DDLexus

I wanted to see how the rest of the members are doing with their LS430s. Doesn't matter if the car is under warranty or not. Please only include problems due to OEM parts or systems.

For this poll, consider:
Minor problems are things that would cost less than $400 to fix at the dealer (rattle, noise, etc). Major problems are anything beyond that amount (motors, tranny, air shocks, paint, etc).

StanVanDam

2002 LS430, second owner, bought at 69000kms, full Lexus maintenance records. Lubrication Service and Maintenance Service performed alternately on every 8000km as per 2002 Lexus Maintenance Guide (Canada).

* 2005/3 years, previous owner purchased a new Canadian Tire Motomaster 72 battery

1) 200902/7 years, 70000kms: Replaced defective original trunk struts with FIGS Engineering struts, $80USD pre-shipping, 10 minutes of my time to replace.
2) 201006/8 years, 83500kms: Front right original O2 sensor's heater element failed, replaced with Denso OEM equivalent 234-4630, $79USD pre-shipping, 1 hour of my time to replace.
3) 201008/8 years, 85000kms: Replaced both front rotors due to vibration upon braking. Dealership repaired, $150 per rotor (43512-50220), 1.5hrs of $114/hr labor, $471 pre-tax, $532 after tax.
4) 201009/8 years, 85500kms: Replaced accessory drive belt (90916-02586) due to squeaking, $50USD after shipping and 15 minutes of my time to replace.
5) 201009, purchased Interstate MTP-24F battery to replace the 5 year old Motomaster 72 battery (had been discharged fully a few times due to leaving trunk or doors open and would not have enough energy to start the car after 2 weeks of being parked).

Air struts: Functioning perfectly, not leaking, no cross-axis bounce
Hood struts: Functioning perfectly
Nav system: Functioning perfectly
Paint: A few chips around the grille from rocks kicked up by other cars while at 100+kph. No factory clear-bra protection like the newer LS models.

Power adjustable mirrors: Driver-side intermittent, problem likely corrosion in the left/right/middle control switch (jiggling the switch gets it working). There is a thread on these forums for disassembly and cleaning. This is related to the reverse-tilt problem - if the switch is set to the center position, reverse tilt and power mirror adjustments are disabled. If the switch is set to a faulty side (ie. my left side), then the mirror thinks the switch is set to the middle due to faulty contacts and therefore reverse-tilt and mirror adjustments don't work.

Power folding mirrors: Functions perfectly in summertime. The driver-side mirror has problems folding in and out in the winter due to temperature and moisture (can be "fixed" by repeatedly flipping the switch to the middle and then back to where you want to the mirror to be).
Rear sunshade rattles: Non-existent
Steering wheel tilt/telescope: Functioning perfectly, no squeaking
Subwoofer: Functioning perfectly, foam edge surround and cone completely intact, no buzzing.
Window rattles: Non-existent
Windshield noise: Non-existent

CarGuy89

I have that distinct window rattle, which the dealer does the silicone spray for free. Getting a molding replaced (dealer told me at the time of purchase it was a clip, turns out they there was damage to the molding). That is it really, starts up smooth every time, runs smooth, rides like it's a mag-lev car (no feel for bumps or anything). Lexus really outdid themselves on this car!

mewhee

How about zero problems, major or minor on either our 2006 or 2002 (knock on wood). Granted, we've only had the cars since May but am still shaking my head with a big smile as to the build quality. My 2002 CL w/ 42k is as tight as a drum, runs like it just rolled off the showroom floor. Her 2006 is virtually flawless. We'd traded up from our two LS400's and couldn't be happier.

Oh, one minor problem which was totally my fault (and a heads up to y'all) - After having the car for a month or so, I unknowingly accidently pulled the trunk release under the left side of the steering wheel, leaving the trunk very slightly ajar and came out to a dead battery the next morning. A quick jump from my portable battery/compressor which I keep in the trunk got me back on the road in minutes.

Good driving -

Will and the Furry Ones

Jabberwock

agree - think we need to add a zero problems category - I have had zero problems with my 06 LS in 12 months I have owned it and 25k miles total on the clock. Looking at my Lexus service history the car has had no defect work at all, just regular service.

DDLexus

I've had 2005 LS430 UL for 12months now and have a few things to include as issues.

• Telescope steering went bad and does not operate (expecting close to $700 or more for repair)
• Outside passenger mirror does not fold down properly when engaging in reverse (replaced once already by dealer around 24k miles)
• passenger seat occupant sensor thinks someone is in the chair on hot days
• door molding around rear driver's side door became brittle and tore ($40)
• Hood struts weak and hold hold up hood at 60k miles($80)
• PCS system died at 60k miles ($1000)
• Rear air strut failed around 59k miles ($1000)

My previous LS430 (2001 UL) also had a few problems over the 3 years of ownership.

• Outside driver mirror did not fold in/out properly when turning car on or off
• Subwoofer died around 75k miles
• Trunk struts stopped holding trunk open (65k miles)
• front suspension bushing failed around 80k miles
• probably others that i can't recall, or chose to forget about

Regarding adding zero problems... i don't know how to edit the poll, or if it's possible to edit after posting. If you have Zero problems, just reply with that note. I'll update the 1st thread with a summary every now and then

sojah

iTrader: (1)

well i checked the vehicle service history when i bought it at 3 yrs new and 29k miles (2005 UL). the history report said a parking sensor in the bumper had been replaced at like 10k miles after it was 1 yr old.

since i've owned it for 22 months and 40k miles (i dirve a lot) my UL air susp has gone out (probably due to me riding around with it so low and the aftermarket controller and ss kit so i replaced with coilovers (happy thus far), and recently my pcs went out which i have yet to pay any $$ to fix. i've had no other issues other than a rear side screen getting tangled up and took some time to fix, and a squeaky drive belt was replaced under warranty when i purchased it (prolly cuz it sat for a few months between owners). OHH and i had a squeaky window seal cuz i detailed the hell out of my car and apparently wiped the inside top of the drivers window a little much but a 3$ can of silicone fixed the issue.

i would truly say this has been my most dependable and worry free car so far out of 8 or 9, well other than my wifes stock scion that apparently just needs gas and occasionally an oil change(i'm not even 100% so sure that it even needs that ).

my pcs going out has been the only thing since i've owned it in 2 years that legitimately broke or stopped working under manufacturers defect in my opinion, every thing else was prolly my bad.

Bocatrip

In my 4 months of ownership with my 2001 with 100k, I replaced the front brakes, had a very old TSB done and updated the nav. Overall, other than the ML audio system being a total piece of crap, the car seems to be trouble free. I am extremely confident driving this older car any distance.

GLIDESUL

Far as regular mantaince timingbelt/watar pump. Then I had to replace rear wheelbearing hub assembly for like just under 400 bucks, then I had a bad fuel injector in cylinder #5 that ran like 750 bucks ochhh. Needed trunK structs and rear sub and my nav is acting up on and off. Still the best car I've ever owned.

Playdrv4me

I've had one disconcerting repair on the 2004 since I bought the car approx. one month ago and that was having both front wheel bearings replaced. Really unexpected in any vehicle, even just under 100k.

Other than that I have noticed that the rear sunshade kind of "vibrates" along its path while it opens and closes, which I can only assume is the motor getting weak, and I plan to disable the auto exit steering wheel as I can already hear a very faint "squeak" noise as it retracts when I shut off the car.

Slvr surfr

iTrader: (1)

When i bought the car the service records had the drivers door strut thingy replaced under warranty when the previous(first) owner had it.That was it. As far as my ownership, the rear headlight sensor is bad(bracket cracked due to high and heavy snow this past winter), pass. mirror vertical movements works sparacticly, and the vertical adj for the steering wheel is almost shot due to motor going bad. Those are problems i can accept because they are creature comforts and really dont affect the driveablity of the car which has been outstanding thus far. Nearly 90k on the odo and i cant believe how well this car is holding up(knocking on wood) and really no signs of aging other than normal nicks here and there. Only other car that ive owned that can come close to its build quality is a 92 Camry whose body was almost perfect when i traded it in.

kg19989

Only issue on my 06 with 74K on it has been the front parking sensors. North Park Lexus replaced and we moved right along down the road.

Can I count the insufficient AC on the front seats?

mewhee

Same "problem" here on my CL but as my better half pointed out it's probably due to BBS ................................. Big Butt Syndrome

Will and the Furry Ones

CarGuy89

^LOL! I can sometimes feel the A/C but it seems like it's in the wrong place (only the bottom cushion...?). Idk, how much do you have to weigh to get BBB? I am 6 ft 200 lbs.

TJW98LS

iTrader: (1)

So far, ZERO people out of the first 20 voters have had nothing but trouble with their LS430. I bet there isn't a lemon in the bunch.

If we were on an Audi forum, 21 out of 20 people would be suffering from problems.

To this day, the reliability of the LS amazes me.