How reliable is the 2013+ LS?
07-17-18, 12:12 PM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
How reliable is the 2013+ LS?
whats up everyone. I’ve had a 2001 GS430 for a while now and I need a bigger car so I’m looking into something good that’s going to last me a while like my GS did. If the suspension wasn’t such a piece of crap and it was AWD I would probably be keeping my GS but I need a safer car for my family now. How reliable are these new LS past 100k? Is it like the old ones? I’m sure it’s light years above my gs but that old school reliability is what keeps me in Lesus, minus the suspension issues the GS is notorious for. Was debating 2013-2015 LS or a GS350 of similar year or newer, both AWD of course. Is it worth the extra money? I’m sure I’m going to get nothin but yes but the LS is more money to maintain right? Has to be some reason the resale value is pretty low.
07-17-18, 12:42 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
I am kind of in the same boat, had a 2nd Gen GS430 that was totaled. For me it was reliable, the suspension did make a lot of creaks and squeaks in cold weather but nothing failed or needed replacing while I owned it, the 2001 was supposed to address the poor ball joint design. The LS460 has its own suspension issues and unfortunately they are worse then the GS, upper control arms being the worse and there is no cheap solution if you get a AWD LS unless you press out the bushings yourself, there are other areas too like brake actuator, dash melting, ML amp failing, etc. I would do some research, the LS is still more reliable then the Germans but it has some expensive issues you may have to deal with and watch out for.
07-17-18, 02:10 PM
#3
My .02, the suspension issues are over exaggerated. Sticky door panels are only an issue if you get a early year LS and park it outside in the sun. Only issue I've had is the starter and now the fuel pump o-rings are starting to go at 160k. Bought the car in 2010 at 38k.
07-17-18, 02:19 PM
#4
Pole Position
Thread Starter
My .02, the suspension issues are over exaggerated. Sticky door panels are only an issue if you get a early year LS and park it outside in the sun. Only issue I've had is the starter and now the fuel pump o-rings are starting to go at 160k. Bought the car in 2010 at 38k.
07-17-18, 05:08 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
I agree that the suspension issues are over exaggerated. Had a long conversation about this with my mechanic, who said the 13-17 cars have much better bushings, and when/if they fail he just presses in new bushings.
The LS is a complex car, and its somewhat costlier to maintain than the GS or other lesser Lexus vehicles, thats always been true, its nothing new. They will need suspension work as they age. Sticky dashes are a non-issue in a 13-17, no evidence of any issues with brake actuators either, and the ML audio has been detuned to where ML amps shouldn't be an issue either.
I would drive this car well over 100k miles without hesitation.
Correction, the suspension on your GS needed work too address the "lot of creaks and squeaks in cold weather" you just chose not to address those concerns.
The LS is a complex car, and its somewhat costlier to maintain than the GS or other lesser Lexus vehicles, thats always been true, its nothing new. They will need suspension work as they age. Sticky dashes are a non-issue in a 13-17, no evidence of any issues with brake actuators either, and the ML audio has been detuned to where ML amps shouldn't be an issue either.
I would drive this car well over 100k miles without hesitation.
Originally Posted by UDel
the suspension did make a lot of creaks and squeaks in cold weather but nothing failed or needed replacing while I owned it
07-19-18, 07:35 AM
#6
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Thanks for the help guys. By the way is the AWD a good car for the snow or is it still crap because it’s a heavy sedan ? It’s hard to decide if it’s worth spending double the money for the new shape or just buy like an 09 or something for half the price
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07-19-18, 07:54 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
You mean, to you 
I've had both the AWD car and the RWD car. The AWD is awesome in the snow. It really does a great job. The RWD car (at least the 13-17) is also surprisingly good in the snow.
However, if you're going to drive it in the snow a good bit, I would get the AWD, and in fact you'll find in your region if thats the case they're all AWD anyway.
As with any new car, I'd get the newest one you can afford. Yes an 09 is cheaper, but its much older...its a tradeoff.
However, if you're going to drive it in the snow a good bit, I would get the AWD, and in fact you'll find in your region if thats the case they're all AWD anyway.
As with any new car, I'd get the newest one you can afford. Yes an 09 is cheaper, but its much older...its a tradeoff.
07-19-18, 08:04 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
I agree that the suspension issues are over exaggerated. Had a long conversation about this with my mechanic, who said the 13-17 cars have much better bushings, and when/if they fail he just presses in new bushings.
The LS is a complex car, and its somewhat costlier to maintain than the GS or other lesser Lexus vehicles, thats always been true, its nothing new. They will need suspension work as they age. Sticky dashes are a non-issue in a 13-17, no evidence of any issues with brake actuators either, and the ML audio has been detuned to where ML amps shouldn't be an issue either.
I would drive this car well over 100k miles without hesitation.
Correction, the suspension on your GS needed work too address the "lot of creaks and squeaks in cold weather" you just chose not to address those concerns.
The LS is a complex car, and its somewhat costlier to maintain than the GS or other lesser Lexus vehicles, thats always been true, its nothing new. They will need suspension work as they age. Sticky dashes are a non-issue in a 13-17, no evidence of any issues with brake actuators either, and the ML audio has been detuned to where ML amps shouldn't be an issue either.
I would drive this car well over 100k miles without hesitation.
Correction, the suspension on your GS needed work too address the "lot of creaks and squeaks in cold weather" you just chose not to address those concerns.
There were many people with a 2nd Gen GS that had the same exact problem, a mystery creak/squeak mainly in cold temps going over speed bumps/turns that they or their mechanics cold not figure out even after changing thousands of dollars worth of suspension parts.
07-19-18, 08:16 AM
#11
Pole Position
Thread Starter
No, actually I took it to 5 different mechanics/places including Toyota/Lexus to find out what was wrong and they all said they can't find anything, your suspension is fine, they tightened what they could, lubricated just about everything, and it still did not fully get rid of the problem that would come back mainly in cold temps. Had a mechanic who was a friend sit in the car and listen while I drove it but it was summer at that time and it was not making too much noise, he said he just did not know form listening and examining my car. I was often under the car looking with a flash light for what it could possibly be. I changed the sway bar bushings and it helped a little because the car was tighter after that and did not rock back and forth in the turns and that seemed to help some but did not fully get rid of it. In the summer/hotter temperatures and after the years the noise eventually became almost non existent and was not as bad in the winter either.
There were many people with a 2nd Gen GS that had the same exact problem, a mystery creak/squeak mainly in cold temps going over speed bumps/turns that they or their mechanics cold not figure out even after changing thousands of dollars worth of suspension parts.
There were many people with a 2nd Gen GS that had the same exact problem, a mystery creak/squeak mainly in cold temps going over speed bumps/turns that they or their mechanics cold not figure out even after changing thousands of dollars worth of suspension parts.
You mean, to you
I've had both the AWD car and the RWD car. The AWD is awesome in the snow. It really does a great job. The RWD car (at least the 13-17) is also surprisingly good in the snow.
However, if you're going to drive it in the snow a good bit, I would get the AWD, and in fact you'll find in your region if thats the case they're all AWD anyway.
As with any new car, I'd get the newest one you can afford. Yes an 09 is cheaper, but its much older...its a tradeoff.
I've had both the AWD car and the RWD car. The AWD is awesome in the snow. It really does a great job. The RWD car (at least the 13-17) is also surprisingly good in the snow.
However, if you're going to drive it in the snow a good bit, I would get the AWD, and in fact you'll find in your region if thats the case they're all AWD anyway.
As with any new car, I'd get the newest one you can afford. Yes an 09 is cheaper, but its much older...its a tradeoff.
07-19-18, 08:50 AM
#12
Pole Position
Thread Starter
07-19-18, 10:57 AM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
Then get the 2013. Getting what you want is cheaper in the long run.
07-19-18, 11:00 AM
#14
Pole Position
Thread Starter
07-19-18, 11:02 AM
#15
Lexus Fanatic
The being happy for longer makes it worth it.