota vehicles from 1996 onward. Some Lexus engines and recent year Toyota and Lexus engines may not be represented on this list.
| A | 4A-FE, 7A-FE, 2AD-FTV (2005+) |
| B | 1HZ, 2AD-FHV (2005+) |
| C | 2C, 2CT, 2CT-E |
| E | 2JZ-GT, 2JZ-GTE, 2AZ-FE |
| F | 1MZ-FE, 2AR-FE |
| H | 1AZ-FE, 1NR-FE |
| J | 1FZ-FE, 1AZ-FSE |
| N | 5VZ-FE, 2ZR-FXE |
| P | 2AZ-FSE |
| R | 1ZZ-FE |
| S | 3S-FE or Electric -- RAV4 EV only |
| T | 2UZ-FE |
| U | 2ZR-FE (Corolla Conquest 2010) |
| V | 1NR-FE or 1VD-FTV |
| W | 2NZ-FE, 1CD-FTV |
| X | 2TR-FE |
| Y | 2ZZ-GE, 3UR-FE |
| Z | 3.5L 2GR-FKS V6 (278 hp), 2JZ-FE, 1ZZ-FE, 3ZZ-FE |
The sixth position is used for model identifiers. In most cases, this number will be a filler digit for Lexus vehicles. Toyota vehicles may include codes referring to the chassis of a truck, however, Lexus does not use this information.
The seventh character represents the factory-installed safety equipment. Toyota and Lexus use the following codes:
| 0 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags and Side Curtain Airbags |
| 1 | Manual Belt / 1 STD (North America), No Airbags (International) |
| 2 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags (North America), 1 Airbag (Driver Seat) (International) |
| 3 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags (North America), 2 Front Airbags (International) |
| 6 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags, Side Airbags, Side Curtain Shield Airbags, and Knee Airbag (Driver Seat) |
| 7 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags and Knee Airbag (Driver Seat) |
| 8 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags and Side Airbags |
| 9 | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags, Side Airbags, and Front Curtain Airbags. |
| D | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags, Side Airbags, Three-Row Curtain Shield Airbags, and Knee Airbag |
| F | Manual Belts w/2 Airbags, Side Airbags, and Knee Airbag |
The eighth character represents the model. Some of the recent codes for 2001 and newer Lexus vehicles are as follows.
| 2 | IS300 |
| G | ES300 |
| S | GS300, GS430 |
| F | LS430 |
| U | RX300 |
| W | LX470 |
The ninth character is called the check digit. This digit will be a value between 0 and 9, or the letter X. The character represents the result of an algorithm that can be used to verify the validity of a VIN on any U.S. vehicle.
The tenth digit in a Lexus VIN represents the model year of manufacture.
| A | 1980, 2010 |
| B | 1981, 2011 |
| C | 1982, 2012 |
| D | 1983, 2013 |
| E | 1984, 2014 |
| F | 1985, 2015 |
| G | 1986, 2016 |
| H | 1987, 2017 |
| J | 1988, 2018 |
| K | 1989, 2019 |
| L | 1990, 2020 |
| M | 1991, 2021 |
| N | 1992, 2022 |
| P | 1993, 2023 |
| R | 1994, 2024 |
| S | 1995, 2025 |
| T | 1996, 2026 |
| U | 1997, 2027 |
| W | 1998, 2028 |
| X | 1999, 2029 |
| Y | 2000, 2030 |
| 1 | 2001, 2031 |
| 2 | 2002, 2032 |
| 3 | 2003, 2033 |
| 4 | 2004, 2034 |
| 5 | 2005, 2035 |
| 6 | 2006, 2036 |
| 7 | 2007, 2037 |
| 8 | 2008, 2038 |
| 9 | 2009, 2039 |
The character in position 11 denotes the factory that manufactured the particular vehicle in question. Toyota and Lexus use the following codes for U.S. cars.
| 0-9 | Japan |
| A | Onnaing-Valenciennes, France (TMMF) |
| C | Cambridge, ON, CA (TMMC) |
| D | Japan |
| E | United Kingdom |
| K | Japan |
| J | Japan |
| M | Baja CA, Mexico (TMMBC) |
| N | Kolín, Czech Republic (TPCA) |
| R | Lafayette, IN, US (Subaru of Indiana Automotive) |
| S | Princeton, IN, US |
| U | Georgetown, KY, US |
| W | Woodstock, ON, CA (TMMC) |
| X | San Antonio, TX, US |
| Z | Fremont, CA, US (NUMMI) |
Characters in positions 12 through 17 represent the specific serial number of the vehicle. Like a fingerprint, the serial number is unique to each car and provides manufacturing information about the vehicle.
Safety and Recalls for Lexus Cars
About 1.6 million Toyotas were recalled for brake and fuel lines that could leak. If drivers smell gasoline, they should act immediately to have their vehicle repaired, although there have not been fires or crashes as a result. Models affected include:
- 2006-2011 Lexus GS
- 2007-2010 Lexus LS
- 2006-2011 Lexus IS
- 2010 Lexus IS C
- 2008-2010 Lexus IS-F
A brake pedal part has been recalled in the 2013 Lexus GS 350. There is a chance that the brake pedal assembly could malfunction, causing the vehicle to slow or stop without the driver’s input.
There is a recall for 2015 Lexus RX models with a 2GR-FE engine, a 3.5-liter V6 due to a faulty weld that could allow fuel to leak and ignite.
Issues with the software that controls steering, traction control, and anti-lock brakes on 2012-2013 Lexus RX 350 crossovers have been recalled. If unrepaired, the software could cause these important functions to shut off unexpectedly.
Fuel pulsation dampers are the subject of a recall in the following vehicles due to the potential for a fuel leak that could ignite
- 2006-2013 Lexus IS 350,
- 2010-2014 Lexus IS 350C and
- 2007-2011 Lexus GS 350 and GS 450h.
Potential fuel leaks could take place under normal operation of the following models with 5.0-liter V-8 engines, resulting in a recall to repair them:
- 2016-2018 Lexus GS F,
- 2018 Lexus LC 500 and
- 2015-2018 Lexus RCF.
The variable valve timing control device can become loose on certain models, causing the vehicle to stop while being driven. Those affected by this recall include:
- 2006-'11 Lexus IS 350,
- 2006-2011 Lexus IS 350C and
- 2006-2011 Lexus GS 350.
Faulty airbag inflators have been recalled in hundreds of thousands of Toyota-made vehicles that are affected by this recall, which is necessary due to the dangerous devices, which can injure passengers.
- 2007-2012 Lexus ES350,
- 2010-2017 Lexus GX460,
- 2006-2010 and 2013 Lexus IS250/350,
- 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C/350C,
- 2008-2014 Lexus IS F,
- 2012 Lexus LFA,
- 2002-2010 Lexus SC430
- 2007-2012 Lexus ES350,
- 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, and
- 2002-2010 Lexus SC430.
Lexus Recalls
Lexus had 705 from 1980 to 2024 of which the most recalled model is 2008 Lexus IS F and the least is 2004 Lexus ES 330. Lexus had the most recalled during 2010.
| Model | Number of Recalls |
|---|---|
| 2008 Lexus IS F #1 with most recalls | 4 |
| 2010 Lexus IS F #2 with most recalls | 4 |
| 2016 Lexus GS F #3 with most recalls | 1 |
| 2004 Lexus ES 330 #4 with most recalls | 1 |
