Used 1997 Lexus LX 450 Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 1997 LX 450, so we've included reviews for other years of the LX 450 since its last redesign.
Old enough to vote and still running strong!
Ben, 12/25/2015
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
I bought my LX450 two years ago with 218,000 miles on the clock with no worries and now showing 237K. I was shopping for a Toyota Land Cruiser when I found this LX, and if you have done any research, you know that they are the same vehicle, with different badges and a few extra toys. The locking diffs are great off-road, and the factory stereo and CD changer still sound great. Everything inside works as it should with the exception of the power seats, which seems to be an issue with most of these cars. The motors are $500 apiece, and luckily mine broke in the right spot for me to be comfortable in. The A/C is great and the heat is fantastic. Oh, the light on the dash that illuminates the "D" has burned out, really, I cannot complain about that. Mechanically, this truck is amazing. The engine, gearbox and 4WD system are still running flawless. The only thing I have had to replace is the radiator, and will soon need a new power steering pump, but other than routine maintenance, it has been trouble free. I would not hesitate to get in it and drive cross country tomorrow. On the outside, the paint is fade-free and the clear-coat still intact. The upright windshield gives great visibility but is prone to catching rocks. The rear bumper finish is starting to crack and come off, but it's not really a great concern of mine since it does not affect the way the truck drives. I have a mild lift and am running "35's so the gas mileage is not so great (getting 14 mpg. in mixed use) and the ride can be a little harsh, but if you want a cloud like ride, buy a Lincoln Town Car (which is what I did). I am a wildlife photographer and needed a truck that I could trust to get me into nature and back home when I was done. From rocky tracks to muddy trails to snow and ice covered roads, my Lexus has never faltered or given me a reason to be concerned. I love this truck, after spending a day in the wild with me, a good friend bought a '97 Land Cruiser and he is so happy that he prefers it over his 2015 Tacoma TRD.
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I will buy it again and again!
I LOVE IT, 03/06/2010
updated 10/31/2022
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
Bought a land cruiser w/out test drive! Was a Toyota after all. Two years later bought my 1996 lx 450. I'm still driving it after 299,000. Everything on this vehicle seems to last. Just replaced an alternator. A bit of p/s fluid leak. I check the engine oil regularly (leak? ). Have never saw its limits, in any kind of weather or load. Dependable. Comfortable. Excellent performance on back roads and highway. Useless cup holders though. Difficult for reaching the spare tire and the jack not enough for this truck. Over all is an excellent truck. My son wants to drive it now and this is the reason I am here looking for another one to adopt. Hopefully after reading this the seller won't raise the asking price. UPDATE: 450,000 miles. No problems ever!
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1997 Lexus LX 450 for sale near you
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Great Truck
mts, 02/13/2003
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
The LX450 I purchased is fantastic in virtually every way. It is built extremely well. The truck is 6 years old with 55,000 miles on it and you can't find a squeak or rattle. The on road ride is very good and there's very little this truck can't handle off-road.
Best Vehicle Ever Made
LossLeader, 01/04/2017
updated 07/09/2020
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
302,125 miles on our '97 LX450 and it drives better than ever. At 285,000 I had a very slight head gasket leak, didn't let it overheat, and went to the shop. When the cylinder head was pulled off, there was still obvious cross-hatching on the cylinder walls, as if the engine was new. I had a new head gasket installed, and back on the road she went, no smoke, no unusual oil consumption, just turn the key and go. I added some Old Man Emu replacement springs and shocks (after 20 years with the original equipment) just to smooth out the body roll at freeway speeds. The car remains the best vehicle I've ever owned. Unparalleled reliability and off-road performance.
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LX Rocks
PC, 08/23/2005
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
7 of 8 people found this review helpful
This is and OUTSTANDING vehicle. 118k miles and I still haven't spent a dime on a repair - only scheduled maintenance. Further proof that Lexus/Toyota make the best vehicles on the road. Stable ride and more than capable to perform any task you ask of it.
Solid SUV
GL, 10/04/2006
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought this vehicle preowned; it's been very reliable and I still get compliments on it even though it is a decade old now. The problems it has had have not been very significant. The interior build quality is as good as I have ever seen; except for wear on the driver's seat, it looks almost brand new on the inside.
The epidimy of all SUV's
TedS, 10/05/2002
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This SUV should be put into its own class. By far the most reliable,solid,and safe SUV out there. Plenty of power to trailer a 20 foot boat,go anywhere off-road,carry seven people(5 adults,2 kids). Repairs are virtually non existant. Build quality is far superior than all others. Other manufacturers should use the LX450 as a benchmark. Stereo is amazing for a '96. Paint looks like brand new after 6 yrs. Love the split rear tail gate.,great for family outings,Home Depot runs. Love the New England winters with this SUV.
Lexus / Toyota #1
goodgrief00, 01/22/2008
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Purchased a 5 year old LX 450 in January of 2002 with 65k. Now have 124k on the SUV with absolutely zero problems. The SUV is in great shape and people mistake it for a 1 to 2 year old vehicle vs the 10+ years. Have the local Toyota specialists perform the regular maintenance and the vehicle functions like a fine Swiss watch. I love it! Runs like a champ on the highway and its a mountain goat when I go off road.
Without a doubt a future classic
Rod Diaz, 07/16/2002
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love this vehicle and I think you will too. Someday we will all look back and agree that this model epitomized the luxury SUV concept (before it went overboard). My only complaint is that a few features are missing in a vehicle of this price range. Heated seats and mirrors, simple navigation computer with: outside temp., "distance till empty", etc.
Highly Capable 4X4
Andy Williams, 04/07/2005
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This is a distinctive vehicle with exceptional capabilities. It's built very solidly - it doesn't squeak or rattle, and the engine, while not as powerful as more recently built SUVs is smooth and provides plenty of power. I previously owned a Montero, and decided that the only upgrade available (in terms of functionality and off road prowess) was the Land Cruiser or LX 450. I have not been disappointed. It's quiet on the highway, roomy and comfortable, has great clearance, plush interior, and will go anywhere with ease. I wasn't prepared to give up the 3rd row seat, and the LX 450 offers more room than the Mitsu.
Still a great value after almost 6 years
MGP, 04/24/2003
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
New cars being too expensive I set out to find a young, used 4Runner, I found the LX450 for the same price. The additional interior space is great to have, including the third row of seats that adults can actually use. The build quality of this vehicle is excellent--silent ride, capable engine and serious 4WD drivetrain. Great sound system as well. I looked briefly at the new Chevy Trailblazer but the Lexus at 64K miles is in better shape than the Chevys on the dealer lot, and waaaay less in price!
Oil leaks
Tech, 03/31/2002
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I first test drove a Landcruiser from a private party seller and fell in love with the truck. Since it was an older model I had the truck inspected by Toyota, which they found a problem with the rear main seal. The cost of the repairs would have been over $1800. I passed on the vehicle. Until, I found a LX470 which had an extended warranty. I felt the vechile was sound, but later I found that the truck had simlilar oil stain around the rear main seal. Thank goodness for the warranty! The truck has always ran great even with the leak. It's a wonderful family vehicle. I would still buy it again. Just beware of oil leaks!
Great Family Car
Alicia Baillères-Green, 12/03/2016
updated 12/06/2017
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Has been a GREAT family vehicle for active duty military family of 5 + Lab. Have traveled coast to coast at least 4-5 times in the 10 we've had it. Took it 4 wheeling all the time in sand & mountains in AZ & west TX (with everyone in the car)! Handles awesome! Creeps & crawls beautifully up & down rocks & the desert landscape. Taken it out on drives on the beach in the east coast. Never gets stuck. Leather Interior is a MUST with a family! Kids get sick in car? No problem! Dog hair? No problem! Kids spill cheerios, ketchup, fries, drinks? No problem! Everything wipes up clean & doesn't smell! Wish I could afford another one! This one is till going strong but would love cupholders! < - - that's my only gripe! Update: 10k miles later, still have her and still going strong!! I WANT ANOTHER ONE!!
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Solid Truck
JF, 07/06/2005
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
This is a solid truck that is as dependable as it gets. However, if you are 6' or taller it isn't comfortable to drive since your knees will press against the lower dash. I continue to have a concern about excessive rocking when driving on the freeway on uneven surfaces. The dealership even replaced the tires and shocks free because of this safety issue. Overall, this has been one of the best trucks I have ever owned.
Costly to Maintain
jjs, 08/24/2003
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
I bought this truck from dealer when it was 6 mos. old with 18K miles--that knocked the price down. Overall, I like it, but it is quite costly to maintain. I am not hard on brakes, but this thing runs through rotors as fast as brake pads (they've been changed 3 times now and the truck currently has 99K miles).
Lexus LX 450
Lovemylexus, 07/12/2004
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
This has been an outstanding vehicle to drive and own. Excellent reliability and durability and performance. It has gotten us through some of the most difficult terrain in the US and has been the most dependable AWD vehicle in the deep snows of the Colorado Rockies. My LX450 was even a life saver for a neighbor who got stuck in her Jeep Cherokee (it's a jeep thing remember?) The high ground clearance and large tire size has been the perfect automobile for living in the Mountains. It also has the towing capacity to pull heavy loads of firewood, or boat or building materials. The Lexus LX450 has done it all. Thanks Lexus for building a great vehicle!
PRICEY BUT WORTH IT
R. Max, 07/16/2002
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
My LX 450 has been going strong for 112,000 miles. Comfortable. Great in the snow. Well worth the rather significant sticker price. Gas mileage is fair. Have replaced brakes twice due to normal wear...no other repairs. Great vehicle!
I love this car
Maggie, 04/29/2005
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is such a great car that I bought a 2003 and can't get rid of this one because I love it so much. The two tone color is great, and I have never had any problems with the car other than replace breaks due to wear and tear, I did not have to replace the tires until 80,000 miles. I averaged 16 miles to the gallon which for a large SUV I thought was great It is so dependable. Lynette
LX450-1-year, has been awesome
wawrzyng, 11/26/2003
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Always wanted a LC, while shopping for used LC found the LX450 and like the vehicle even more that I anticipated.
28 Years Young and Going Strong
Ken P., 06/18/2024
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Have had my LX450 since 1996 and it is still going strong. It is not just a truck to me but is part of me for half of my life now. As long as I am on this earth it will be with me. Wouldn't have it any other way.
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great ride,leaky side door
wahine, 12/24/2002
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great ride, but when there is heavy rain the passenger floor gets very wet. Can`t see why but I think it is from the door somehow. Also no drink holders and a.c. for the back. Great sound system to.
Bought used but love it
Kevin, 12/21/2017
updated 06/27/2018
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a unique 1997 LX450 as it has a TRD Supercharged 4.5 engine. Vehicle sat for a year before I bought it with 145,000 miles. After a good cleaning and over due maintenance, it’s at 167,000 miles and going strong. Softer ride than the Land Cruiser. Drive train is strong. Supercharger gives it plenty of power. The driver’s seat leather shows some wear, but the rest of the interior is immaculate. No rattles, no squeaks, no abnormal wind noise. Looking forward to driving it this winter. This vehicle is proof of Toyota’s durability, even after 20 years. Update: Decided to sell the LX as the wife was using it as a daily driver and needed something that got better mileage. We hated to see it go, but it was fun while we had it. It started consuming a bit of oil, probably the valve stem seals as it had sat for a long period prior to us buying it. Other than that it was still going strong. Awesome vehicle.
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Bar none the best SUV
AG, 04/23/2019
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Not really much else to say other than echoing what everyone else has written about this beast of a truck. Solidity is unmatched and reliability is incredible, even for a vehicle with a quarter of 1,000,000 miles on the clock. Still drives beautifully and everything, yes everything still works properly. Forums offer a wealth of info on the typical fixes that these all require so once you “baseline” it with fresh fluids/filters and the typical fixes, it’ll just run and run and run. My single complaint, and maybe not really even a complaint per se, is that it’s slow and lumbering on the highway which, on an extended cruise with everyone else whizzing past you at 80+, gets a bit tiring. Fortunately my other car is a Maserati Quattroporte which handles that task with ease ;) In closing, I’ve never felt a more ‘planted’ vehicle on the road, ever. It’s quite impressive in that regard.
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It just keeps going!?
Jimbo, 01/02/2020
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I’ve had this 97’ LX450 for about 3 years now. Bought as a project SUV because previous owner thought the engine was bad because it kept loosing coolant. Turns out it was just a pin hole leak in a coolant house under the intake that was causing coolant to mysteriously disappear. Fixed it Along with a tune up and replaced a few other hoses and it’s been nothing but reliable! Even after sitting for weeks and some times months it just turns on and goes. Passes CA SMOG with ease. I just clocked 231k. I’ve taken it all around SoCal and parts of central California and I’m confident I can drive this tank coast to coast if I wanted to without a problem. Except gas...pretty bad MPG about 11city 14 hwy is what I’m getting and mine is completely stock. Kind of wish it were a smaller turbo Diesel engine of some sort but hey I can’t complain with the ridiculous reliability. Plus it’s literally just a rebadged Toyota Land Cruiser so cost of ownership and repair is lower than pretty much anything in its class.
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Great SUV! LX 450 perfect for family
Chris, 12/29/2004
1997 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
We bought this car about a year used. It has been very reliable and a great car for our family. While it may look similar to the Landcruiser, because it is a Lexus everything is upgraded and well worth it. More important than anything else, however, has been the Lexus service... Outstanding! We also own a BMW 750IL and wouldn't buy another BMW just because of their service at the dealerships. We will always stick with Lexus because of this. GREAT TRUCK!!!
The Best 4 by 4 available.
eurorom, 08/15/2003
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well I have been thinking of buying an off road vehicle and I went and demo the Pathfinder,4runner,Durango,S-10 Blazer,Explorer,Expedition,Yukon and non of them sold me on their performance,then I came across a Lexus LX-450. WOW!!! what a difference it made,I drove it on the road at 70 mph and it was very smooth, no noise, very solid. I went and follow a small convoy of vehicles which included the Jeep Grand Cherokee,2 Chevy z71 trucks a Yukon and a v8 Jeep Wrangler with 35" tires.Well my Lexus went thru all the places that the Wrangler went thru including MUD....the Chevy,Yukon and the Grand Cherokee did NOT go or did Not made it thru the MUD!
this is a great suv
rod, 08/11/2003
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We love to drive this suv on the freeway, and on long trips, it is quiet and comfortable. No problems, we did have to order big tires, with difficulty when we were on our way to Nebr., no dealers in the midwest, but easy to get back home. We do love Lexus vehicles and this is one of the first SUV's from them, and one of the best.
Lexus SUV
Gordon, 02/21/2005
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent SUV has tremendous pulling power and is very dependable. Looks good runs good 14-17 mpg w/40 lbs tire pressure. Go anywhere anytime vehicle.
lexus suv
Gordon, 02/21/2005
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent suv has tremendous pulling power and is very dependable. Looks good runs good 14-17 mpg w/40lbs tire pressure. Go anywhere anytime vehicle.
Built like a Tank
Debbie, 10/19/2005
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the SUV used with 60,000 miles, now have over 130,000. This SUV is outstanding in the snow, got thru many snow storms in Vermont safely. Not one major mechanical problem, normal oil changes, tires, brakes. Had the transmission oil changed and emissions repaired @ 120,000 miles. All electronics work excellent. Superb stereo. Some wear on leather front passenger seat. Expect to put on over 200,000 miles without any problems. Reliable, safe great SUV.
Used Landcruiser
willmaxr, 03/28/2003
1996 Lexus LX 450 4dr SUV 4WD
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought a 97 with 48,ooo miles onit. I was planning on a landcruiser, butall the 96 and 97 were at 60k miles plus for 21 to 23k. I got mine for 25 including tax. the thing is awesome and in 10 years my kids can take it to college. all other suvs can chase this classic. problems to date: antenna, e brake calipers.