turpinator

Hello,

Brand new to these forums and looking for some suggestions.

I'll jump right into it. So yesterday I was exiting the freeway and all of sudden my front parking assist sensor stuck on. I attempted to clean the sensor, ran the car through a car wash, but still had the same problem.

I took the car to the dealership after explaining to them over the phone that it was stuck and I had tried all their suggestions. They ran it through diagnostics and said the right inner sensor next to the license plate was broke.

The service clerk told me that since it was an outside damage and not a faulty sensor that it was not covered under warranty or extended warranty. It's going to cost me $671 to have them fix it. She proceeded to show me a small pin size dent, possibly from a rock, in the sensor and that it looked uneven in the mount. After closely inspecting the other sensors when I got home it looked the same. She suggested someone may have backed into it, but there was no sign of bumper scrapes or damage that would indicate this had occurred.

Keep in mind I have had no problems since the time I bought the car back in August.

I feel like they are scamming me here to have me pay out of pocket. I'm calling them today to cancel the service appointment. It seems like bad design if something like a rock can knock a sensor out of commission. I've read in other forums of people experiencing similar issues.

My plan is to turn off the Park Assist as it's annoying and just roll with it the way it is for now. However, I'm wondering if I should push the issue to get them to pay this under warranty or just forget it and fix it before I sell it a long time down the road. Thoughts and comments welcome.

JDR76

Welcome to CL.

Which dealership is this? Bellevue? Can you take it to another local dealer for a second opinion?

It sounds to me like they don't know what's wrong with it so they are looking for some other reason like a rock or some other kind of outside damage. If it really was something like a car backing into it, I wonder if you could work it through your insurance.

Good luck!

turpinator

Thanks JDR76!

Yeah, it's the Bellevue dealership. I could probably take it to Lynnwood or the Seattle dealership for a second opinion. My deductible for my insurance is $500, so I'd only save $171. I'll see what another dealer has to say.

Thanks again!

JDR76

I would definitely try out Lexus of Seattle in Lynnwood. They've always been very fair with me.

It just sounds like a faulty sensor to me. They ought to fix it. If Seattle says the same as Bellevue, my only suggestion is to elevate it directly to Lexus Customer Support for help, or try to find a less expensive sensor somewhere. When my RX was rear-ended, two sensors had to be replaced at $499 each before labor. Those suckers are expensive.

turpinator

Cool! I'll try them and see what they have to say. And yes, they are flippin' expensive. I was looking out of curiousity if they changed the design on the newer 2016 models. I wanted to see if they had tuck those sensors behind the front bumper. It looks like from the pictures they have them on the corners and the inner ones tucked behind somewhere with the new grill design.

I did take a look at the new GS 350 F Sport with the V-8, while I was there. Very very nice, but too rich for my blood...at least for now.

turpinator

Update...

Talked to the service guy at the Lexus of Seattle and he said he would run it up the chain to see if they will cover it. No guarantees though, but at least they went a step beyond. I'll be bringing it in on Tuesday for them to take a look.

JDR76

Great! Keep us posted. I hope it's just chalked up to being a faulty sensor and replaced under warranty.

popping

This has happened to me a couple times. Dealer said it was a chip in the sensor. Only happens once in a blue moon

JDR76

Any update? Did you take it to Lexus of Seattle this week?

turpinator

Hey JDR76...

Yes. I'm picking the car up today from the Lexus of Seattle dealership. They fixed it under warranty, so all good. I will be sending my future business there even though it's a bit farther to drive.

JDR76

Excellent news!

I use Seattle for both my service and sales. They've always been great.

nigelmanse

Bellevue Lexus stealership is the worst.