The Lexus LS 400: Circle F, the 1989 launch and the first recall

Lexus LS 400 and the 1989 launch history

In 1983 Eiji Toyoda challenged Toyota to build "a car that is better than the best in the world." The answer was the Circle F project, F for flagship, and its first car, the LS sedan, was known internally as F1, for Flagship One. Toyota dates the start of LS 400 development to 1984.

Toyota gave two reasons for a new sales network: room under the US import quota as more Toyotas were built in North America, and owners who left for Mercedes-Benz or BMW when they wanted a luxury car. Project members spent several months in the US studying luxury-car owners and concluded that the car needed prestige, quality, strong resale value, advanced performance and a high level of safety.

Chief engineer Ichiro Suzuki refused to compromise on targets his 1,400-strong engineering team called impossible, including a drag coefficient of 0.29. The final design was approved in May 1987. Toyota says the car took roughly six years, some 50 clay models, about 450 prototypes and more than 3.5 million km of test driving.[1],[2],[3]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The LS 400 needed both a new platform and a new engine: a four-liter, quad-cam, all-aluminum V8. Toyota’s US launch announcement rated it at 250 hp.
• To cut vibration and noise, Toyota used vibration-damping steel sheet in the body and developed a high-precision way to make the propeller shaft; flush glass and door handles helped reach a 0.29 drag coefficient.
• Tahara introduced a new line-control system and laser-welded body panels of different thicknesses for Lexus production. Every new LS 400 was tested at up to 100 mph on a factory track and inspected again in the US before delivery.

Sources:[1],[3],[5]

What changed over the years

1. 1983Eiji Toyoda challenges Toyota to build a car better than the best in the world.
2. 1984LS 400 development begins under the Circle F project.
3. May 1987Final LS 400 design approved; Lexus Covenant follows in August.
4. 1989The LS 400 is revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
5. May 15, 1989The first LS 400 rolls off the line at Tahara.
6. September 1, 1989Lexus launches across the US with the LS 400 and ES 250.
7. December 1989Recall of early LS 400s for the cruise-control actuator and brake-light housing.
8. 1990–1991Lexus tops the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study, then wins three J.D. Power studies in 1991.
9. 1994Redesigned second-generation LS 400 goes on sale.
10. 1997LS 400 gains VVT-i variable valve timing.
11. 2001The LS 430 replaces the LS 400 in US listings.

Sources:[1],[3],[4],[5],[6],[8],[9],[13]

What to check before you buy one

• Every LS 400 is now more than 25 years old, so condition and records matter more than mileage alone. Ask for service history and look for evidence of regular scheduled maintenance.
• Check that the 1989–1990 recall work was done on early cars. A Lexus dealer can confirm open campaigns by VIN, and the NHTSA recall search shows campaigns by VIN.
• Confirm the generation. The redesigned second-generation LS 400 went on sale in 1994, and Lexus added VVT-i variable valve timing in 1997.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Lexus LS known issues page.

Lexus LS 400 and the 1989 launch prices and values

Mileage: across 1,835 used Lexus LS listings in our November 2026 study (all model years), the median odometer reading was 111,626 miles and 8.6% showed 200,000 miles or more. See how long a Lexus LS lasts.

How to verify a Lexus LS 400 and the 1989 launch's factory options

A used Lexus's model, engine and drivetrain are fixed at the factory. CarWhere decodes the 17-character VIN and, where licensed factory build data exists, lists the equipment the car was built with. It does not promise a complete option list for every VIN.