Short answer
Among Lexus GS model years through 2024, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2012 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2006 has the most (8). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Lexus GS: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 18 (2002–2020)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 17
- Fewest recalls
- 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2012 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2006 (8)
- Most recalled system
- Fuel system, gasoline (30)
Lexus GS Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2019 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2018 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2016 | 2 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2015 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2014 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2013 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering |
| 2012 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2011 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2009 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Engine and engine cooling, Engine |
| 2006 | 8 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Engine and engine cooling |
| 2004 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2003 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2002 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20201 recall
- 20193 recalls
- 20184 recalls
- 20173 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20141 recall
- 20133 recalls
- 20120 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20093 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20068 recalls
- 20040 recalls
- 20030 recalls
- 20020 recalls
Lexus GS: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Lexus GS recalls are fuel system, gasoline (30), engine (5), engine and engine cooling (4), service brakes, hydraulic (2) and vehicle speed control (2). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
FAQ: Lexus GS Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Lexus GS?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2012 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Lexus GS model years have the most recalls?
2006 has the most, with 8 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "GS", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy