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Consumer Reports gives the LS500 some solid 5 year reliability numbers against its peers as we assumed it would. (2018 column)
Wonder why it scores low on paint/trim? Mine is holding up very well, but maybe because the paint is soft it is more susceptible to rock chips than the others.
I am glad to see that Lexus reliability/quality remains robust which is why I stay with Lexus for me and my family.
Thanks for passing on the info. It is nice to see one’s investment is holding value. As this is my third LS, latest being the 2018 Executive equipped model, I am sold on this Lexus products.
I'm still a little skeptical about LS reliability, even being a Lexus. The car is very complicated, the engine in particular. Most other more common Lexus models generally have simpler engines and fewer gadgets in them. Especially the outgoing 3.5L V6.... that thing has been a beast. My understanding is the V8s have also been excellent. No idea on how the turbo 4 cylinders have been holding up or this turbo V6. I believe this same engine is in the new Tundra and I've heard of some issues with them in the truck?
With that said, out of all the very large luxurious sedans still left for sale these days, I have little doubt that the Lexus will remain the least likely to have issues and probably be least costly to repair any issues. I just don't know if they have that bulletproof "just do oil changes for 100,000+ miles" reliability of most other Lexus and Toyota cars.
I will add that more than just not breaking, I've always been impressed with how long Lexuses remain "tight" if that makes sense. Even with elevated miles they tend to remain rattle free, the suspension and steering doesn't feel clapped out etc.
Will also add I do often wonder about owners and the relation to reliability ratings. Lexus buyers tend to be long-term owners, with some disposable income, and I think of a mindset of taking care of your stuff and your stuff takes care of you. Other buyers I think often do nothing to their cars. You don't do maintenance and you beat up your vehicles... they're going to have problems.
Not that Lexus isn't a quality car, it clearly is, but (and I don't know if this is still the case) I remember years ago the reliability ratings for Chevrolet and Buicks. Buicks would often score extremely well on the reliability rankings while Chevrolet was much more average or below average. But the bizarre thing was that the Buicks and Chevys were same engine, same transmission, same platform, built in the same factory.... but the Buick was magically much more reliable? My guess is that, somewhat like Lexus, Buick drivers tended to be older, a bit more money, take care of their stuff, do the maintenance etc while Chevrolet buyers tend to buy based on price, lease a car, beat it up, turn it in.... and that has to show up in reliability rankings as well.
I think you'd sometimes see this too when the Corolla and.... was it the Geo Metro were the same exact car, same factory but Corolla would score better. Or the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe (again exact same car).
Last edited by Jerome10; Dec 16, 2023 at 08:01 AM.
I'm still a little skeptical about LS reliability, even being a Lexus. The car is very complicated, the engine in particular. Most other more common Lexus models generally have simpler engines and fewer gadgets in them. Especially the outgoing 3.5L V6.... that thing has been a beast. My understanding is the V8s have also been excellent. No idea on how the turbo 4 cylinders have been holding up or this turbo V6. I believe this same engine is in the new Tundra and I've heard of some issues with them in the truck?
With that said, out of all the very large luxurious sedans still left for sale these days, I have little doubt that the Lexus will remain the least likely to have issues and probably be least costly to repair any issues. I just don't know if they have that bulletproof "just do oil changes for 100,000+ miles" reliability of most other Lexus and Toyota cars.
I will add that more than just not breaking, I've always been impressed with how long Lexuses remain "tight" if that makes sense. Even with elevated miles they tend to remain rattle free, the suspension and steering doesn't feel clapped out etc.
Will also add I do often wonder about owners and the relation to reliability ratings. Lexus buyers tend to be long-term owners, with some disposable income, and I think of a mindset of taking care of your stuff and your stuff takes care of you. Other buyers I think often do nothing to their cars. You don't do maintenance and you beat up your vehicles... they're going to have problems.
Not that Lexus isn't a quality car, it clearly is, but (and I don't know if this is still the case) I remember years ago the reliability ratings for Chevrolet and Buicks. Buicks would often score extremely well on the reliability rankings while Chevrolet was much more average or below average. But the bizarre thing was that the Buicks and Chevys were same engine, same transmission, same platform, built in the same factory.... but the Buick was magically much more reliable? My guess is that, somewhat like Lexus, Buick drivers tended to be older, a bit more money, take care of their stuff, do the maintenance etc while Chevrolet buyers tend to buy based on price, lease a car, beat it up, turn it in.... and that has to show up in reliability rankings as well.
I think you'd sometimes see this too when the Corolla and.... was it the Geo Metro were the same exact car, same factory but Corolla would score better. Or the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe (again exact same car).
Lexus owners are probably a lot pickier than most. They expect perfection.
For $100k, you better believe it. What I don't like about the Lexus brand is that they follow the path of other "premium" brands by building and selling $40k ŝhĩtboxes.
I’ll stick with Lexus/Toyota products, thank you.
i’m 100 miles from the nearest Lexus, M-B, Audi, and Jaguar dealers. However I’m only 40 miles from a Toyota dealer. In a pinch I can get most service and parts from Toyota. Lexus service and repair may be pricey, but I doubt the others are competitive. Our past experience with Lexus reliability has always been favorable.
For $100k, you better believe it. What I don't like about the Lexus brand is that they follow the path of other "premium" brands by building and selling $40k ŝhĩtboxes.
At the very least at the end of the day the 40k ****boxes are still toyotas. The lower end Mercedes get some bad reviews and reliability scores.
On a side note I rented a Golf this past summer. Drove from Venice to Cortina for a few days. Excellennt little car. I’d say when north of 85mph or above is when the tires started to show its limits and did not feel great. But the fit and finish, screens, ergonmics, were quite good. Non Turbo car, and it was a reantal so it was limted. But, decent sound system and apple carplay and I was ready to go from the moment I got in. For two people and luggage it was just fine. WHile a lower price mercedes might ave a nicer looking interior, this thing “FELT” very put together and mechanically well built. Perhaps A turbo 4, some bigger wheels in some GTI form would be very nice. RS variants are like $43,000 which might not be the best value unless pocket rockets are your thing. THat would have been fun to cruise the Autostrada! Other than that the paddle shifts on the switchbacks did just fine working the little engine. WOuld have preferred a stick that week. I ordered one but they were out.
At the very least at the end of the day the 40k ****boxes are still toyotas. The lower end Mercedes get some bad reviews and reliability scores.
On a side note I rented a Golf this past summer. Drove from Venice to Cortina for a few days. Excellennt little car. I’d say when north of 85mph or above is when the tires started to show its limits and did not feel great. But the fit and finish, screens, ergonmics, were quite good. Non Turbo car, and it was a reantal so it was limted. But, decent sound system and apple carplay and I was ready to go from the moment I got in. For two people and luggage it was just fine. WHile a lower price mercedes might ave a nicer looking interior, this thing “FELT” very put together and mechanically well built. Perhaps A turbo 4, some bigger wheels in some GTI form would be very nice. RS variants are like $43,000 which might not be the best value unless pocket rockets are your thing. THat would have been fun to cruise the Autostrada! Other than that the paddle shifts on the switchbacks did just fine working the little engine. WOuld have preferred a stick that week. I ordered one but they were out.
I didn't mean to bash the quality of 40k toys and lexuses. Making a relative comparison between lex/toy and mercedes is like comparing prime rib to stew beef. Without a doubt in my mind, any US made mercedes other than the S580 is an absolute nightmare. If you cant resist chasing labels or attempting to pretend you're not poor and buy a $50k mercedes/volvo/bmw, you'll get all the problems you richly deserve. Where Lexus goes wrong is slapping a lexus badge on a toyota then add 5% to the sticker. Yes you're going to get the legendary toy reliability but not much else. Rebadging simply diminishes the Lexus brand by cannibalizing their same buyer base in the same way Mercedes dumbed down their brand with all the garbage they build.
I have mine since 2019, no issues aside from one known factory defect, the ac servo thingy that opens and shuts AC vent. Apparently this is a known issue but resolving it requires dashboard disassembly. The issue only pops up when the temp is set too low to quickly, and appeared only twice during the five years of ownership. I will keep ignoring it as long it ignores me xD
I can totally relate to the paint satisfaction. The front bumper is chipped badly despite the relatively low miles on my car and never driving off road or in sand storms. Another issue is paint imperfection the size of 2mm (aprox crayon tip) near the gas cap since the day I bought the car.
Other than that, this LS is still the best bang for buck out there. High quality, great stance, excellent reliability, and best priced compared to the competition. I'm dying over BMW 7 series, but only for appearance and I know I will get much less quality and features for more money.
I'm dying over BMW 7 series, but only for appearance and I know I will get much less quality and features for more money.
Agreed. A car with beautiful lines and classy. You'd have to hand it to me for nothing though. As with all their other models, you get what you ask for. A wallet emptying money pit.
I have mine since 2019, no issues aside from one known factory defect, the ac servo thingy that opens and shuts AC vent. Apparently this is a known issue but resolving it requires dashboard disassembly. The issue only pops up when the temp is set too low to quickly, and appeared only twice during the five years of ownership. I will keep ignoring it as long it ignores me xD
I can totally relate to the paint satisfaction. The front bumper is chipped badly despite the relatively low miles on my car and never driving off road or in sand storms. Another issue is paint imperfection the size of 2mm (aprox crayon tip) near the gas cap since the day I bought the car.
Other than that, this LS is still the best bang for buck out there. High quality, great stance, excellent reliability, and best priced compared to the competition. I'm dying over BMW 7 series, but only for appearance and I know I will get much less quality and features for more money.
This (rock chips) also happened to my previous GS350 due to the soft paint. I had XPEL PPF installed on the LS500 bumper, hood, fenders, and side mirrors when I bought it and after 14K miles looks just like when I purchased it.
LS500 Solid 5 Year Reliability
