2013 LS 460 Disappointed
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: Florida
2013 LS 460 Disappointed
Had a 2005 LS 430 for 10 years. Without a doubt the most quiet car I have ever owned. Purchased a CPO 2013 LS 430 with only 7,700 miles.
This car has more noises than a 1985 Ford Taurus. Wind Noise, Transmission noise and of course the Direct Fuel Port sounds like a diesel.
After dealing with the Lexus dealer for almost a year, they replaced the transmission but soon the whining noise from the transmission pump appeared. The wind noise and direct fuel port was told is normal and nothing they can do. The dealer told me when compared with the 2005 LS the new 4th Generation LS, the 2005 was much quieter.
Lesson learned, keep your 3rd Generation LS.
This car has more noises than a 1985 Ford Taurus. Wind Noise, Transmission noise and of course the Direct Fuel Port sounds like a diesel.
After dealing with the Lexus dealer for almost a year, they replaced the transmission but soon the whining noise from the transmission pump appeared. The wind noise and direct fuel port was told is normal and nothing they can do. The dealer told me when compared with the 2005 LS the new 4th Generation LS, the 2005 was much quieter.
Lesson learned, keep your 3rd Generation LS.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,093
Likes: 3,870
From: Maryland
Mines every bit as quiet as my LS430 was in every way but the engine sound at idle, at idle you can hear the DI ticking. No wind noise, no transmission noise...
Does yours have double paned front windows? Does it have the original windshield?
Does yours have double paned front windows? Does it have the original windshield?
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 2,561
Likes: 365
From: New Hampshire
So let me get this straight, you bought a 70k dollar car, didn't test drive it, only to bring it home and decide it sounds like a diesel? Then you struggled mightily with the dealership for a year because of a bum transmission, which they replaced with another bum transmission. And along the way you determined your 70k dollar car had the fit and finish of a Ford Taurus, and the very dealer that sold you your 70k car told you your last car was much better? Am I getting this right?
So you went through two junk transmissions (you might be the first LS460 owner to even go through one). The direct injection system - which might easily be the quietest injection system in the market today - sounds like a diesel. And a car that is described as one of the most quietest on the road, sounds like a $2000 dollar Ford Taurus.
So you went through two junk transmissions (you might be the first LS460 owner to even go through one). The direct injection system - which might easily be the quietest injection system in the market today - sounds like a diesel. And a car that is described as one of the most quietest on the road, sounds like a $2000 dollar Ford Taurus.
Last edited by DaveGS4; Mar 28, 2016 at 07:40 PM. Reason: Removed rude personal comment. Drop it please.
PS they all have dual pane glass whereas only the executive package in the 3rd gen had them.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,302
Likes: 17
From: CA
Yeah, the engine noises are the fuel pump. You're going to hear it on pretty much any car with direct injection. Some are louder than others.
Also, you try turning off the vents/AC? Laugh all you want, but I thought I was hearing wind noise too while driving to work with the radio volume low, but it was just the blower pushing tons of air trying to get it to the temperature I wanted it at. That's how quiet it was inside and since it was new to me, I didn't recognize the noises yet. Turn off the climate control while driving on the freeway.
In any case, my car is pretty much dead silent inside. It's like a tomb.
Also, what on green earth caused the transmission to be replaced at that mileage? Seems kind of weird for a 2013 with that little miles on it.
Also, you try turning off the vents/AC? Laugh all you want, but I thought I was hearing wind noise too while driving to work with the radio volume low, but it was just the blower pushing tons of air trying to get it to the temperature I wanted it at. That's how quiet it was inside and since it was new to me, I didn't recognize the noises yet. Turn off the climate control while driving on the freeway.
In any case, my car is pretty much dead silent inside. It's like a tomb.
Also, what on green earth caused the transmission to be replaced at that mileage? Seems kind of weird for a 2013 with that little miles on it.
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 257
Likes: 42
From: CA
The LS460 may be quieter on the meter but the sounds you hear are definitely different. The UR engines are louder than the UZ engines but i think some of this might be intentional. Wind noise I find almost the same but both my cars have double panned glass and the 600 had the windshield replaced so YMMV.
Have you checked the triangles near the front window corners? Even with the new stabilizing fins they can sometimes come unglued.
I will agree in most cases the 430 seems more isolated; but that comes at a cost of less sharper handling and steering that seems to me a bit less accurate. So you pick what's important.
In the end it's all relative though. You want loud? Try driving my 240D on the highway. You can barely hear yourself think.
Have you checked the triangles near the front window corners? Even with the new stabilizing fins they can sometimes come unglued.
I will agree in most cases the 430 seems more isolated; but that comes at a cost of less sharper handling and steering that seems to me a bit less accurate. So you pick what's important.
In the end it's all relative though. You want loud? Try driving my 240D on the highway. You can barely hear yourself think.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
My 2013 LS has the whining transmission issue, it is very annoying and not what I would expect from the Lexus flap ship. I'm glad to hear so many others say their 460 is super quite, I really like my car, just want it to meet Lexus standards. I've had it at the dealer 3 times for this issue, the first trip was “sorry they all make this noise”. The second visit I was told there was a TSB to change a crossmember that would dampen the sound, while this helped a little the whining is still very noticeable. This last time a factory Technician came in and checked the car, the verdict was other LS460's make this noise and there is not a fix for it at this time. I've appealed because while other cars might have this noise not ALL cars have this issue and I don’t want mine to. The case is under review by Lexus to replace the transmission out of goodwill and customer satisfaction but not because there is a defect. I was also told that if approved this is a onetime replacement, if the new transmission make the same or even louder noise Lexus would not replace again. Should know something in a couple of weeks and will post outcome, sure hope they do replace and it takes care of the problem, I love the car other than this problem....BTW 27,000 miles
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 2
From: Florida
The noise from the transmission is the transmission pump. I was told by two Lexus dealers that some transmissions are noisier than others and Lexus has not come out with a repair part. Until Lexus gets a class action lawsuit, there are no intentions to redevelop the transmission pump.
The Direct Fuel Injectors is inherent of all large cars and I understand that but still very annoying. The LS 430 did not have this type of fuel system. So we all have to live with the diesel sound.
Windows are without a doubt noisy. And YES, we did test drive the car before we purchased and notice the wind noise. We were told by the dealer they would replace the rubber and align the door to make it quiet. However, when we brought it in, the tech said the rubber was fine and no need to align the door. Again, we were told some LS460 have wind noise. And yes, we were told by two different dealers the LS430 was a much quieter car and in their humble opinion better built.
So bottom line, we are stuck with a 2013 LS 460 that feels like we are driving a rental. My friend just bought a brand new 2016 Ford Explorer that is quieter than this car.
No more Lexus for me.
If anyone is interested in buying it, feel free to contact me.
The Direct Fuel Injectors is inherent of all large cars and I understand that but still very annoying. The LS 430 did not have this type of fuel system. So we all have to live with the diesel sound.
Windows are without a doubt noisy. And YES, we did test drive the car before we purchased and notice the wind noise. We were told by the dealer they would replace the rubber and align the door to make it quiet. However, when we brought it in, the tech said the rubber was fine and no need to align the door. Again, we were told some LS460 have wind noise. And yes, we were told by two different dealers the LS430 was a much quieter car and in their humble opinion better built.
So bottom line, we are stuck with a 2013 LS 460 that feels like we are driving a rental. My friend just bought a brand new 2016 Ford Explorer that is quieter than this car.
No more Lexus for me.
If anyone is interested in buying it, feel free to contact me.
