Larryha75

2012 LS460L rear wheel drive 55K miles, vibration felt in the seat but not in the steering wheel, especially between 35-40 mph. Multiple wheel balances had no effect. Lexus put on different rear wheels which had no effect. Lexus replaced both rear axels which had no effect. Lexus replaced entire drive shaft assembly (including rubber couplers front and rear, center bearing, and both front and rear drive shafts) from transmission to the rear differential which solved the problem. I am 2nd owner purchased at 50K miles.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Wow, did your dealer do this or did you have to go through Lexus Corporate? Was it under a warranty?

Larryha75

First Lexus dealer failed to solve the problem. Called Lexus with complaint and asked for another dealer to work with and was lucky enough to work with a very competent technician who pursued the problem to conclusion. Under warranty.

ibidu1

iTrader: (1)

When they put on the new rear wheels, did they put on new tires aswell? Does the vibration pattern increase when you increase the speed? What about after 40mph does it go away?

Larryha75

Known good wheels& tires. After 40mph not as noticeable probably because rotation of driveshaft faster but yes I believe it was still there at higher speeds.

213374U

How harsh is the vibration? If it's not that bad (barely noticeable to a car guy who pays attention, non-existent for someone that doesn't pay attention; low volume oscillation) this may be the known issue that many people, including myself, have seen with our own 460's. As far as I know nobody has been able to identify the true source.

sapstar66

This is a know issue on AWD L models made in 2011-2012

I have a 2012 L AWD... they need to replace one or both front drive axle(s)

There were a batch made that were not balanced properly, creating the vibration between 70 to 45-50

To test, just push it to 70, release gas until the vibration appears, then put in neutral. If it disappears, get them to replace the front shafts.

caha14

True, but OP's problem is a different one. I experienced it (and other vibration sources) on my 2008 460L (RWD-only that year). A new driveshaft was the fix on mine too (for that particular vibration) via a driveline vibration TSIB that Lexus had issued for 2007 and 2008. Drive shaft angle was off (apparently from the factory, no less).

I won't re-post the entire story here (posted elsewhere) as to how Lexus stepped up to the plate in an amazing manner, but the entire fix entailed this TSIB (to include driveshaft plus a few other things), control arms (all of which were shot at 4 years and 40k miles) and a steering rack (for a seemingly-incurable steering wheel shimmy). It took many months to iron out every issue, but the diagnostic specialist at my dealer (who is very attentive to detail) worked closely with the field technical specialist from Lexus to chip away at it all, and the car felt better than new by the time it was done.

anthony1

So the drive shaft wasn't correctly balanced from the factory?
I had my d-shaft extended and balanced on my truck but never a sedan.
I wonder if it's the first half or the 2nd half since it has a center bearing.

Larryha75

In my RWD it was certainly noticeable between 35-40 mph and less noticeable beyond 40. The entire driveshaft assembly was replaced which solved the problem. See my original write up above

camrysport

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Some of these TSBs are only good for the duration of the initial 4/50 limited warranty.

Htony

Funny, they worked backward. First thing to check whould have been drive shaft and related parts.

senafe

I recently purchased a 2007 LS460 with 61,000 miles (one owner). I soon noticed a slight driveshaft vibration at 40-50 mph and a droning between 60 - 70 mph. I found on Lexus forums there was a Technical service bulletin addressing this problem (in some cases Lexus would have acknowledged a factory defective driveshaft). I took my car to my reputable tire shop and had the rotors turned (new rear rotors), tire rotation & balanced, and four wheel alignment. I then took it to a Lexus dealer and the Lexus service technician acknowledged the vibration. I told them the work I had done the week before and that there was a Technical service bulletin regarding this problem. (I was paying for this diagnosis myself)
Later that afternoon I received a call from the dealer service rep:
1) The car had a bulge in a tire(right front) and it would be too dangerous to drive and would have to be replaced and the rim also was bent.
2) The steering was pulling to the right.
I told them (again) of the work that was done and asked if they looked at the driveshaft, they had not looked at the driveshaft (and didn't want to acknowledge the TSB). I had called the Lexus factory rep earlier and told them this dealer was telling me my car was too dangerous to drive etc. The dealer apparently put the spare on and drove the car declaring the vibration gone (as I was told later by the Lexus factory representative with a follow-up phone call).
I returned my car and tire to my tire dealer and had them look at the tire with the bulge, it had NO bulge and NO broken belt in the tire. The alignment was spot on with no changes.
The Lexus dealer apparently tried to deceive me and was confrontational and unhelpful in repairing my car. The Lexus factory rep told me they had to stand behind their dealers regardless of what a customer has issues with (in this case dishonesty) until a certain number of complaints with that dealer and he basically couldn't help me any more. So I still do not have my car repaired and experienced a nasty experience with the dealer.
I'm thinking this car had defective driveshaft from the beginning and the original owner lived with the problem and this defective driveshaft is one that "slipped through the cracks" until I got it. Because I live 2-1/2 hours from another Lexus dealer, I don't think it would be worth it to go through this same scenario again since Lexus factory rep help is non existent.

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Senafe: Try Larry's approach - call Lexus Customer Service and let them know you have lost confidence in this dealer and would like their help contacting a different dealer with more competent and professional staff.