theRain04

I got a call from my friend today who owns a 1995 LS400. The car has about 115k on it and has never had a major problem.. until today.. he was driving on the highway when all of a sudden the car started hesitating, and stopped accelerating.. he thought he had run out of gas because he was running low, but the engine was still running.. he was able to pull into a service station right away and filled up the tank with gas.. he started it up again, and it wouldn't move.. my friend feared the worst and thought it may in fact be the transmission.. he had the guy at the shop look at it.. he pulled out the tranny pan and said that it was loaded with debris and that was most likely what did it.. he quoted my friend a price of $2000 for parts and labor for a new tranny.. my friend told the guy he didnt have that kind of money to spend and if there was anything else the guy could do for him.. the guy at the shop told him that he could try changing the tranny filter, flush out the system and put in an additive to see if MAYBE that would work.. the guy said most likely it would not make a difference and that the tranny was shot and my friend was going to have to have the whole unit replaced.. WELL.. the mechanic went ahead and changed the tranny filter, flushed out the system, and put in the additive.. he started it up and took it for a ride.. the tranny shifted smoothly and perfectly.. no problems whatsoever.. he charged my friend $135 to do the whole job which was a hell of alot better than the $2000 he originally quoted.. the point of this story is basically to emphasize the fact that the TRANNY FLUID AND FILTER needs to be changed regularly.. they say every 30 thousand miles, but it really should be changed at least every 15.. my friend bought his car about 2 years ago and had it changed only once, but it was still filthy afterwards and he never changed the filter.. so, word to the wise.. KEEP UP WITH THE TRANNY MAINTAINANCE !!

theRain04

UPDATE:

I just got off the phone with my friend. He said a few hours after he left the shop, the transmission went. So at 115K, he needs a new transmission. I was very disappointed to hear this. My GS is pushing 100K and I am now seriously starting to wonder If i should sell it before MY tranny dies. I really thought these cars were supposed to go up to and over 200k with no problems ? Well, so much for Lexus reliability.

lexusk8

Sorry to hear about your friend and his tranny. It is kinda rare to see a tranny of a Lexus go out completely. My previous 1996 ES300 had 128,500 miles and no tranny problems whatsoever (other than the fluid flush/fill service). Generally speaking, the higher-mileage cars would require more transmissions maintenance than the lower-mileage cars. You should stick with your GS, and once it reaches 100K and over, start constantly eyeing more of what's under the hood and check for any leaking fluids under the chassis. Better earlier than later

SharpLS-96

Don't take this the wrong way because I don't know if he has abused the car or not. Sounds like that LS has had a rough life if you ask me. There is only so much a transmission can take regardless of what make it is. Is he the original owner? If not then only the previous owners can attest to what the car has been through.

leosls400

Maybe your friends LS wasn't taken care of before he purchased it. My 91 LS has over 145K and has never had a transmission problem. My friend just took his 95 LS400 with over 135K miles to Mexico on his vacation and came back with no problems (added an additional 5K) and his car has never had transmission problems. So it all comes down to maintanance of the vehicle.

Lexozz

I have to say that's a total insult to some of us. My LS has over 180K in the clock, no hesitations, leaks, etc. It probably was abused or maybe someone stuck a FORD tranny in your friends LS. Just because of one screw up doesn't mean Lexus reliability is lost. IMO if any Lexus breaks down, its due to lack of maintenance.............Can I get a witness, someone...!

persian451

I hear you, I'm at 190k with no tranny problems. The only way your tranny can break down is from ignorance or lack of service. You can talk to numerous lexus mechanics or foreign specialist mechanics and they will all tell you that the LS tranny will almost never go. Shi* happens i guess.

LexLS

Right on.

cutecboy

SO MUCH FOR LEXUS RELIABILITY HUH? TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE UR FRIEND NEVER TOOK CARE OF THE CAR, THATS WHY THERE IS ALL KINDS OF TRASH INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, EITHER THAT OR HIS MECHANIC JIPPED HIM AND NEVER SVC THE CAR WHEN HE PUT IT IN FOR SVC.. LEXUS IS not Maintenance FREE!!! IF YOU WANT THE CAR TO LAST LONG ,, TAKE CARE OF IT,, STOP BEING SO CHEAP!!!!! AND THEN BLAME IT ON THE CAR DYING OUT ON YOU ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.. I SUGGEST BOTH OF YOU SELL THE LEXUS AND BUY A HYUNDAI.. THEY HAVE 100000/10 YEARS WARRANTY...

LOTC

HOLLA!

theRain04

My friend has had the car since about 80k, before that it was owned by some older guy who always brought it into Lexus for service. Perhaps it was an oversight with Lexus who never thought to change the tranny fluid ? who knows. However, I have never heard of a "Luxury" car to have such a major problem with so few miles on it. Like i said, it only has 115k on it, which from what I thought was still pretty young for a Lexus. I have always taken take of MY Lexus as well, but to think that the tranny may go in a few more miles does not sit well with me. Another friend of mine has a Mercedes S-Class with over 175k and NO problems whatsoever. Another friend owns a Q45 with NO problems whatsoever. I really think i'm gonna sell this thing for either a Q or an S430 pretty soon. I really don't need the headache of an unreliable car when I can have better performance and better reliability with either MB or Infiniti.

leosls400

Unreliable, please read the 2003 E430 VS 2002 LS430 thread. You will see reliability information on the LEXUS vs. MB. As for Infinity, they are good cars but not as good and reliable as Lexus. Lexus tops both the MB and Infinity in reliability.

leosls400

Sorry, it's 2003 E320 VS 2002 LS430 thread. Don't know how to attach.

Strida

If your not happy with your Lexus go ahead and sell it. Go buy the S430 or the Q. But dont go b****ing around here that Lexus trannys are unreliable. Because you dont know what your talking about. MB S-class with 175K and no problems, yeah right

persian451

i'm not so sure that you'll have fun with MB so called "reliability" . Everyone has their own opinions. If I were you, why dont you look into various Consumer Reports and research there. But I think it's unfair to come out and strongly criticize Lexus's reliablity because of your "friends" mishap with his transmission