I thought I read somewhere that all new Lexus vehicles have a certain number of miles for a free first alignment but I can't seem to find where I read this. I checked the manuals but obviously I'm reading too fast or didn't actually see it in the first place. Can someone verify if this is actually true and if so how many miles/months you have to request your free first alignment?

 

One year or 15K which every comes first. You do have to have a complaint though, stating it is pulling or your tires are wearing. They won't do it just because you want one. I had it done and told them it was pulling, it wasn't, but they did make a few adjustments to the front and rear end.

 

Wow. One year or 15k miles. That seems quite generous but I'll take it. Do you recall where you saw or read this as I couldn't find it in the manual?

 

Not just Lexus but other makers provide this too. I thought it was 1 year or 12k miles.

 

It's in the warranty info, they don't like to advertise it to much.

 

OP: As MEP suggests, look at your Warranty and Services Guide that is part of the 3" of manuals in your glove box or online at Lexus.com via "My Lexus". For my (future) 2013 RX450h, the warranty manual indicates on page 18 under Basic Warranty "...wheel alignment and wheel balancing, which are covered for 12 months or 20,000 miles, whichever occurs first".

 

Thanks for the specific page reference. I was able to find it and mine is also covered for 12 months or 20k miles. I must say that is quite generous of Lexus to cover it for so long. Nice to know that wheel balancing is covered too.

 

thanks for this thread. which is quite timely, i still have 2 months before the free alignment expires.

 

My personal view, and it is just mine, is that if you are not having an issue with excessive tire wear or the car pulling to one side is to accept the alignment that was done during the assembly process and not ask for trouble. By asking the dealer to realign the car just for the sake of taking advantage of its availability can introduce the possibility of the technician messing up what was fine to begin with.

I guess I trust Lexus to set it up right more than I do a dealer service tech, who may or may not have the skill and experience necessary.

 

Well, I took advantage of the free alignment and my RX was no worse for the wear. Only slight adjustments were made. I would have done it anyway because I get an alignment every year after winter.

 

Just be careful how you ask for it, I was said that I thought it might be off. The service advisor was smart, she asked why I thought that and I foolishly said "I think I must have hit a pothole". End result: I paid for the alignment!

 

Ouch! My service manager knew how to write it up to have it covered under warranty. All you have to say is the alignment feels off, no explanation necessary.

 

how does this warranty differ on a late model CPO RX bought at 12k miles?

 

Original warranty transfers to a new owner. In this case, the original date the vehicle was placed into service, not your purchase date of the used vehicle, would start the 12-month clock being discussed here for the basic warranty. I didn't see any reference in the standard warranty to something being different with CPO when I read the terms myself, but you may want to take a look yourself to be sure.

I found on Lexus.com that alignment is initially checked as part of certification. The actual terms for CPO are here. I'll let you do your own interpretation of those additional terms that apply in your situation, but I personally don't see how CPO would extend the original warranty related to alignment, when CPO has exclusions such as "standard upkeep items" and general "wear and tear". Alignment in my mind is really a maintenance item, and Lexus has broad enough examples in those terms they could take the same position I suppose. Anyway, that's my view for what that's worth or not, and it could be further debated.

I have only purchased new, never CPO, so am not familiar with any additional terms beyond what I see on the web that somehow may have been added as part of your deal. My take though remains -- if the vehicle was originally placed into service more than 12 months ago, you're out of luck with the possibility of a free alignment as part of the original basic warranty. I suggest though, you should check with your SA if you think you've got a case for one -- you never know what may happen in the name of Customer Satisfaction, and it can't hurt to ask.

 

Well, I was close on the mileage. My RX is 2 years old now and I still don't have 15k on it. It is true about leaving the factory settings alone, sometimes the steering wheel ends up not so straight. That is a pet-peeve of mine.