LexusLS4302002Overview/lexus/ls430/2002/base/

2002 Lexus LS430

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2002 LS430.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 5-spd

The 2002 Lexus LS430 is a passenger car featuring a 5-speed automatic transmission and an engine utilizing 4.9 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. This model delivers an EPA fuel economy rating of 16/23/19 mpg. With 42 owner complaints—primarily focused on the structure—and two recalls, the 2002 year falls within a 2001-2006 model history that peaked at 52 complaints in 2001 and reached a low of 17 in 2006.

Model year200620052004200320022001

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 24F · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 90915YZZD3. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 24F · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTSOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-60HR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter90915YZZD3
Engine air filter1780150030
Fuel filter233000A020 alt 2321746090
Spark plug9008091180
Front wiper blades8522212750 alt 8521213031
Serpentine belt9091602586
Thermostat9091603100 alt 1634650010
Cabin air filter8713950030 alt 8850830110

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.9 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.9 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts181 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub214 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacitySingle Unit, 1.32-1.54; dual unit, 1.87-2.09. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.90 oz
Standard BCI Group Number24F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Residual Pressure21.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression142-178 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure4.3 psi @ Idle, 43-85 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.010 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.010-0.014 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket81 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle76 ft-lbs / 58 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.181 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.181 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.102 in / 0.571 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 120,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect)
Every 90,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 120,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2002 Lexus LS430 sits at a pivotal transition point in this generation: complaints dropped from 52 in 2001 to 42, TSBs fell from 104 to 87, and the single NHTSA investigation from 2001 was closed with no further action by 2002. However, 2002 recorded the highest recall count in the generation (2 recalls), tied only with 2005, suggesting the manufacturer was addressing early-model defects proactively. The complaint trend continued downward through 2003 (25 complaints), indicating the model stabilized quickly. The top complaint areas—structure (10) and exterior lighting (4)—dominated, with 8 crash-related complaints and 1 fire complaint noted. Compared to the peak-complaint year of 2001 and the spike in 2004 recalls (4), the 2002 model represents a buying opportunity: it benefits from the post-launch quality improvements visible in the declining complaint and TSB numbers while avoiding the recall spike that followed.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
87
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
42
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure10
Exterior Lighting4
Structure,Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Wheels2
Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 87 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
L-SB-0020-242024-04-19StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…
L-SB-0021-242024-04-19StructureLexus vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect…
L-SB-0022-242024-04-19StructureAcid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to…
L-SB-0024-242024-04-19StructureThe condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the…
L-SB-0020-242024-04-19StructureVehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific LS430. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2002 LS430 take?

4.9 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2002 LS430 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the LS430 get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined mpg.