Hey all! I have a unique situation here. I have a 2014 Lexus ES350 that I bought over 4 months ago at a 180k miles. The car's been driven 6k miles since and its been an absolute dream however I noticed a small vibration on the brakes since day 1. I have 2 questions. Let's start with the Transmission. This past weekend I was driving down I65 when my Check Engine light came on and Traction Control went off simultaneously. I took the next exit to stop and inspect but while slowing down in the exit lane the gears started to shift up and down back and forth and the car started to jerk. As soon as I got off the exit ramp I noticed it was smoking up and I stopped at the nearest lot. The smoke was white and didn't smell like oil so I suspected it might be the transmission. A mechanic inspected it. Said that the Transmission Fluid had pumped out, maybe because my coolant reservoir was overfilled. The radiator was still filled with antifreeze when we inspected it so that might not be the case. Anyways, he did a drain and fill for the trans fluid which came out extremely dark and gunky. He used valvoline's maxlife to top it up. We used 5 quarts total, about 1.5 to flush out some of the old junk and topped it up the rest of the fluid. He suggested that I get a proper service done asap where I get the fluid, filter and gasket replaced. The scanner code showed that the ECT was faulty. I drove the car home, totalling 300 miles and the car went on with no issues and no lights on the dash. Spoke to the dealership today and they straight refused transmission service. Did some research and it seems like a drain and fill is the best option here. Please advise me on what parts to get, what service to get done, and what should I expect in terms of pricing. I want to drive this beauty to 400k and beyond.

For my brakes, I was told by Toyota that my lining is at the minimum required threshold so it needs to be done soon. They said that the rotors can be machined or refaced but any shop that I go to would rather replace it instead. Do you have any suggestions on what rotors and pads to get (aftermarket)? Not sure if OEM pads and rotors are worth it. How much should parts and labor cost?

Toyota dealers typically do transmission fluid change, not Lexus so much.

complete fluid replacement might help, but not guaranteed

What Tolian said: Go to a Toyota dealer…they do the transmissions on the Avalon which uses the same engine and transmission. Do not let them do a pressure flush…drop the pan and replace the filter. Hope for the best. Same for brakes…Toyota service prices usually about 2/3 to 3/4 of what a Lexus dealer would charge. When I had the brakes done on my 2014 at an independant mechanic I specified Akebono ceramic pads. Replace the rotors…I never needed that done so can’t suggest a brand.