IS500 Bumper Separation: Response from Lexus Corporate
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 145
Likes: 166
From: VA
It should. We have confirmed cars very late in the 2023 production run, delivered in Aug 2023, that have the issue. We also have a Toyota Quality Engineer in the group who is visiting the Tahare plant in a couple weeks to see how they're addressing it for 2024 on the line.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,799
Likes: 1,985
From: SoCal
I should have waited for this to happen and then bought the car in 2024 but thought the color combo might not arrive Ultra White + BBS and Black Nuluxe. Mine was built in July and delivered by October. I wonder which cars will be mentioned officially in the bulletin. Thank you for this again, at this point fingers crossed for the fix and the dealer work being straightforward. I was planning to get the car PPFed, I will give a call to the detailer to ask if it is better to get the PPF done now or wait once this TSB is applied.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 4,953
From: GA
I thought the same thing! However, mine is quick detailed almost every other day, so I can only imagine how maddening it was to look at that madness every day. 😒🫣😞
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 16
Likes: 27
From: Bc
Hi, I'm one of the admins on the IS500 Facebook groups and I was collecting VINs and pictures of IS500s with the bumper separation issue to share with Lexus directly. I ended up with a list of about 63 cars and sent it over to a contact there. I ended up getting a call today and we discussed in detail. This is copy and pasted from my post in the Facebook groups discussing the future plan:
Bumper Separation Update passed on from Lexus Corporate for the IS500 community.
I spoke with the head of Lexus Marketing and a Director of Sales on the phone for about 45 minutes today and they wanted to express their current plans and timelines for the IS500 Bumper Separation investigation. They were extremely sympathetic and understanding knowing that this issue shouldn't be happening, and they're here to help get it fixed for all owners to keep enjoying their cars and not have to worry about this issue in the future.
They gave me details to pass along to all of the IS500 community, these are official words from Lexus. They also said that I'll act as the communication to the community as the investigation unfolds and I can pass it along to all of you as I receive it.
First of all, they heard the noise. Lexus quality assurance, Japan and US, are currently working on the bumper separation issue. They're looking into everything from modifying the current clips for the bumper to an entirely new system for holding the bumper on. They even said engineering is going as far as measuring tension on specific clips to genuinely get to a root cause to provide the best correction possible.
They said they want Lexus to handle the solution so owners do not have to worry. They understand if anyone has done anything to remedy the issue now(like a turnbuckle or splitter rods), and they apologized that people felt like they needed to become engineers to solve problems caused by their IS500 bumper separation. They said people don't have to fix it themselves, a fix is coming, but even if you did do a repair yourself you will not be excluded from this permanent fix. They overstated how they want Lexus to own the repairs so owners don't have to have that pressure or concern on them.
Their timeline for a permanent fix, for all owners who encounter the issue, will be targeted in 3 months. This permanent fix will include an internal bulletin shared to the 4 major Lexus headquarters as well as all dealer service departments that will trigger them to complete the necessary repairs when cars come in for service. They also may just contact owners directly, but that is still being decided. At bare minimum, there will be an internal bulletin when the permanent fix is in place.
They specifically told me that people who have previously had their bumpers removed for PPF, other work, etc WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED from this repair. They said even people with scrapes under or on their bumper will be taken care of. All affected cars now and in the future will be covered under warranty or good faith with the bulletin.
In the interim, anyone that's affected by the bumper separation that wants a dealer to replace clips to attempt to hold them over until the permanent fix is solved, this will be available. They said they can reach out to owners who would be interested in this temporary fix by their VIN, they already have my list so I believe they will be reaching out to those owners specifically. But they said that communication should come and if not, I can forward your request for the temporary repair to them. Those who receive the temporary fix will also still be eligible for the permanent fix, this is a hold over if someone is absolutely sick of looking at their bumper separation and to help ease your mind that a permanent fix is coming.
I will be receiving details as this process happens and keeping everyone updated as it comes to me.
If you do have the bumper issue, let your dealer know about it. It'll probably get you on the fast track for the permanent repair when it comes around.
They said 3 months for the permanent fix, it could be less or could be more. Just know they've heard us and that the fix is coming.
Thank you for being so patient and dealing with my badgering during this process. I'm so happy that it seems like our voices were heard and this will hopefully be solved by the new year.
Bumper Separation Update passed on from Lexus Corporate for the IS500 community.
I spoke with the head of Lexus Marketing and a Director of Sales on the phone for about 45 minutes today and they wanted to express their current plans and timelines for the IS500 Bumper Separation investigation. They were extremely sympathetic and understanding knowing that this issue shouldn't be happening, and they're here to help get it fixed for all owners to keep enjoying their cars and not have to worry about this issue in the future.
They gave me details to pass along to all of the IS500 community, these are official words from Lexus. They also said that I'll act as the communication to the community as the investigation unfolds and I can pass it along to all of you as I receive it.
First of all, they heard the noise. Lexus quality assurance, Japan and US, are currently working on the bumper separation issue. They're looking into everything from modifying the current clips for the bumper to an entirely new system for holding the bumper on. They even said engineering is going as far as measuring tension on specific clips to genuinely get to a root cause to provide the best correction possible.
They said they want Lexus to handle the solution so owners do not have to worry. They understand if anyone has done anything to remedy the issue now(like a turnbuckle or splitter rods), and they apologized that people felt like they needed to become engineers to solve problems caused by their IS500 bumper separation. They said people don't have to fix it themselves, a fix is coming, but even if you did do a repair yourself you will not be excluded from this permanent fix. They overstated how they want Lexus to own the repairs so owners don't have to have that pressure or concern on them.
Their timeline for a permanent fix, for all owners who encounter the issue, will be targeted in 3 months. This permanent fix will include an internal bulletin shared to the 4 major Lexus headquarters as well as all dealer service departments that will trigger them to complete the necessary repairs when cars come in for service. They also may just contact owners directly, but that is still being decided. At bare minimum, there will be an internal bulletin when the permanent fix is in place.
They specifically told me that people who have previously had their bumpers removed for PPF, other work, etc WILL NOT BE EXCLUDED from this repair. They said even people with scrapes under or on their bumper will be taken care of. All affected cars now and in the future will be covered under warranty or good faith with the bulletin.
In the interim, anyone that's affected by the bumper separation that wants a dealer to replace clips to attempt to hold them over until the permanent fix is solved, this will be available. They said they can reach out to owners who would be interested in this temporary fix by their VIN, they already have my list so I believe they will be reaching out to those owners specifically. But they said that communication should come and if not, I can forward your request for the temporary repair to them. Those who receive the temporary fix will also still be eligible for the permanent fix, this is a hold over if someone is absolutely sick of looking at their bumper separation and to help ease your mind that a permanent fix is coming.
I will be receiving details as this process happens and keeping everyone updated as it comes to me.
If you do have the bumper issue, let your dealer know about it. It'll probably get you on the fast track for the permanent repair when it comes around.
They said 3 months for the permanent fix, it could be less or could be more. Just know they've heard us and that the fix is coming.
Thank you for being so patient and dealing with my badgering during this process. I'm so happy that it seems like our voices were heard and this will hopefully be solved by the new year.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 825
Likes: 898
From: Hawaii
Last edited by Benibiker1558; Oct 9, 2023 at 07:19 PM.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 107
Likes: 252
From: PA
I honestly don't know how the transition will happen between Lexus US and Lexus Canada, but I have Canadian cars on my list. My car is going to be picked up by Lexus customer support in the next few days to go in for a temporary fix and Lexus engineering is apparently working on the permanent fix as well. I'd say be in a holding pattern for right now and as more updates come through corporate, we'll see how much make it up to Canada and go from there.
Lead Lap
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,596
Likes: 4,953
From: GA
One of our car club members has a Molten and he got into the habit of ‘hip-bumping’ the panel before getting in. I didn’t ask if it popped back out while driving or over a few trips, but that’s one way to cope! 😎
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 145
Likes: 166
From: VA
Cross posting from other thread to keep the discussion contained to the Bumper topic to keep things organized.
I've also read that entire article on the Bumper separation. Also I think that bracing will remove the AVS from the looks of it ?
The author does provide some proper information, like how TLX Type S even has some changes to its chassis vs the regular TLX. Not sure where to get the additional manufacturer engineering slides like that or the ones which Savagegeese shows.
Pressroom documentation - https://pressroom.lexus.com/2022-lex...t-performance/ brief has very little information on the new IS 500's chassis, mechanical changes.
"The hood has been raised nearly 2 inches and receives sculpted center character lines, while the front bumper and fenders have been lengthened to help accommodate the vehicle’s naturally aspirated V8 muscle"
"IS 500 uses the same eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with lockup torque converter found in the RC F."
"Yamaha® Rear Performance Damper. This damper reduces dynamic structural distortion, delivering increased comfort at low speeds, and additional stability and agility at high speeds. Brake cooling enhancements have also been made over the standard IS 350 F SPORT with additional aerodynamic cooling and larger 14.0-inch two-piece aluminum front rotors and 12.7-inch rear rotors" only these are different vs the regular 3IS 2021 refresh and nothing else.
In the Savagegeese first IS 500 video they mentioned that IS 500 utilizes full aluminum front sub-frame and the suspension on the front is also full aluminum. Only these are exclusive changes for the 2UR-GSE model.
What I really wonder is when the existing cars with the issue get their bumper brackets changed and the bumper gap comes back pretty fast. That is not normal behavior. Perhaps the author from Motorfrontier is right about the chassis flex causing some permanent changes. Otherwise why would the replaced brackets fall apart so fast.
Initially I was thinking high heat states in US like FL, CA, AZ had higher reports but now northern zone cars also have it esp Canadian ones, the chassis flex is clearly at play and high heat exacerbates it.. May I please know from the 60+ cars which made to your list what's the avg odometer reading if you don't mind ?
I also see that this blog has an opinion on the bumper cover situation. Analysis: The IS500 Bumper Cover Separation Issue
I'm wondering if the chassis brace from RR Racing Chassis Brace would mitigate or slow down the separation.
I'm wondering if the chassis brace from RR Racing Chassis Brace would mitigate or slow down the separation.
I've also read that entire article on the Bumper separation. Also I think that bracing will remove the AVS from the looks of it ?
The author does provide some proper information, like how TLX Type S even has some changes to its chassis vs the regular TLX. Not sure where to get the additional manufacturer engineering slides like that or the ones which Savagegeese shows.
Pressroom documentation - https://pressroom.lexus.com/2022-lex...t-performance/ brief has very little information on the new IS 500's chassis, mechanical changes.
"The hood has been raised nearly 2 inches and receives sculpted center character lines, while the front bumper and fenders have been lengthened to help accommodate the vehicle’s naturally aspirated V8 muscle"
"IS 500 uses the same eight-speed Sport Direct Shift automatic transmission with lockup torque converter found in the RC F."
"Yamaha® Rear Performance Damper. This damper reduces dynamic structural distortion, delivering increased comfort at low speeds, and additional stability and agility at high speeds. Brake cooling enhancements have also been made over the standard IS 350 F SPORT with additional aerodynamic cooling and larger 14.0-inch two-piece aluminum front rotors and 12.7-inch rear rotors" only these are different vs the regular 3IS 2021 refresh and nothing else.
In the Savagegeese first IS 500 video they mentioned that IS 500 utilizes full aluminum front sub-frame and the suspension on the front is also full aluminum. Only these are exclusive changes for the 2UR-GSE model.
I mean, he made a lot of good points, hadn’t seen any reasoning like that that made sense to me. The part the got me is that basically every single sedan that normally comes with a v6 that has an optional V8 has a strut tower brace and chassis braces when the v8 is chosen that the v6 doesn’t.
personally I had the clips replaced and still have the issue.
What the writer was getting at I think is that the chassis flexing and twisting is causing the clips to separate and wear.
personally I had the clips replaced and still have the issue.
What the writer was getting at I think is that the chassis flexing and twisting is causing the clips to separate and wear.
I honestly don't know how the transition will happen between Lexus US and Lexus Canada, but I have Canadian cars on my list. My car is going to be picked up by Lexus customer support in the next few days to go in for a temporary fix and Lexus engineering is apparently working on the permanent fix as well. I'd say be in a holding pattern for right now and as more updates come through corporate, we'll see how much make it up to Canada and go from there.
Last edited by LexLight; Oct 10, 2023 at 06:50 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 551
From: Vancouver, BC
I honestly don't know how the transition will happen between Lexus US and Lexus Canada, but I have Canadian cars on my list. My car is going to be picked up by Lexus customer support in the next few days to go in for a temporary fix and Lexus engineering is apparently working on the permanent fix as well. I'd say be in a holding pattern for right now and as more updates come through corporate, we'll see how much make it up to Canada and go from there.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 915
From: Quebec, Canada
If something goes out for US, we'll have more munitions up here. For now, I only got mine documented by my dealer and waiting on developments. Once we at least get a TSB in US, we'll be able to work something out.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 570
Likes: 288
From: St. Louis
I can't say who, out of respect, but a higher up at my local Lexus dealership drives a 2023 IS500 and has the bumper separation issue. In talking to him a few weeks ago he stated that Lexus shipped a raw, unpainted bumper to the dealership to be painted and temporarily installed on his car. They had Lexus regional folks in to oversee and inspect during removal and installation of the temp unit. They ended up taking the old bumper back with them to send off to their engineers. They are well aware of the problem and are working towards a solution. This has been about 60 days ago.
