what do you think is the most UNRELIABLE Lexus made?
11-20-18, 11:30 AM
#1
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
what do you think is the most UNRELIABLE Lexus made?
i know the words "unreliable" and "Lemon" are rarely spoken in the same sentence as a Lexus model, but every brand has a few problem years/models. even Lexus isnt without some kind of sin. based on what ive seen working in a dealership for a few years and whats shown up the most on a tow truck and has been back in the shop in a million pieces over something big and nasty going, are as follows...
1. the early Ls460s - 2007-2008 models. these seem to be hit or miss, i see alot with major electrical issues, some transmission problems, and mechanical stuff like the electronic brake actuator, but just as many with 200k on the clock that are still being driven by original owners that have never had anything really horrible go.
2. the 2003-2005 ES330 / RX330. i see ALOT of the 3.3L v6 models with problems, sludge issues, burning oil, electrical problems, and melting/cracking seats and dash boards. these are some of the only ones ive seen that legit blow up. but again, i see these with 300k+ on them still with original major components with no issues.
3. 2008-2010 Es350. - not too many major issues that effect being able to drive, with a few exceptions obviously, but i see alot of these with jammed windows, and 2010 navi cars specifically, the center channel speaker goes and they loose the voice commands (easy fix tho)
however, there are a few insanely high mile examples ive seen. one is a 2009 ES350 with.. ready for this? 426k miles.
4. 2006 GS 300. - seems like this one year of the GS had alot of issues from digitizer going out, windows jamming, suspension issues, engine as well as transmission problems. ive also seen a few of these with blown engines.
5. 2007 IS, - sunroof dial controls tend to malfunction, gauge needles flicker and burn out like the Ls400s in the 90s tend to do -not sure how the IS inherited this but maybe its kind of like how diseases can skip a few generations. who knows.
i could be totally wrong, but its just what ive seen. surprisingly, the hybrid stuff is okay. even the early cars ive seen very very few failures. infact only 2 that i can remember in the last few years. a 2010 GS450h and a 2007 RX400h, which both had sat for very very long times and because of that, killed the battery. i wont go over the older and very old models because well, even the best stuff isnt immune to age.
thoughts?
1. the early Ls460s - 2007-2008 models. these seem to be hit or miss, i see alot with major electrical issues, some transmission problems, and mechanical stuff like the electronic brake actuator, but just as many with 200k on the clock that are still being driven by original owners that have never had anything really horrible go.
2. the 2003-2005 ES330 / RX330. i see ALOT of the 3.3L v6 models with problems, sludge issues, burning oil, electrical problems, and melting/cracking seats and dash boards. these are some of the only ones ive seen that legit blow up. but again, i see these with 300k+ on them still with original major components with no issues.
3. 2008-2010 Es350. - not too many major issues that effect being able to drive, with a few exceptions obviously, but i see alot of these with jammed windows, and 2010 navi cars specifically, the center channel speaker goes and they loose the voice commands (easy fix tho)
however, there are a few insanely high mile examples ive seen. one is a 2009 ES350 with.. ready for this? 426k miles.
4. 2006 GS 300. - seems like this one year of the GS had alot of issues from digitizer going out, windows jamming, suspension issues, engine as well as transmission problems. ive also seen a few of these with blown engines.
5. 2007 IS, - sunroof dial controls tend to malfunction, gauge needles flicker and burn out like the Ls400s in the 90s tend to do -not sure how the IS inherited this but maybe its kind of like how diseases can skip a few generations. who knows.
i could be totally wrong, but its just what ive seen. surprisingly, the hybrid stuff is okay. even the early cars ive seen very very few failures. infact only 2 that i can remember in the last few years. a 2010 GS450h and a 2007 RX400h, which both had sat for very very long times and because of that, killed the battery. i wont go over the older and very old models because well, even the best stuff isnt immune to age.
thoughts?
11-20-18, 01:32 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
.
1. the early Ls460s - 2007-2008 models. these seem to be hit or miss, i see alot with major electrical issues, some transmission problems, and mechanical stuff like the electronic brake actuator, but just as many with 200k on the clock that are still being driven by original owners that have never had anything really horrible go.
4. 2006 GS 300. - seems like this one year of the GS had alot of issues from digitizer going out, windows jamming, suspension issues, engine as well as transmission problems. ive also seen a few of these with blown engines.
1. the early Ls460s - 2007-2008 models. these seem to be hit or miss, i see alot with major electrical issues, some transmission problems, and mechanical stuff like the electronic brake actuator, but just as many with 200k on the clock that are still being driven by original owners that have never had anything really horrible go.
4. 2006 GS 300. - seems like this one year of the GS had alot of issues from digitizer going out, windows jamming, suspension issues, engine as well as transmission problems. ive also seen a few of these with blown engines.
2. the 2003-2005 ES330 / RX330. i see ALOT of the 3.3L v6 models with problems, sludge issues, burning oil, electrical problems, and melting/cracking seats and dash boards. these are some of the only ones ive seen that legit blow up. but again, i see these with 300k+ on them still with original major components with no issues.
My 2003 ES300 is still in the family with 198k miles. My mechanic just did a big overhaul on it, replaced the timing belt, replaced one of the axles, replaced the radiator which was seeping slightly, transmission pan gasket. I drove it the other day, its astonishing that it has 200k miles on it. No squeaks or rattles, engine is super smooth, transmission shifts great. All the materials inside are perfect, and its sat outside the last 8 years. Needs a good detail, and I sanded out her headlights so they were nice and clear, but it looks and drives like it has 50k miles. The only other repairs ever made to it were lower control arms before I sold it to her at 150k miles, an alternator at about 170k, and a doggone engine mount at about 130k miles. That was it.
I would say its an incredibly reliable car.
11-20-18, 02:10 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
11-20-18, 02:31 PM
#4
Lexus Fanatic
I have never heard that until now. The 3.0 had a ton of slugging issues in the previous gen ES, but I have never heard of slugging with the 3.3. Its essentially the same engine, just slightly more bored out. Never read any sort of problems you mention in the ES forum either...
11-20-18, 02:35 PM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
the button for the A/C on the climate control panel broke so a new one of those was put in, also the fake chrome stuff around the interior door handle for the front passenger door is peeling off a bit. oh and for whatever reason, the bass goes super crazy when the engine is shut off and key in acc position... that was always weird
overall I love that camry though, it's what I took the road test and learned to drive in so it'll always have a place in my sentimental book. it can also roast the front tires so that was always a way for my dad to amuse me and my friends lol..
i also remember seeing some article where akio toyoda said that Toyota quality began to decline in 2002, so idk if that's relevant info or not.
11-20-18, 07:00 PM
#6
Lexus Fanatic
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11-21-18, 03:43 PM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
11-21-18, 05:11 PM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
Have to say the LS460, early ones are worse but I was surprised and disappointed in how many problems(expensive ones) owners were having and even the issues on ones I looked at or test drive. I still want one but I might see how the 2013+'s fare even though I am not a fan of the exterior differences between the 2012's and earlier ones. One good thing is they are finally doing more to address the melting dash fiasco and now open to replacing more.
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