Draganjac

This will sound like a dumb question, but I just bought a 2015 ES 350 and am getting to know the car. There's so much to figure out, but I'm making good progress. After two weeks of ownership, I met with a technician to ask a bunch of questions. He did a good job providing answers, but one of the issues I noticed was that the fuel filler door doesn't have a spring to hold it in the full open position. It simply flops around and generally moves to the closed (not latched) position. He said this is normal and it's just the way it's designed. I find it hard to believe that Lexus would design a fuel door that you had to hold open with one hand while you use your other hand to open the cap and use the nozzle. In all the cars I've owned in my 65 years of life, I've never seen a fuel door that wasn't designed to stay all the way open when you are fueling. Was he BS-ing me? Or are they really designed this way?

Tootsall

My 2014 has a spring to “pop” it slightly open but after that relies on friction in the hinge to hold it wherever it’s placed.

AlexNY

yeah, the fuel door does feel very flimsy in my car as well. it's so minor i didn't even care.
You will find some other questionable design choices in the car. But every car has it's quirks and features, Lexus is no different.
IF the fuel door drives you crazy, wait until you try to hang your sunglasses

Welcome to the ES family!

Draganjac

Yep, mine is set up the same way. I wonder if that hinge pin with the 90 degree bend at the bottom is supposed to add a little spring tension to the door to keep it in the open position? I literally have to hold the door open when refueling or it flops to the closed position, resting against the fuel nozzle. That's just dumb!

Draganjac

Thanks. I asked the technician about that too, and he said, "yeah, that's been a big complaint from people." There's just nowhere good to store them. I tried the side pocket, but every time I accelerate or decelerate, they slide to and fro. Another annoyance. But, the car drives so nice, I guess I'll just have to make up my mind to ignore the little design flaws. But, going into this, I sure thought Lexus would have been more on top of engineering a better customer experience. I guess I was wrong. :-)

Popgun

On my '17 the door panels are black so I bought a black wash cloth, folded it and put it in the side pocket. I put my sun glassed in it. They don't rattle or move and you can't see the cloth if you do it right. Works for me.

I had a 2010 model and now the '17 and my gas door stays open. I'll have to check it out.

jollick

Regarding the gas fill door, I just checked both my 2013 ES and 2015 ES, both stay where I leave them, all the way and at any position, no flopping. Tell the dealer to show you on another ES that it is "normal".

hypervish

That's not normal - my 14' ES350 remains open!

ES350mark

My 2013 ES 350 and now 2015 ES 350 UL both suffer from "floppy gas door syndrome" (FGDS) as the OP described. My usual MO when I fill up is to place the gas cap in the slot provided and it keeps the fuel door from closing. I guess another first world problem with my Lexus ES 350 but would not keep from buying another.....a great car regardless.

Poppa

I have a 2013 ES... my fuel door always stays where ever I leave it.. no flopping around....

zes

I had an old Ray Ban case and I put my (cheap CVS $20) sunglasses in it and they stay put.