That is a lot of effort - and the problem still largely remains. Have the car been in an accident before? Normally all the parts you mentioned shouldn’t need replacing at just 90k miles. The underpinnings are the same as a Camry hybrid - often used as Taxis without any systematic problems or premature wear.

 

what happened ?

 

Anyone finding this post after searching for similar issues check your tires first. We learned the hard way new tires can have problems.

The issue was the tires which were Firestone Firehawk AS2 which I did not choose for the car but I'm confident either had a problem with the tires themselves or were installed improperly which makes sense considering all the drama going on in their shop the day they were installed. Thankfully they only lasted 27K miles and were replaced a week and a half ago and no shaking / shudder since and no vibration on the highway and it now drives and rides like you would expect from a Lexus. I only owned the car a few days before Carvana paid for the tires and didn't notice the issue until the 7 day return policy was expired. Due to budget I went with Falken Pro G5 and it's a world of difference.

Ironically one of the first shops to look at the car and the only one that claimed they replicated the shudder / jerking thought the tires might have been mounted wrong along with a few other possibilities but after the car sat there untouched for a few days and they could not comprehend how the ECVT worked and there was no torque converter I didn't let them touch the car anymore.

Every other shop including the Lexus specialist with former dealer techs claimed there was nothing wrong or the front rotors which were brand new at the time were warped or it needed this suspension part or that suspension part. Multiple rotations, re-balances including road force which found a bent wheel found nothing.

So as part of the process it has all new front suspension including struts since one was leaking. 4 new wheel bearings, all new motor mounts using Toyota / Lexus mounts, and all new brakes. Thankfully most of that was paid for under the Carvana Warranty so I only had to cover a portion of the cost.

 

These eCVT transmission will last longer than you being alive.

 

Assuming the oil is changed every now and then. I do every 60k km.

 

I have had 07 gs450h og tranny fluid at 260k
13 gs450h 190k
13 es300h 260k
13 es300h 190k
13 es300h 298k
current 13 es300h 289k

Factory says lifetime and I believe it. Would be nice to change the fluid every once in awhile, but i know it can last easily past 300k. I have seen Camrys and Avalons at 490-550k on original fluid.

 

you're on your 4th ES300h ?

 

Yeah his transmissions keep failing catastrophically.

No idea why...