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Bad Luck With LS’s 👎

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Old Jul 6, 2018 | 01:23 PM
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Default Bad Luck With LS’s 👎

So I owned. 2011 LS 460L AWD. I bought used with 28k miles or so. I had a weird vibration driving at highway speeds, but only when I took my foot off the accelerator. Turns out I had to have both front axles replaced. Luckily car was still under factory warranty as replaced at no cost to me.

Fast forward, I purchased in January of this year a 2013 LS 460L AWD with about 18.5k on the clock. I have about 26k now. Anyway, guess what, same vibration as my 2011. I took it to the Lexus dealer today and yup, you guessed it, I need front axles again. luckily covered under the powertrain warranty, so no cost to me. They said I will have my car back maybe by next Thursday, as they have to order parts.

is this just real bad luck? I have seen many posters on here saying that nothing ever goes wrong with their LS’s, but for some reason I have had this happen on two different LS’s.
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Old Jul 6, 2018 | 02:27 PM
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covered under warranty, and a loaner. id not worry about it. but super odd.
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Old Jul 6, 2018 | 03:15 PM
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Originally Posted by mbarron37
So I owned. 2011 LS 460L AWD. I bought used with 28k miles or so. I had a weird vibration driving at highway speeds, but only when I took my foot off the accelerator. Turns out I had to have both front axles replaced. Luckily car was still under factory warranty as replaced at no cost to me.

Fast forward, I purchased in January of this year a 2013 LS 460L AWD with about 18.5k on the clock. I have about 26k now. Anyway, guess what, same vibration as my 2011. I took it to the Lexus dealer today and yup, you guessed it, I need front axles again. luckily covered under the powertrain warranty, so no cost to me. They said I will have my car back maybe by next Thursday, as they have to order parts.

is this just real bad luck? I have seen many posters on here saying that nothing ever goes wrong with their LS’s, but for some reason I have had this happen on two different LS’s.
I'd say you have bad luck. In all the time I've spent on CL I've never heard of front axle failures like that ever, until now. I had an AWD 15 LS460 to 43,000 miles and had no issues with front axles or any vibrations of any kind.

I know you said in the LX forum that your local roads are really rough, maybe thats part of it...
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Old Jul 6, 2018 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
I'd say you have bad luck. In all the time I've spent on CL I've never heard of front axle failures like that ever, until now. I had an AWD 15 LS460 to 43,000 miles and had no issues with front axles or any vibrations of any kind.

I know you said in the LX forum that your local roads are really rough, maybe thats part of it...
Who knows, maybe this is the kick I need to get the LX 👍. It must be bad luck as nobody on this site has complained about this problem, never mind twice. Last time they fixed it on my prior car it was smooth as silk, I just worry about this and if I had to pay out of pocket. Both times less than 30k on the clock. Ouch.........
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Old Jul 6, 2018 | 03:29 PM
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Originally Posted by mbarron37
Who knows, maybe this is the kick I need to get the LX 👍. It must be bad luck as nobody on this site has complained about this problem, never mind twice. Last time they fixed it on my prior car it was smooth as silk, I just worry about this and if I had to pay out of pocket. Both times less than 30k on the clock. Ouch.........
Thats just one of those things. Its not a common thing at all.

Honestly, I really think you'd tire of the LX day in and day out. I drove one for a day and by the time the day was over I was happy to give it back.
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Old Jul 7, 2018 | 10:21 AM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
Thats just one of those things. Its not a common thing at all.

Honestly, I really think you'd tire of the LX day in and day out. I drove one for a day and by the time the day was over I was happy to give it back.
Have not driven an LX and curious about this statement. What is it about the LX that wasn't up to standard? I realize it is a big SUV but I thought it is Lexus's flagship SUV and basically the "LS of SUVs", no? Also interested to learn more because I am mildly interested in an LX/Land Cruiser. Not the newer behemoths, probabaly something older and smaller/easier to manage on the road. I want the luxury ride and refinement, just not gargantuan. (I loved the Range Rover Sport Steve had recommended but the wife vetoed that once she got a whiff of reliability records, lol).
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Old Jul 7, 2018 | 10:31 AM
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I test drove 2 used LX’s this week. I thought they drove well as were fairly well mannered for a big SUV. I really liked the 5.7 engine, more torquey than my AWD LS. The LX is not as refined or quiet, but I guess that is to be expected. Also, a lot of little things were missing like soft close doors and a lot more plastic. Overall, I liked the LX, but the rear cargo area was too small due to stupid 3rd row that is almost useless. I was shocked at the lack of cargo area with the 3rd row folded. Not a bad SUV but I expected more luxury as this is their flagship SUV.
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Old Jul 7, 2018 | 10:35 AM
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Originally Posted by FatherTo1
Have not driven an LX and curious about this statement. What is it about the LX that wasn't up to standard? I realize it is a big SUV but I thought it is Lexus's flagship SUV and basically the "LS of SUVs", no? Also interested to learn more because I am mildly interested in an LX/Land Cruiser. Not the newer behemoths, probabaly something older and smaller/easier to manage on the road. I want the luxury ride and refinement, just not gargantuan. (I loved the Range Rover Sport Steve had recommended but the wife vetoed that once she got a whiff of reliability records, lol).
My main issue with it is how heavy it feels and it makes it tiring to drive around town
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Old Jul 11, 2018 | 05:29 PM
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Got a call from the dealer today. The tech had a real tough time getting the axles out and broke one of the transmission lines. They had to order parts. What is a transmission line and should I be concerned about that? Said my car should be ready tomorrow.
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Old Jul 11, 2018 | 10:03 PM
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Originally Posted by mbarron37
What is a transmission line and should I be concerned about that?
That would be referring to the line that carries transmission fluid to a heat exchanger('radiator') in the front of the car. Don't have to worry about it as long as they installed the new line correctly and topped off the transmission fluid to replace what leaked out when they broke the line. Next time a service advisor tells you about that you're unsure of/don't know about, I would just ask them any questions like this so you can save yourself the stress from wondering. Or not... there are many of us that are happy to help
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