Regardless of how reliable something is, there are ALWAYS issues when you buy a used car and when your car gets older. On early LS400s it was alternators and starters (VERY expensive job on an LS400), on the LS430 its ML amps, on the LS460 its control arms. Think of it this way, on the LS400 and LS430 you had a timing belt to replace every 90k miles at a cost of over $1,000...on the LS460 you don't have that.

The point is, what are you going to do about it? The LS460 is out of production, they have designed replacement arms that in the very least greatly reduce the frequency of repair needs (you can say "you don't know that" all you want, but overwhelmingly the cars with issues are 07-10 cars). No other repair is coming for these arms...gotta deal with it. There are aftermarket arms, there are replaceable bushings, etc to mitigate cost. If you insist on using the dealer those options won't be available to you and thats your choice.

"You should not be complacent", what does that even mean? That you will refuse to buy a used LS460? Lexus doesn't care. They don't profit off of sales of used cars as a carmaker. And whats your other option if you want a flagship car? The only other option is to buy a much more problematic and potentially costly European flagship car...which makes no sense.

If you don't feel this is overblown as many of us do, simply don't buy one of these cars and move on. Whats the point in complaining? Its just annoying to those of us who have bought the car and are happy to share with members who have the issue common sense practical solutions. "Damn Lexus!" is not a response that helps anybody.

 

 

Just last evening I was talking to my neighbor at a neighborhood fish fry. He told me Lexus informed him the control arms in his 2011 were bad. He has 90K mile, but has the extended warranty. So, any car can have the issue. It's worth the repair to enjoy the ride.

 

I guess those who complained about the sticky dash/doors in the LS and the cracked dashboard in the RX and GX should have also just been complacent and not raised the issue with Lexus? Look what happened to them... many of them got new dashboards and door panels and were saved thousands out of their own pocket! My point being that if this is a design flaw (Lexus basically admitted it was by updating the control arm mid-2010), then Lexus should address it and not stick owners with the cost.

 

These are things that should be researched and known before you buy any used car. If you buy the car anyway I don't see what you have to complain about. All the Lexus vehicles that I've owned and still own never made me get mad at Lexus because a part failed.

 

I appreciate your perspective but I think your logic may be a bit flawed here. Sticky dashes and other interior parts are cosmetic and not subjected to constant dynamic movement and loads like the suspension parts. Suspension parts will wear out at some point. On some vehicles the bushings wore out sooner than expected and had to be replaced. Defective materials on the interior components are not the same issue and Lexus stepped up and acknowledged that.

 

Suspension parts are wear items, melting materials are not. Hence why they covered the melting materials and not the suspension parts. Parts are changed and improved upon routinely as a car is tweaked throughout its run. They upgraded the arms to be more durable, if they fail during the warranty its covered. if they don't, its not. Thems the breaks.

Bottom line is, if you're unwilling to or concerned about ponying up the $1,500 or so it costs to repair the control arms, this sort of car isn't for you.

 

Well, this was how it used to be back in the 1990s and early 2000's but now that Lexus has established itself, they no longer go the extra mile for the brand. It's a Toyota and you can expect mass market manufacturer reliability, performance and customer service.

Nice to know that your dealer will negotiate on repairs. Mine used to, too, but won't any longer - "le prix fixe"!

 

My Lexus Used car warranty just paid a $4,000 control arm bill.