Hello,

I am driving a NX 300 2019 which was bought after last Black Friday and my navigation system decided not to be turned on after 2 months of ownership.

I took my car to the dealership, after 4 days of extensive checkup, I was told they found liquid under console and water marks on radio unit and since they consider this incident as an 'outside influence', they would not fix or replace necessary part under warranty instead, they demanded $3700 for replacing the radio unit. For the record I did not put any liquid around center console, and I argued with tech guys and some guy named 'Donald' from Lexus head quarter for possible defect of a radio unit or design flaw but failed to win the conversation. If I had more time and energy I would love to hire some lawyer and challenge this 'incident' all the way, but I simply do not have time for this nonsense.

Instead I have been letting 'potential buyers' around me to take a simple test drive, and when they asked me why I do not have a navigation screen I simply told my little incident story. So far, out of 4 families they bought 2 RDX, 1 Pilot and 1 Highlander. I don't know if my incident story is avoiding them to buy NX 300 but they really looked confused when they heard my incident story. I will continue to provide my service to my beloved friends and family for the test drive and hopefully one family will overcome the 'incident' story of mine and buy NX 300, because I do like my car except for the audio/navigation part.

Anyway as I am forced to go after an aftermarket radio unit, I find it hard to find such unit since my car is the newest model. I read some posts about buying from alibaba which is a Chinese Amazon, but I am trying to stay domestic or Japanese since Lexus is Japanese. Do you know any website that might sell audio system that is designed for NX300 2019? Or if you guys know somebody who could honestly fix the radio unit in Chester Spring PA area, I will be grateful to obtain the info. Thank you in advance!!

 

I would clearly escalate this ...

 

your dealer screwed you. I would never step ft in a dealer lot that screwed me with warranty work. alpine and pioneer make good stuff https://www.crutchfield.com/g_182350....html?tp=20222

 

Check Ebay. I've seen OEM units for NX for about $1200.

 

Seen this thread?

 

Just quick search (all for up to 2018, but may fit 2019):
https://www.ebay.com/itm/LEXUS-NX-RA...frcectupt=true

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2017-L...IAAOSwrAFb~7AQ

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-2018-L...UAAOSwn6JcAAwb

 

I checked all the links that you provided and I certainly appreciate your time and efforts. You guys made me realized that I could search for 2018 models instead of 2019, and it gives me more options to choose from like using Android Auto perhaps. From the start I wasn't really impressed with OEM stereo because there was no Android Auto and I highly doubt Lexus will do something for Android Auto anytime soon. I thank you again for useful replies.

 

Don't go down that rabbit hole while you are on warranty. If some other related part fails it can easily be attributed to installing an aftermarket navigation system and messing with original equipment wiring/electronics. With the high resale value/residual on the NX look into trading in for a new or cpo NX. (or just use phone based waze/google navigation which gets the job done anyway). Good luck

 

Try another dealership that's more helpful, the one you went to maybe a total jackass. This would be totally unacceptable to me on a 2019 w/ only 2 months of ownership. To render the unit damage by fluid, it probably has to be submerged in water, like a real big flood or something or you drive it into the ocean. I actually took apart the center console to fix rattles on the NX, and seen how well hidden the whole unit is behind the center console. It's very hard to get water in there...

Here's a video showing how to remove the center console and work on the radio unit. You can clearly see the connectors and wiring harness tucked behind the center console nicely, how can you get water back there??

 

I would get a second (or even third) opinion from another dealer.

 

Doesn’t the dealer get reimbursed by Lexus for warranty work? Why would they be jerks about it?

 

I guess they can charge more if the customer pays for it, like their standard rate. But when reimbursed by Lexus, they can only charge their "dealer" rate, more like their cost or something, so they don't make a lot of money on it.

In short, they can't rip off Lexus, but they CAN with the retail customer.