Will end up with a new free steering wheel today!

I have a 99 LS400, with 44K. At 37K I had the basic service performed that includes the trany service. After a short trip last week I noticed some smoke coming from the car. Dropped by the dealership and they found the trany seal was leaking.

They offered to fix the leak and provide a loaner car.

While droping off my car this morning, the service rep noticed my steering wheel was cracked. He said the wheel is about $1600 new. He would replace it for free under warranty while fixing the leak.

I have a very nice "I" series that I get to drive all day! Time to go out and put some miles on the loaner...

Toolman_ar

Yep, Lexus service is 2nd to none.

sounds like you got a good deal there for the free.

~ Stella

Exactly the same thing happened to me last fall on my '99. I took my car in for minor service at Bell Lexus, came back to pick it up and they told me they noticed a crack in the steering wheel, and that they had replaced the whole steering wheel for me for free.
Boy, I had never noticed any sort of imperfection in the steering wheel!

Well They replaced mine last year because it had cracks in it also. The told me it was a known issue. Any wheel they find cracked will be replaced. Its little things like that that confirm with me why I take both of my Lexus ONLY to the dealership.

BUT this gets even better. I already told you they gave me a brand new wheel last year. Well two weeks ago I put my car in for the 30k service. When I was driving around the next day after I got my car back I notice a very small tear/scratch in the leather on my "New" wheel. I also found a small nick in the wood. I'm talking tiny here but definitely this damage was not there before I took the car in.

Anyways I took it back and pointed this out to the service manager, with out batting an eye he offered to order a new wheel and have it installed for free!!! Tomorrow I am dropping of my car and getting a loaner so they can do the swap.

THATS CUSTOMER SERVICE. Sorry but no John Doe mechanic no matter how good he is would take care of you like this. I am a true believer that part of the "Lexus Ownership Experience" is going to the Lexus dealer.

Jerry

Picked up my car and all is well. The new wheel looks great and I am very happy. I only hope the trany does not start to leak again... only time will tell.

I will be going back to the dealer for futher service.

The loaner was an IS300, I think. Very nice car, but I am spoiled by the size and comfort of the LS400!

Toolman_ar

Get to know your service reps. I got three computer boards comp'd which was great, but like the mechanic told me later, the service rep gets 10% commission on all parts, comp'd or paid for.

johnw.

I thought Lexuses are so good you hardly need to take them in for fixing ? That's why I have yet to "know" my service advisor. I hardly need to take the car in. It performs flawlessly. Regular oil change every 3K miles, scheduled maintainance, and that's it. Unless your car is always having a problem, there is very little need to "know" your service rep. I'd think that is un-Lexus

That's great, my message though was really to the whole board, especially to the guys, like myself, whose cars are out of warantee.

johnw.