LexusLX4501996Overview/lexus/lx450/1996/base/

1996 Lexus LX450

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 LX450.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Lexus LX450 is a model that carries a 7.8‑quart oil capacity and uses 10W‑30/5W‑30 API lubrication, paired with an automatic four‑speed transmission. Its debut year recorded six owner complaints, a figure that falls below the peak of seven complaints seen in 1997 and above the single complaint logged by 2000, marking a relatively low complaint period in the model’s early history. This places the 1996 version among the more stable early‑generation examples of the line.

Model year19971996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque76 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy12/14/13 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 27F · 625 CCA battery, OE oil filter 9091540002. 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 27F · 625 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnOFFOEM · verified
Tire sizeP275-70HR16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter9091540002
Engine air filter1780166030
Fuel filter2330069045
Spark plug9091901176
Front wiper blades8522260120 alt 8521216120
Serpentine belt993321091083 alt 909160235383
Thermostat9091603117 alt 1634666020

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width76 in
Overall height73.6 in
Wheelbase112.6 in
Track (front / rear)64.2 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined12 / 14 / 13 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.8 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 76 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.6 Pints
Engine Oil10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity7.8 qt
Transfer Case Fluid75W-90 · GL-4 · GL-5
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity2.8 Pints

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs12 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts304 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts74 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs12MM Bolts: 14 ft-lbs, 14MM Bolts: 32 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionFront: 54.0; Rear: 65.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts76 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug27.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug27.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.36-.55 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance9000-15,400 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity3.63-3.85 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number27F
Standard BCI Cranking Performance625 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test17 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Injector Primary Resistance13.4-14.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression128-171 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 to Knuckle90 ft-lbs / 76 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket65 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.039; Rear: 0.040 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.26 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.26 in / 0.709 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.181 in / 0.63 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
135 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9035 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
154 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9054 ft. lbs

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 every 30,000 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 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate)
At 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

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

In 1996 the Lexus LX450 logged six complaints, a modest number compared to the seven complaints in 1997 and the drop to three in 1998, indicating a slight upward trend followed by a decline in the immediate years after the target year. Across the four‑year span, recalls remained at zero, suggesting no widespread safety defects were identified at the federal level during this period. The 1996 model’s top complaint areas—two each for Suspension and Service Brakes, Hydraulic—highlight specific system concerns, while the single air‑bag complaint and the combined “Suspension, Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Equipment, Unknown or Other” category point to a broader, but limited, issue set. With only three crash‑related complaints and zero fire complaints in 1996, the vehicle’s safety record appears relatively stable. Given the modest complaint volume and absence of recalls, 1996 can be considered a reasonably reliable year to purchase, though prospective buyers should inspect suspension and brake components closely.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
6
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.

Suspension2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Air Bags1
Suspension,Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Equipment,Unknown Or Other1

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 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Safety Recall 222022-04-13EquipmentLexus Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements 4.13.2022
Lexus PRO19-02 -2022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
Lexus Safety Re2020-05-01EquipmentSafety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
L-SB-0179-17 Obs2020-04-06EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 06, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
L-SB-0008-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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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 1996 LX450 take?

7.8 qt of ABOVE 0 F: 10W-30 API, BELOW 100 F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 LX450 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the LX450 get?

EPA figures are 12 city / 14 highway / 13 combined mpg.