According to Au7o's analysis of 1,500+ owner reports, the 2011 Lexus GX has 4 documented known issues, with 1 rated critical. The most serious is Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator May Rupture (Recall 16V340000) ($0-$0 repair). The most commonly reported issue is AHC (Adaptive Hydraulic) Suspension Leak with 1,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $1,000 to $3,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
On the 2010-2011 Lexus GX, the passenger frontal airbag inflator can rupture when deployed, because the propellant degrades after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and repeated temperature cycling. A ruptured inflator sends metal fragments into the cabin at the front passenger, and these ruptures have caused serious injuries and deaths across the industry. NHTSA campaign 16V340000 is geographically zoned: 2010-2011 GX460 vehicles are covered where the vehicle was originally sold or has ever been registered in Zone A — Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The recall began December 6, 2016. Note that GX460 also appears in the later inflator campaigns 17V006000, 18V024000, 19V005000, and 19V741000.
Common Symptoms
No warning symptoms — the defect is latent until deployment
Airbag warning light only if an unrelated fault is present
How to Fix
Check the VIN directly against NHTSA rather than reasoning from where the vehicle lives now — eligibility follows where the car was originally sold or has ever been registered, so a truck bought used in a dry state may still be covered by its Florida or Texas history. The dealer replaces the passenger frontal airbag inflator or the complete airbag assembly, free of charge. Because GX460 appears across several sequential inflator campaigns, ask the dealer to run all open airbag recalls on the VIN rather than just the one you called about. Until the repair is done, treat the front passenger seat as the higher-risk position and carry passengers in the rear where practical. Never install a salvage airbag module on this vehicle.
On the 2010-2023 Lexus GX 4.6L 1UR-FE, the Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) on the GX460 develops hydraulic fluid leaks from the stabilizer bar actuators and hydraulic lines. Leaks cause the KDSS warning light to illuminate and the system to become inoperative, resulting in increased body roll and a less controlled ride. The front actuators are the most common failure point.
Replace the leaking KDSS actuator(s) and hydraulic lines. Refill and bleed the system with the correct Toyota KDSS fluid. Both front and rear actuators should be inspected even if only one is leaking. Some owners disconnect the KDSS system and install conventional sway bars.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
48080-60020 genuine Lexus rear-right pneumatic air spring
OEM48080-60020
Replace a pressure-tested leaking right rear air spring on a pneumatic-height-control GX460 Fitment/availability: Live page explicitly fits 2010-2023 GX460 Z trim, rear passenger side.
48090-60020 genuine Lexus rear-left pneumatic air spring
OEM48090-60020
Replace a pressure-tested leaking left rear air spring on a pneumatic-height-control GX460 Fitment/availability: Live page explicitly fits 2010-2023 GX460 Z trim, rear driver side.
48007-60023 genuine Lexus front KDSS stabilizer cylinder with tube
OEM48007-60023
Replace a confirmed leaking or failed front KDSS hydraulic cylinder Fitment/availability: Live page fits 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and supersedes 48007-60020/21/22.
Replace a confirmed leaking or failed rear KDSS hydraulic cylinder Fitment/availability: Live page fits 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and supersedes 48886-60030/31.
Replace a diagnosed failed or leaking KDSS accumulator/control housing Fitment/availability: Live page fits 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and supersedes 48006-60030. Confirm leak source and system pressure; not a pneumatic height-control compressor.
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Owner tips & cautions
TipCheck KDSS actuators during every oil change by looking for fluid residue on the front and rear stabilizer bars. Catching a leak early prevents damage to the hydraulic pump.
High Confidence1,500 owner reportsLast reported by owners Feb 2026Reviewed Mar 2026
On the 2010-2023 Lexus GX, a persistent complaint across the entire GX 460 production run is that the truck sits noticeably lower on the right side, commonly around an inch. It affects many but not all examples and shows up on vehicles with and without the AHC hydraulic system. On AHC-equipped trucks the cause is usually within the height control system — a failing height control sensor or accumulator pressure loss — and is correctable. On non-AHC trucks the lean is generally a combination of spring rate tolerance, the asymmetric weight of the fuel tank and driveline, and settled springs on an older vehicle, and it is not a fault so much as an accumulation of tolerances. The distinction matters because the two situations call for completely different responses.
Common Symptoms
Vehicle sits roughly an inch lower on the right side
Uneven fender-to-ground measurements when unloaded
Uneven tire wear across the vehicle
AHC system slow to level or unable to hold height
Lean more pronounced after the vehicle has been parked
How to Fix
Measure before diagnosing: park on genuinely level ground, ensure the tires are at equal pressure, and measure from the ground to the same point on each fender at all four corners with the vehicle unloaded. Note that a half-tank of fuel and a heavy set of tools in one side of the cargo area account for more lean than owners expect. On AHC-equipped trucks, have the height control sensors read on a scan tool and the accumulator pressure checked before replacing anything — a failing sensor is a far more common and cheaper cause than a failed sphere. On non-AHC trucks, if the lean is genuinely a settled spring, replacing the springs in axle pairs restores it; never shim or spacer only one side to mask a lean without first confirming the springs and the frame are sound. If the lean appeared suddenly rather than gradually, stop treating it as a tolerance issue and inspect for a broken spring, a failed shock, or accident damage.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
Replace a scan-confirmed failed right rear height sensor on the matching equipped vehicle Fitment/availability: Live Add to Cart page lists 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and rear passenger position. For pneumatic ride-height diagnosis, confirm Z-t…
Replace a scan-confirmed failed left rear height sensor Fitment/availability: Live Add to Cart page explicitly lists 2010-2023 GX460 Z trim, rear driver position. Confirm VIN and compare live sensor values before ordering.
Replace confirmed settled or broken conventional rear coil springs as an axle pair Fitment/availability: Live Add to Cart page explicitly lists 2010-2023 GX460 G trim. The same SKU fits both rear positions but is sold individually, so qu…
Supply the driver-side member of a confirmed front spring pair repair Fitment/availability: Live Add to Cart page explicitly lists 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and driver-side position. Pair with the distinct RH spring and confirm VIN/option code.
Supply the passenger-side member of a confirmed front spring pair repair Fitment/availability: Live Add to Cart page explicitly lists 2010-2023 GX460 G/Z and passenger-side position. Pair with the distinct LH spring and confirm VIN/optio…
On the 2010-2013 Lexus GX 1UR-FE, the secondary air injection system pumps air into the exhaust on cold start to light the catalysts faster. On the GX 460 it fails in two related ways. The foam filter inside the air injection pump disintegrates with age and the debris is drawn into the system, blocking the air switching valves and lines downstream. Separately, and in the large majority of failures, the diverter or air switching valve corrodes from moisture contamination. Either failure sets emissions codes and drops the vehicle into limp mode, which owners experience as a sudden dramatic loss of power on a cold morning, usually on the first drive of the day. Lexus acknowledged the defect for 2010-2013 GX 460 vehicles with the 1UR-FE engine in a Special Service Campaign (bulletin L-SB-0028-14) covering MIL-on conditions with DTC P0418, P2440, P2442 and/or P2445, under which the pump filter and air switching valves are replaced at no charge. This is the same architecture that troubles the 2010-2013 Tundra, Sequoia, and LX 570.
Check engine light with secondary air injection codes
Loud whirring or buzzing from the engine bay on cold start
Rough running for the first minute after a cold start
Failed emissions test
How to Fix
Before paying for anything, check the VIN against the Lexus Special Service Campaign (bulletin L-SB-0028-14): for affected 2010-2013 GX 460 vehicles the dealer replaces the air injection pump filter with an improved-design part and replaces the air switching valves free of charge, and will replace the air injection pump itself as needed at no cost. Many owners pay several thousand dollars for this repair without ever learning the campaign exists, so make this call first.
If the vehicle is outside the campaign, diagnose which half has failed before buying parts, because the pump and the valves are priced very differently. Pull the codes and inspect the pump's foam filter — if it has disintegrated, replacing valves alone guarantees a repeat failure because the debris is still in the system, so the lines must be cleared too. If the pump filter is intact, the odds strongly favor a corroded diverter or air switching valve. Fit the improved-design filter so the failure does not recur.
Some owners fit an aftermarket bypass or delete to escape the failure loop, but understand that this defeats an emissions control device, will fail inspection in most states, and is illegal to perform on a road vehicle.
According to Au7o's analysis of 1,500+ owner reports, the 2011 Lexus GX has 4 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator May Rupture (Recall 16V340000), AHC (Adaptive Hydraulic) Suspension Leak, Secondary Air Injection System Failure Causing Limp Mode on GX 460. Of these, 1 is rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Lexus GX reliable?
The 2011 Lexus GX has 4 known issues documented across 1,500+ owner reports. 1 issue is rated critical: Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator May Rupture (Recall 16V340000). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Lexus GX problems?
Repair costs for known Lexus GX issues range from $0 to $3,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator May Rupture (Recall 16V340000), typically costs $0-$0 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2010-2011 Lexus GX Takata Passenger Airbag Inflator May Rupture (Recall 16V340000)?
The passenger frontal airbag inflator can rupture when deployed, because the propellant degrades after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and repeated temperature cycling. A ruptured inflator sends metal fragments into the cabin at the front passenger, and these rupture… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
What is the 2010-2023 Lexus GX AHC (Adaptive Hydraulic) Suspension Leak?
The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS) on the GX460 develops hydraulic fluid leaks from the stabilizer bar actuators and hydraulic lines. Leaks cause the KDSS warning light to illuminate and the system to become inoperative, resulting in increased body roll and a less contr… Repairs typically run $1,000-$3,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2010-2013 Lexus GX Secondary Air Injection System Failure Causing Limp Mode on GX 460?
The secondary air injection system pumps air into the exhaust on cold start to light the catalysts faster. On the GX 460 it fails in two related ways. The foam filter inside the air injection pump disintegrates with age and the debris is drawn into the system, blocking the air sw… Repairs typically run $0-$3,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2010-2023 Lexus GX Uneven Ride Height — Vehicle Sits Lower on the Right Side?
A persistent complaint across the entire GX 460 production run is that the truck sits noticeably lower on the right side, commonly around an inch. It affects many but not all examples and shows up on vehicles with and without the AHC hydraulic system. On AHC-equipped trucks the c… Repairs typically run $0-$2,000. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
