I have a 2002 GS300 and just like many people here Ive had a few problems with rattles. I also had the steering problem which I got fixed once but now its back again.

But overall I love my GS and I feel its a great car.

 

It got the sway bar loosen one side (front-passenger) after 16K miles. That was a scary feeling !

Joel

 

my swaybar started comming off too i took it the dealer the first time they could not reproduce the noise they blamed it on my intake rattling took it back to the dealer they kept my car for about 4 days before figuring out it was a couple of bolts missing for the swaybar thats the only real problem i had

 

How you know you have swaybar problem?

I have rattles when I go really rough road but not in regular road.

Severe bumps also makes little rattle..but ...I feel ok ..

let me know about swaybar because I want to make sure..

 

'01 GS300, a few minor problems. [2 previous SC300's, never a problem]

1. Driver's seat belt wouldn't retract as it should; replaced under warranty
2. Very slight rattles -- in driver's door and dash around climate control unit; not reported to dealer, too minor to warrant tearing out the door or dash. Can't hear them if ML audio is playing anyway.
3. Drive-by-wire accelerator. i think it's just too damn sensitive, it often lurches between 1st & 2nd on takeoff, unless i am VERY gentle with continuing pressure on the pedal. Again, could just be me; my previous SC300's had the old-fashioned pedal system.

 

I own a 2001 GS300.

Anyone experience a slight vibration in the rear wheels?

I feel it only right after I step on the gas after a stop....about the 10 mph - 20 mph range.

Does'nt matter what gear Im in....I still feel it.

Pete

 

01 GS430:

1) Sway Bar came loose at 27K...dealer had to replace all brackets.
2) Drive belt really sqeaking at 30K...replaced: $80
3) Minor moisture in headlights.

Only major one was sway bar...it was scary driving to the dealer like that!

 

It might be me but what I realized is this. I had a 1999 GS300 and I never really had a problem. Then I traded it in for a 2002 GS300 and I kinda felt that it was made a bit different. I almost felt like my 99 was built better. I don't know why. Like I never had the roof raddle on my 99 or the trany jolt between gears like it does on my 2002.

 

02 GS430 -1 month now no Problems! knock on wood.
Y2K GS400 Platinum before w/No problems. Oh the dealer when replacing the Tranny Fluid did not replace the plug properly but took it back for new seal & plug. Lost some tranny fluid cus of it.


Paul

 

I too have rattles at times. As said by many the moonroof sucks. Rattles all the time. Also, it sounds like my stearing colum might be causing some noise too. Has anyone else had this problem? Other then that I love the car. Oh yeh, one more thing... what could be causing the moisture in the headlamps?

-A.T.

 

hmmmm.... seems like a number of you have had a problem with the sway bars coming loose... what are the symptoms? creaking? rattling? while turning? when hitting a bump at a slow speed? last time i had a creaking coming from my car when i went over speed bumps, or turned my wheel, the dealer had to replace several parts in the car.. but not the swaybars... maybe I should get this checked... inputs???

~manny

 

2003 GS430
Steering is overboosted - turns with one finger. Other GSs I have driven have a firm direct feel - not mine. I just put the Steering ECU in - barely any difference.
Rattle from front pass wheel going over very rough road (sway bars?). I see others note this issue too.
Terrible road noise - comes up through the sunroof (drain tube picking it up I think). Have to drive with the shade closed or the noise is too much. Note this is road noise not wind noise. Noise decreases while coasting, increases while accelerating. Rumor has it there are plugs that can come out below the car and cause this.
HVAC fan now seems to like the Medium setting - maybe the cold weather I dunno. We will see if it happens again today.

I miss my BMW.

Doug

 

I have about 5200 miles on my '03, and it's been trouble free except for the damn alignment. It's been under my skin since day one. The steering wheel was way off center on the fwy and it pulled to the left. First dealer trip resulted in a centered wheel but it still pulls, but less. I will have the dealer do a 4 wheel laser alignment at the next service.

Also, it seems to me that the car is most fun on city streets where I am always deep into the pedal to enjoy the massive torque. Fwy not as fun b/c of the alignment, but also b/c it's floaty and not confidence inspiring at speed. I know L-Tuned suspension upgrades would go a long way to solve this, but it's a leased car and I'm not likely to mod it. My 5 series Bimmer with sport package just carved, but since it was a -28 it was a dog. No maintenance probs with it, though. My 911 felt better at 165 than my GS does at 80.

I'm also noticing a vibration or buzz from the passenger side door when I'm cranking music. Haven't troubleshooted it yet though- probably something simple.

I also notice that the tranny can get confused on occasion when it gets too many inputs (floor it, partial throttle, floor it again, no throttle, etc in rapid succession).

 

No problems, other than the VSC and VSC off light turned on once and stayed on while I was driving, but when I got to my destination and shut the car off, I started it back, everything went back to normal. The service department checked it out and everything was fine. That, and the "Brake" light (same light that goes on when u engage the parking brake) turned on this past friday. I checked the brake release, it was good, everytime I stepped on the brake to slow the car down, it kept turning on, when I took my foot off the brake, it shut off. This continued for about 45 minutes of my commute, then as I got to within 10 minutes of the dealership, it disappeared, and hasn't re-appeared since.
Ed

 

Your problem with the brake light....

Your brake light might be going off intermittently due to low brake fluid. I just replaced my rear brake pads and had that issue when the fluid leaked out at the separation of the caliper. DOT 3 brake fluid...driver side top portion under the hood....Enjoy