I saw this video and wondered is the NX really not considered reliable any longer?

Does the low ratings it’s getting involve tech stuff only or mechanical issues?

Does this have to do with owners not updating the software on the infotainment?

https://youtu.be/X1grmRQC6VA?si=mV5iHMCwfUaahKft

 

First thanks to @lsft one of Club Lexus forum members for making the You Tube video reviewing the Consumer Report's annual auto review.

However, take this whole report with a big grain of salt because it is not necessarily true or statistically correct..

The whole report is based on surveys completed by Consumer Report readers. First the set of data is limited to Consumer Report subscribers and second it is limited to the Consumer Reports subscribers who respond to the survey; not everyone responds! A lot of people don't like to fill out or take surveys. of those that fill out surveys on specific products, in this case cars, there is a bias toward people who either really like a car or really hate a car.

It is very, very hard to get a completely unbiased survey. Consumer Reports makes an attempt to provide unbiased reporting and does a fairly good job because they have a large subscription base and a lot of their subscribers fill in the annual auto survey along with other product surveys.

My NX has basically been flawless except for the kick sensor wit factory installed utility hitch. A lot of times a new first year model is expected to be less reliable. I think Consumer Reports and the press expected the second generation NX ( beginning model year 2022) to be less reliable and actually the NX turned out to be very reliable.

YMMV,
Midcow3

 

It is a Lexus which is always at the top of the reliability rankings. Consumer Reports #1 and J D Power #1 and #1 22 out of 27 years. I have zero worries about our 2023 NX. Had it for one year and, ZERO problems.

 

Nothing to do with reliability but the key fob problem is certainly hitting the satisfaction in the U.K. It is worse there as we do not have either card key or digital key so solely rely upon key fob. The TrustPilot scores on a single key are bad for Lexus U.K.

 

We need a reliability rating for reliability ratings. Talk to me 3 yrs after the warranty has run out about which cars are reliable. I know, I know, no money in those...

 

You are correct that the survey is limited to the Consumer Reports subscribers, but they do have 330,000 subscribers. Some surveys only do 10,000 or 50,000 people. The report does say that all mechanical components got a very good score. What didn't? It was the new infotainment system. You are a very active member of this forum and you have seen many people saying that they cannot connect their phone, I personally cannot charge my phones with a case on the wireless charger, people are being ask for pin while driving. Some people when backing out of the driveway, the car brakes cos it sees something when there is nothing. These are all related to the electrical components.

But the funny part is that hybrid owners did not complain as much about it. So it's totally possible that their subscribers are more vocal and are not accepting the occasional infotainment issues, but keep in mind, Lexus has release way more NX350s over the NX350h over the NX450h+. So the feedback on issues would be greater with the NX350 over the 350h/450h+.

I am not saying that any report is perfect. When does a report or study is perfect. We have so many reports coming out day after day and the year after they tell you the total opposite. I am not here to say that the NX350 is a bad car and it's not reliable, but just stating that this is what the report says and in fact, there are people who have reported such issues in this forum and in many NX groups as well. Lexus has already sold over 115k+ 2nd generation NXs in the US. I believe most of them are ok, but we have seen some lemons on this forum as well. No brand is perfect and there will be issues.

 

I've only received 2 updates in the 20 months of ownership. It's really lack of updates I would say. But it's really electrical components... mechanical components are ok.

 

I watched your video and wondered why doesn’t it include all Lexus models?

Like the IS model is not there, wouldn’t their rate be much higher in satisfaction because for one it’s the same engine for the past 10 yrs so reliability is there and 2nd all the tech is also really old or older so I’d say it works and not many issues there. Maybe there just highlighting models with issues?

 

Yes, I do not know why the IS, or LS was not on the list. Seems like they focused on certain models... many people did not agree Mini should is in the top 5.. it's because there was only 2 models. As @midcow3 says, it's definitely not a perfect survey and results. Take it with a grain of salt and determine yourself if Lexus should be higher or lower in the list.

 

I think to try to be somewhat statistically correct, Consumer Reports will not list a specific car model unless they get a sufficient number of surveys on that specific car model. I don't know what Consumer Reports cut-off criteria is, but I would think the reason IS or LS is not on the list is because not enough people responded on those specific models. There are probably a lot of IS and LS car owners that subscribe to Consumer Reports that are either (1) satisfied with their car and chose not to respond or (2) just hate to fill out surveys. I know a space of 330,000 subscribers seems large, but in a voluntary survey world it is not that large in actuality.

In the past and for quite awhile I subscribed to Consumer Reports and fill-out auto surveys and other surveys. The surveys are long and intensive and time consuming,

Several problems were mentioned by @lsft and I agree with him; I had forgotten there were some initial problems. I think the addition of the phone profiles and the key card were developed rapidly by different Lexus development groups and in an effort to get them out quickly unit testing was completed but integration testing did not take place very well and each of the different technologies stepped on each other.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

There is also a perception vs. actual reliability bias. For instance, someone may mark the touchscreen interface as poor/unreliable/etc. because they want buttons and ***** or the UI is not in a layout that is intuitive to them. Perceptions can certainly impact someone’s definition of reliable even if the product functions exactly as intended.

 

Agree, but Lexus's previous touchpad was horrendous. But you are correct some people love buttons. Basically the RAV4 hybrid limited is Toyota's version of the 350NX with buttons ( and a spare tire ).

YMMV,

MidCow3

 

As an example of one...I was asked for my PIN a couple times. Once I found my PIN--I put it in and that was resolved. Never asked me since. And, the PIN request came after a visit to Lexus so who knows what gets jostled in one place when they're doing something else (in this case it was for a "recall' which was basically pre-cautionary).

 

@romer I agree with the pin problem, I had it once or twice and it might have been after a Lexus Servcie Software Campaign.

YMMV,
MidCow3

 

midcow3---the biggest challenge for me was locating my PIN! After that it was classic Lexus simple.