Best and worst Lexus GX 460 years — which to avoid

It’s no secret that Lexus doesn’t make any compromises with the build quality and premium materials, but buying the beloved V8 GX model requires some due diligence first. Although the model is widely regarded as reliable, there are some Lexus GX460 years to avoid due to prominent problems and complaints.

It’s overall a dependable SUV model, but you can go the extra mile and rely on our guide to help you find out about the bad production years based on NHTSA complaints, driver reviews, safety ratings, and official recalls to identify the common issues.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Lexus GX 460 years

To properly rank the GX 460 years as best or worst, we had to consider several important factors. First, we reviewed the official complaints and reliability issues listed on NHTSA which were submitted by fellow GX 460 drivers. Along with those, we checked the safety ratings on IIHS and we also browsed some Lexus forums looking for threads that discuss common drawbacks of this model.

Along with those, we had to take a look at ownership reviews left by other drivers on platforms like Edmunds, KBB, and Consumer Reports among the biggest names. We compared all these with official reliability ratings and this is what we came up with as the list of the best and worst years:

Most common Lexus GX 460 problems

Over the years, the Lexus GX 460 proved to be a reliable SUV with an engine powerful enough to carry the heavy chassis, while still being reliable and sturdy. The 4.6-liter could truly shine in its full light, but there were several problems with this model version.

The main issues included a fuel pump failure and the airbag inflator issue that posed a safety concern. Also, there were issues reported concerning the electric stability control system and the steering response.

1. Low-pressure fuel pump faults

One of the biggest problems with the GX 460 was the low-pressure fuel pump fault. This manifested through engine combustion problems since fuel wasn’t properly directed from the tank to the combustion chamber.

Because of this, certain combustion problems such as misfires, engine stalling, or sluggish acceleration could manifest in the car. Luckily, there was an official recall by Lexus in 2020 and it mostly concerned 2014 to 2015 Lexus GX 460 models.

2. Airbag issues

Certain GX 460 model years also dealt with airbag issues from the SRS light that was glowing without a reason, to airbag inflator bag malfunctions. In the worst-case scenario, the latter caused serious safety threats since the inflator bag explosion led to small metal fragments flying around the car.

Of course, this is a rare situation and luckily there have been few recalls concerning these issues. The model years that were mostly hit by the airbag issues were 2010 to 2017, and the problem has been fixed through official recalls related to the airbag system.

3. Stability control system problems

When it comes to driveability, the worst problem of the GX 460 was the occasional stability control system error. This concerned the vehicle’s steering precision since the stability control system often caused understeer on slippery roads. It’s an issue similar to the service StabiliTrak message that GM car owners may get, as a system similar to ESC systems on other cars.

The function of the system is to provide proper feedback from the road and add up to the traction of the vehicle, so it’s an important safety feature that shouldn’t malfunction. There wasn’t an official recall for this problem, but at least it’s quite straightforward to check it yourself.

4. Electric problems

Finally, perhaps the least concerning problem of the GX is the bothersome electric system issue on the GX 460 model. This problem even affects the latest model years and it mostly manifests through inoperable remote starting systems and door handle issues on some cars.

Also, a prominent problem that’s also regarding the electric system of the car is the remote mirror adjustment, so some owners had struggles forcing the mirror adjustment.

Worst Lexus GX 460 years to avoid

After giving you a brief overview of the main flaws of the GX 460 model, it’s time to deal with the exact model years where these flaws were common. So, what are the worst Lexus GX 460 years? Some of the most problematic model years include the early production years from 2010 to 2015, while model years up to 2017 had airbag issues that led to a recall.

Overall, you should avoid the following model years:

• 2010
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015

We’ll also go the extra mile to give you detailed explanations of each and why you should avoid them if you are on the market for a second-gen Lexus GX 460.

Second-generation Lexus GX (2010-2015 model years)

While the Lexus GX started its journey as the full-size Lexus SUV in 2002, the GX 460 version only exists in the second generation. So, it’s the only generation of the GX that’s powered by a 4.6-liter naturally-aspirated V8, but we still have to see what will happen with the next generation.

Even so, the issues in this generation mostly include the main GX 460 problems in the 2010 to 2015 model years. Among these, it’s best to avoid the 2010 model year as the initial production year of the second-generation GX.

It mostly suffers from fuel delivery system faults and airbag issues, so the best move is to buy a later version. The 2011 and 2012 versions are still better than 2010, and it’s also a good idea to steer away from the 2016 model version that had airbag inflator issues and electrical system faults.

What are the best Lexus GX 460 years to buy?

We don’t want to scare you by making you think that the GX 460 is a bad model. It’s perfectly normal for every model to have some bad production years, and it’s a good thing we’ve cleared those out. So, let’s proceed with our list of the best Lexus GX 460 model years to help you buy the most reliable car:

• 2011
• 2012
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022

The airbag issues were sorted out with 2017 as the final model year that had those, so it’s completely safe to buy a newer model year Lexus GX 460. Also, all of the combustion-related and fuel pump issues were solved with the newer model years, and the main thing is to avoid the 2010 model year that had steering stability system faults.

The most reliable model year of Lexus GX 460 remains the 2016 model year.

2016 Lexus GX 460

As one of the absolute best options in terms of reliability rating and reviews, the 2016 Lexus GX 460 made it into the history books of many drivers. It’s mostly due to positive feedback thanks to Lexus finally sorting out the problematic issues of the previous five model years including engine cooling issues and problems with the engine and airbags.

The 2016 one was for the most part free of any mechanical issues, especially when it comes to vital systems like the engine and transmission. Along with that, it was upgraded with an interior and exterior facelift when compared with early second-gen models, making it a desirable option for all drivers.

Is the Lexus GX 460 worth buying?

Overall, the Lexus GX 460 is a reliable ride and a luxury-class SUV that will never leave you on the road due to engine or transmission faults. Considering the problems that it does have, it’s not such a tough or expensive car to maintain, and regular servicing should do the trick in making it last up to 300,000 miles.

The engine itself is powerful enough and reliable, and the biggest problem is those few problematic years with fuel delivery issues and airbag issues. In that light, we hope that our guide will do you a favor and help you with the selection of the most reliable GX 460 model year to purchase.

If oyu want to explore other luxury SUVs check out our articles like Acura RDX years to avoid, BMW X5 years to avoid, and Volvo XC60 years to avoid. Our in-depth reviews focus on highlighting the years that might be best avoided, informed by a thorough analysis of reliability issues, customer feedback, and recall history.