Hello Everyone,
I am looking for advice and I am in a very desperate situation. I bought TX350 back in Dec 2023. I had test driven the TX before and really liked it. I took delivery of our brand new TX with only 3 miles on it and as soon as I rove off the lot and ramping up to merge on the highway I felt that the engine was noisy. I did not think of it too much and thought it might be because of the new car with only 3 miles on it.

Fast forward to preset. I have had many issues with our TX since we bought it. There were alignment issues, dashboard squeaking sound issue, moonroof creaking sound issue and the worst of all the engine issue. I took my car back to the dealer maybe around 8 times. Every time I took the car to the dealer they gave me a loaner and most of the time it was RX. I loved RX, it was so quiet and comfortable, contrary to the TX. I mentioned that to the dealership that why TX are so noisy and feels cheaply made, they shrugged it off and said, its made in the US. I was surprised on their comments.

I have a lemon case open on the car and Lexus is denying that anything is wrong with the vehicle. It is still currently at the dealer. They supposedly fixed the moonroof creaking issue for the 4th/5th time but I do not know. I will know when I go to pick it up today.

Honestly I am so fed up with the issues coming out of the car all the time. I am even thinking of taking legal action but it might not be worth the stress.

What do you all think I should do? Please ask me questions and looking for advice.

Thank you

 

You should get rid of it, one way or another, and move on to another vehicle. These type things can be tricky; sometimes it is the rare problematic build from the factory, others it can be a misalignment of expectations. I have read many owner complaints of vehicles that I have owned over the years and I have experienced some of the same issues. I expect there to be short comings and issues, it is an automobile manufactured from hard materials. There is no such thing as perfection and every vehicle produced is subject to having issues big and small. Some people expect this and some expect to never experience an issue having spent their hard earned money on a product. Think about a mediocre meal that you have had dining out, do you ask for a refund or reduction every time? Maybe? But the majority would eat the meal, judge it and then make a conscious decision to ever return or not. Just my opinion.
Either way, if you're having issues and are not happy, get rid of the car and move into something that you feel is better suited to you and your needs.
I can tell you that 92% of the '25 TX is no different from the '24 TX.

 

The dealer told me to get rid of it. Of course the sales people were all over me after that to get it traded in for something else but I'd be taking a loss of around $15k and I paid cash for this car. This is a huge loss considering that I bought in less than a year ago. It has only 8k miles on it. I just had the oil changed the second time.

The more I think about it the more I am leaning towards getting rid of it. Its just my luck.

 

Shop it (carmax, caravan etc..)and see what your options are since you have a clear title.
Used prices are still inflated somewhat, and there are not all of TX's in the supply chain currently.

 

I feel your pain. I'd bought a 2016 Honda Pilot. It was my third one. That vehicle convinced me to never buy a first gen new design again.

Then I bought a 2024 TX in May. It was such a compelling vehicle.

Oops!

I like my TX, but I doubt I'll own it more than two years.

I will really, really, never buy a first year new design again. If Toyota can't get it right the first time, it's likely nobody can.

 

I also have a lemon law case open. bought a brand new one with ~250 miles in January. Car has had the sunroof rail/frame replaced. Drivers seat replaced. Dashboard creak fixed, brake job with new pads and rotors cut, and more. It has had like 7 visits in the first 17K miles and it is not even a year old. I am contemplating getting something different but don't know where to look.

To date I have driven an MDX (probably too small and terrible MPG), a TX 500h (seats are too small), and a 2025 tahoe (too big). I used to own Audi Q7s and those weren't great in the shop either. Considering a BMW X7 but they are awfully pricey.

this is the first time I have owned a lexus. thought if anyone could get a first model year car right it would be them/toyota. they are proving me wrong. I am not that happy with all the nuisance build quality/component issues. overall the car is really nice but the fact it keeps going in to the dealer every other month with something else that is falling apart seems unacceptable. Dealer is really receptive but the car is the issue. don't really think a 2025 TX is the answer right now because of the airbag recall and stop sale/build which pushed back production. I bet by the middle/end of 2025 they get it right but that is a ways out...

also had a loaner GX and that was a sweet car but rides worse being body on frame and also gets awful MPG. less interior space as well.

 

You may want to look into the newly re-designed Chevy Traverse. I am not a huge Chevy fan but my father In-law is and he's on his 3rd Traverse. Chevys's newest version is their best version thus far. I would give Audi another glance, as it seems that you owned an '18 Q7 which was early into the current platform. Audi has evolved the Q7 line quite successfully. Talking about an X7 is opening up an entirely different budget and has different comps at the $100-120k price range... What about the X5?

 

fully loaded x5 is not cheap and it also isn't that big. repair bills are boku bucks too. my 2017 q7 was almost better than my 2018 was. both were first two model year cars and I never had issues like I have with my TX.

I would look at a traverse. I don't think it would be as nice inside as a TX though. appreciate your input, maybe I will try to see if I can drive a 2025 when I get a chance.

 

I got my TX back on Friday and as soon as I drove off the dealership lot, I could hear the rattling sound. The dealer told me that the rattling issue was caused due to some poor fittings in the rear passenger side headliner and not the moonroof and they said that they fixed it but as soon as I drove off the lot I could hear it. It was raining heavily at that time and I was too tired and was done with the dealer at that. I drove home and then used the vehicle on the weekend and could hear the rattle all that time.

Apart from the random rattle noises throughout the cabin, the engine noise is the worst and the dealer says that this is normal. They even had Lexus Technical Specialist fly out here and had them test my car. I have asked for scientific and instrument based proof on how they determined the noise and buzzing sound was within range and normal, yet to hear back from Lexus Corporate. I doubt they will be very helpful.

The bottom line is: First gen TX is crap, full of issues, they won't accept their short comings and pin all issues on nothing. I hope there is a class action law suit against them, only then they will address these issues. I will keep making lives miserable and keep opening cases at Lexus Corporate. I even thought of reaching out to Toyota CEO and other high level officals through Linkedin.

All the best.

 

Already have had transmission replaced due to a control start malfunction. Now in dealership for hybrid malfunction that requires an ECM change apparently. Also have a knocking sound on full steering lock. Too many issues so far.

 

So sorry to hear that. I am having issues but nothing like the ones you are facing. Have you opened case(s) with Lexus Corporate? If not, please do so. Let them know about your experience. They need to hear it otherwise they will never improve.

 

I had similar issues with my 2024 RX 350 luxury package. It was just hell. I had to pay out of pocket to return the lease and get a UX which was made in Japan. Any Lexus made in Canada or US is built on the cheap - it's just poor workmanship. Canadians and Americans don't take pride in their work. I found nothing but mental health, call in sicks, and early check outs in the quality of my RX.

Lexus Canada dismissed my concerns too. My RX had cracking, squeaking, and popping sounds. This brand new 85,000 dollar vehicle was just a misery to own. Try this yourself, go to a Lexus dealer, open and shut the door of a Lexus made in Canada or the US, and then walk over to a Japanese made Lexus and do the same, open and close the door. You will know the difference in quality just by the sound of the door. My UX has a million times better built door than the filthy Canadian RX.

 

that sucks. Every 2024 rx350 I have gotten as a loaner has been a rock solid car. Same with es300h. Same with all the other loaners (car has been back almost 10 times).

 

Just dumped my tx350 luxury today. Take delivery of a new car tomorrow. Traded for 58k. Sticker was 72 and change.

i got 10% off msrp on a brand new 2025 x5 50e with some hard to get packages. Plus $2k in rebates total. One was for financing the other for conquest cash from BMW for coming from Lexus.

this seems to be a much nicer car. Better on gas. More features and it’s more or less a cayenne killer. Don’t know why I dumped my q7 I had before this but sometimes you win sometimes you lose.

either way I’m very excited to pass this bag of lemons off to the dealer. When they look at the service history they will be terrified. Good riddance.

It was a pleasure being on the boards for 11 months and 20k miles or so. Cheers and happy new year to everyone.

 

Hope you have a better ownership experience with your x5.