- The luxury sedan’s 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat may cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly.
- Owners will be alerted of the recall between June 2 and June 16.
- The recall impacts 509 LS 500 and LS 500 Hybrid models in the U.S.
Several hundred Lexus LS500 models in the U.S. need to be recalled due to a fault with the optional 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat that could cause the airbag to deploy incorrectly.
The recall affects 2018-2021 LS500 and 2018-2020 LS500 Hybrid models optioned with the Executive Package, which are equipped with a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat featuring an extended seat slide rail that allows the seat to move forward and creates room for a footrest in the rear. These front passenger seats have an Occupant Classification System (OCS) which provides input to the Supplemental Restraint System to determine the best way to deploy the front passenger airbag.
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A recall notice reveals a stopper and the seat frame near the OCS sensor may have been assembled in such a way to cause interference, meaning the OCS sensor may incorrectly detect the occupant load. This means the front passenger airbag may not deploy as intended in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A total of 509 vehicles in the U.S. are involved in the recall, of which approximately 7% are thought to have the issue. Impacted 2018-2021 LS 500 models were manufactured between August 1, 2017, and April 9, 2021, while 2018-2020 LS 500 Hybrids were built between February 21, 2017, and June 1, 2020.
Lexus informed dealers and distributors of the recall on April 17 and will alert owners between June 2, 2024, and June 16, 2024. Owners will be requested to bring their car to a Lexus dealer. If an interference is found between the seat frame and stopper, the stopper will be adjusted and the OCS will be re-calibrated. Toyota will also reimburse owners who have previously paid to resolve the issue.
