MajorCommonSuspension

Lexus LS: Air suspension leaks, height-sensor faults and a car that sits down overnight

Air suspension leaks, height-sensor faults and a car that sits down overnight is a common suspension fault on the Lexus LS on the 1989–2005 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 12 documented faults on the Lexus LS.

Vehicle: Lexus LS
Years: 1989–2005
System: Suspension

This page covers the Lexus LS as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Lexus LS faults12 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The higher-specification LS400 and LS430 were sold with air suspension, and it is the fault that turns a cheap luxury car into an expensive one. The rubber air springs perish, the compressor wears out trying to keep up, and the ride-height sensors and control valves drift. The classic sign is a car that is level when driven and sitting on its bump stops the next morning. On the LS430 an air strut can also let go suddenly with a bang and drop that corner. Replacement struts are around a thousand dollars each and are replaced in pairs, which is why so many owners convert to conventional coil springs instead — seeing that conversion already done is a fact to price in, not necessarily a fault.

What you would notice

Car sits low, or lopsided, after being parked overnight
Compressor running for a long time after start-up, or constantly
Suspension warning light, or a height that will not adjust
A bang from one corner followed by that side dropping
Coil springs already fitted where air struts should be

How to check it

Where to look. Air struts at all four corners, compressor usually in the boot or under the car, ride-height sensors at each wheel

The decisive test costs nothing but patience: see the car after it has stood overnight, before anyone starts it. A car sitting on its stops that then rises when started has leaking air springs. If you cannot do that, ask the seller to leave it parked for the couple of hours you are arranging the viewing and look at the ride height when you arrive. With the engine running, listen at the boot and under the car for a compressor that runs and runs. Try the height-adjust control through its settings and watch each corner actually move. Look at all four corners and compare the gap between tyre and arch. Ask whether it has been converted to coils, and if so when and by whom.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Does it sit down overnight?”
“Have any air struts or the compressor been replaced?”
“Has it been converted to coil springs?”

Now check the Lexus LS you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

ClubLexus — 'air suspension problems' (LS 1st and 2nd Gen) thread
ClubLexus — 'LS430 UL with Air Suspension… Post your Issues Here' thread
Lexus Owners Club UK — 'LS430 Air Suspension Business' thread

Lexus LS buyer questions

Is air suspension leaks, height-sensor faults and a car that sits down overnight serious on a Lexus LS?

We rate it major and common on the Lexus LS. The higher-specification LS400 and LS430 were sold with air suspension, and it is the fault that turns a cheap luxury car into an expensive one. The rubber air springs perish, the compressor wears out trying to keep up, and the ride-height sensors and control valves drift. The classic sign is a car that is level when driven and sitting on its bump stops the next morning. On the LS430 an air strut can also let go suddenly with a bang and drop that corner. Replacement struts are around a thousand dollars each and are replaced in pairs, which is why so many owners convert to conventional coil springs instead — seeing that conversion already done is a fact to price in, not necessarily a fault.

How much does it cost to fix on a Lexus LS?

$1,500 to $6,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Lexus LS years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 1989–2005 Lexus LS. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.