Model year guide

1998 Lexus LS 400

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1998 Lexus LS 400 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 35 on record.

1998 Lexus LS 400 — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1998 Lexus LS 400 at a glance

Safety recalls1
Combined19 mpg
Typical price$3,639

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1998 Lexus LS 400 recalls 1

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1998 Lexus LS 400 MPG & running costs

Combined19 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway23 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,350
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$9,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

What's a 1998 Lexus LS 400 worth?

Low
$2,400
Typical price
$3,639
High
$5,100

From 23 comparable 1998 Lexus LS 400 listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 Lexus LS 400 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$21,750
Depreciation (5 yrs)$3,300
Total$25,050
Per mile$0.33

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($3,639) with the same model 4 model-years older ($1,000), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
196.9 in
Width
72.0 in
Height
55.9 in
Wheelbase
111.0 in
Curb weight
3,913 lb
Front track
61.8 in
Rear track
61.4 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1998 Lexus LS 400. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1998 Lexus LS 400. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Emissions

THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT (MIL) MAY FAIL TO ILLUMINATE IN RESPONSE TO AN EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM LEAK AND/OR MAY ILLUMINATE FALSELY IN RESPONSE TO A SIGNAL FROM THE TRANSMISSION SPEED SENSOR DURING DECELERATION. CORRECTION: A MODIFIED ECM WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Transport Canada #1998085 · May 1998

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Lexus LS 400

The Lexus LS is a series of full-size luxury sedans that have served as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota, since 1989. For the first four generations, all LS models featured V8 engines and were predominantly rear-wheel-drive. In the fourth generation, Lexus offered all-wheel-drive, hybrid, and long-wheelbase variants. The fifth generation changed to using a V6 engine with no V8 option, and only one length was offered.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1998 Lexus LS 400 trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
4.0L 8-cyl 290 hp

1998 Lexus LS 400 vehicles on record

1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F0W0131605 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F0W0122242 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F2W0109542 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F9W0121431 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F7W0130225 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28FXW0099374 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F0W0116926 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F7W0119371 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F7W0107544 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28FXW0125259 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F4W0108425 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F9W0136382 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F8W0135434 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F2W0137504 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F5W0114346 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F5W0122656 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F3W0126768 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F1W0114392 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F1W0136277 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F0W0101391 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F4W0133583 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F8W0114423 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400 BaseJT8BH28F3W0115138 1998 Lexus LS 400 1998 Lexus LS 400JT153UF2000120965

Other Lexus LS 400 model years

2000 1999 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990

1998 Lexus LS 400 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Lexus LS 400 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 Lexus LS 400. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Lexus LS 400 get?

The 1998 Lexus LS 400 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 19 mpg combined (17 city / 23 highway).

How much is a 1998 Lexus LS 400 worth?

Comparable 1998 Lexus LS 400 listings run roughly $2,400–$5,100, typically around $3,639 (from 23 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.