2013+ Air Suspension Problems Persist?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 817
Likes: 21
From: NY
2013+ Air Suspension Problems Persist?
Hi,
I'm shopping for a 2013 LS460, and have read all about the Air Suspension issues on the earlier models.
Should I still avoid buying a LS with the Air Suspension, even if I'm only considering 2013 model year? Did the problem persist on the 2013 models?
Or has the problem already been addressed by 2013?
My main concern is durability and long-life.
Please let us know. Thank you.
I'm shopping for a 2013 LS460, and have read all about the Air Suspension issues on the earlier models.
Should I still avoid buying a LS with the Air Suspension, even if I'm only considering 2013 model year? Did the problem persist on the 2013 models?
Or has the problem already been addressed by 2013?
My main concern is durability and long-life.
Please let us know. Thank you.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,092
Likes: 3,870
From: Maryland
If you're going to keep it for a long time, just be prepared that the air suspension system is more expensive to replace than the standard coil spring system. This is not a unique issue to the LS, its just a reality of the differences between the two systems. Was the same way on the LS430 and the LS400.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 817
Likes: 21
From: NY
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I'm wondering if anyone with 2013+ models with Air Suspension has already seen trouble with their suspensions?
Just trying to understand the scope of this potential in more detail. Thank you
Just trying to understand the scope of this potential in more detail. Thank you
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 9
From: WA
After six figures of mileage all suspensions are going to need attention if you want to avoid odd noises, a harsher ride, and incorrect steering behavior. That maintenance is just (substantially) more expensive with the air system. It's not so much a reliability problem with the air system as just greater expected maintenance expense.
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Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 365
From: New Hampshire
If you're looking for reliability long term, you should avoid air suspensions on any car. Any car.
Mercedes, BMW, Audi, previous generations of the LS, Lincoln...on and on...they all fail...and they all are expensive to fix.
And as far as the overall "control arm issue", keep in mind ALL CARS have suspension failures, it's just that ours is so expensive to fix...unless you avoid the dealer. Once you do that it's very much inline with what other people pay for their suspension fixes. I run a rather large repair facility, right now we are replacing tons of F250 ball joints in preparation for the snow plowing season, you should see what these repair bills look like. Yikes. And you should see how many control arms get replaced on other vehicles...along with tie rods, sway bar bushings, ball joints, bearings, backing plates. I mean it's literally endless. You should see a Chysler product...holy crap...ball joints and bearing for miles. And a Kia or a Hyundai?? It's not so much the control arm, it's the subframe it attaches to...they have rot holes the size of softballs in them...cars are junk.
I'll take an LS460 all day, any day.
Mercedes, BMW, Audi, previous generations of the LS, Lincoln...on and on...they all fail...and they all are expensive to fix.
And as far as the overall "control arm issue", keep in mind ALL CARS have suspension failures, it's just that ours is so expensive to fix...unless you avoid the dealer. Once you do that it's very much inline with what other people pay for their suspension fixes. I run a rather large repair facility, right now we are replacing tons of F250 ball joints in preparation for the snow plowing season, you should see what these repair bills look like. Yikes. And you should see how many control arms get replaced on other vehicles...along with tie rods, sway bar bushings, ball joints, bearings, backing plates. I mean it's literally endless. You should see a Chysler product...holy crap...ball joints and bearing for miles. And a Kia or a Hyundai?? It's not so much the control arm, it's the subframe it attaches to...they have rot holes the size of softballs in them...cars are junk.
I'll take an LS460 all day, any day.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,422
Likes: 103
From: TX
Air suspensions have more components than the non air suspensions. All air suspension vehicles I've owned have had parts to fail including my LS. It comes with the territory. None air suspensions will be less expensive to maintain.
Driver
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 180
Likes: 13
From: Texas
From the experiences I have seen, as well as my own, the real issue is that the struts fail sooner than they really should. The failures are on the hydraulic side of the strut, not the air side. But when the hydraulic side fails, of course, you have to change the whole strut.
None of this would matter if the struts were priced reasonably, or if the aftermarket offered options. But they aren't, and they don't.
I have no reason to think a 2013 LS is any more reliable in this regard than any other years. I doubt Lexus did anything to improve in this area.....I guess you could look up the struts in the parts book and see if they share the same numbers.
None of this would matter if the struts were priced reasonably, or if the aftermarket offered options. But they aren't, and they don't.
I have no reason to think a 2013 LS is any more reliable in this regard than any other years. I doubt Lexus did anything to improve in this area.....I guess you could look up the struts in the parts book and see if they share the same numbers.
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 365
From: New Hampshire
http://www.edmunds.com/car-news/hyun...n-problem.html
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/...in-040213.html
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 817
Likes: 21
From: NY
thank you for the additional feedback, this information has cemented my position on what I'm shopping for.
I saw a very attractively-priced model with air suspension, but had to walk away, due to this very fear.
I also own an 15+ year old SC430, and have replaced all four springs.... which wasn't bad. I can't imagine what it would cost if it had air.
I saw a very attractively-priced model with air suspension, but had to walk away, due to this very fear.
I also own an 15+ year old SC430, and have replaced all four springs.... which wasn't bad. I can't imagine what it would cost if it had air.