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New 2025 TX350
I recently purchased a brand-new 2025 TX350, which now has just 580 miles on it. When I tried using the air conditioner for the first time on Friday, it only produced warm air. Additionally, I noticed a hissing noise coming from under the hood and observed oil leaking onto a cross member, which was visible when viewed from above the radiator with the hood up. Has anyone else experienced similar issues? When I contacted my sales representative, he admitted that he had heard of this problem before.
Last edited by rlumpkinjr; Feb 9, 2025 at 12:11 PM.
Dealer just called and said "Road hazard damage to the condenser causing the refrigerant to leak out of the system. Replacement needed to remedy concern.
Oil residue from refrigerant leak in the condenser where the puncture occured."
Cost to fix $2,000
I find that hard to believe. I told the dealer to save me the part to see.
NO and at this point, won't pay for my rental car.
Attached is a photo of the front of my car as it currently sits in the shop in Clearwater. As you can see, it’s in excellent condition with no dents, scratches, or any visible signs of damage. For something to damage the condenser without at least a scratch on the car is improvable.
See slide show I put together, below photo.
Last edited by rlumpkinjr; Feb 11, 2025 at 10:51 AM.
Road Damage punctured my AC Condenser on my 2024 Lexus TX 350
I got into my car yesterday and the vehicle would not cool. After taking it to the dealership, I’m being told it was a rock or something “outside” the coverage of my warranty. I noticed others have had the same issue. What was the end result?
I purchased a brand-new Lexus, and just 15 days later, with the air conditioner never used, I discovered it wasn’t blowing cold air. The dealership attributed the issue to road damage, claiming it wasn’t covered under warranty. After numerous frustrating calls with Lexus corporate, my dealership, and the repair dealership, they refused to cover any costs. I insisted on keeping the replaced part and made this clear to the dealer.
When I arrived to pick up my car and settle the $2,000 repair bill, the service manager informed me that Lexus would split the cost with me. While this was an improvement, I still wanted the part. They refused, stating that because Lexus was covering half, I couldn’t have it. I then insisted I would pay the full $2,000 and keep the part, but mysteriously, they couldn’t find it. After another phone call by the dealer, Lexus agreed to cover the repair under warranty at no cost to me.
The mechanic mentioned this is a common issue a hole in the cooler caused by a rock or debris hitting the front of the car. He said "I see this a lot". However, a Lexus corporate representative absurdly suggested that probably a front tire threw a rock to cause the damage, which is impossible since all the tires are behind the car’s front end. I was furious about this experience, kicking myself after spending $70,000 on a car, who in their right mind would spend this much on a car? While the resolution softened my frustration, I’m still deeply disappointed with the ordeal. A Lexus representative said that I should have taken the car for repair back to the dealer that I bought the car from, and insinuated that the would have probably fixed it under warranty, but I was on vacation at this time. She said I should think about having it towed from this dealer to my dealer that was 4 hours away. Unbelievable!
My TX 350 has over 12,000 miles on it, and I had never experienced any AC issues until today. The AC seems to be working, but is making a load intermittent revving type noise.
I purchased a brand-new Lexus, and just 15 days later, with the air conditioner never used, I discovered it wasn’t blowing cold air. The dealership attributed the issue to road damage, claiming it wasn’t covered under warranty. After numerous frustrating calls with Lexus corporate, my dealership, and the repair dealership, they refused to cover any costs. I insisted on keeping the replaced part and made this clear to the dealer.
When I arrived to pick up my car and settle the $2,000 repair bill, the service manager informed me that Lexus would split the cost with me. While this was an improvement, I still wanted the part. They refused, stating that because Lexus was covering half, I couldn’t have it. I then insisted I would pay the full $2,000 and keep the part, but mysteriously, they couldn’t find it. After another phone call by the dealer, Lexus agreed to cover the repair under warranty at no cost to me.
The mechanic mentioned this is a common issue a hole in the cooler caused by a rock or debris hitting the front of the car. He said "I see this a lot". However, a Lexus corporate representative absurdly suggested that probably a front tire threw a rock to cause the damage, which is impossible since all the tires are behind the car’s front end. I was furious about this experience, kicking myself after spending $70,000 on a car, who in their right mind would spend this much on a car? While the resolution softened my frustration, I’m still deeply disappointed with the ordeal. A Lexus representative said that I should have taken the car for repair back to the dealer that I bought the car from, and insinuated that the would have probably fixed it under warranty, but I was on vacation at this time. She said I should think about having it towed from this dealer to my dealer that was 4 hours away. Unbelievable!
if you don’t mind can you give me a run down of who you called what what you said. I just brought my 2024 tx 350 in and they said the same thing and showed me the entry point super small and telling me it’s a common issue of debris.. and it’ll cost me $1500 to fix… I’ve had the car about a month and have already spent over $2000 on the car for just driving the car. Please help me out anyone..
As the kids these days like to say, something sounds sus about this. Most vehicles have their condensers mounted at the front of the vehicle, but in all my years of driving (I'm 60 now) I've encountered precisely zero damaged codensers from road debris. Can it happen? Of course.
I'm a tech for another premium brand not known for building trouble-free vehicles, and condensers don't get damaged any more easily, or show up for replacement, any more frequently, than the radiators they're usually mounted in front of.
Couple of observations; if a part is replaced under warranty, it gets sent back to the manufacturer. We cannot give it to the customer, even if they request it. If a manufacturer agrees to pay for a portion of a repair they deem not under warranty, as far as the replaced part is concerned, it's a warranty repair. The weren't trying to hide anything from you, although they could have taken a picture of the damage to the condenser once they got it out so you could see exactly what they were referring to.
The Customer Service rep who said it could have been thrown from a front tire isn't a tech, so take that for what it's worth. Chances are they couldn't even change their own oil. She was correct in saying that you would have had a better chance of getting it covered under warranty by the selling dealer (regardless of how unreasonable that may have been based on your circumstances at the time), since the selling dealer obviously has a vested interest in keeping you happy.
It seems possible that Lexus might be dealing with a bad batch of condensers. It is not typical for nearly new vehicles to come in with refrigerant leaks due to road hazard damage to their condensers, but it is theoretically possible. Without being there and seeing exactly what the situation is it's hard for me to say one way or the other. But my BS meter is going "hmmmm..." (BS as in, I'm not sure I'm buying that the leaks were caused by "road debris".)
the same thing happened to me. my lexus tx350 luxury had 900 miles on it when I noticed the ac was not cold. living in the south we rely on air conditioning. took it to lexus, they called to say exactly what I read and learned about on this forum. (before taking it in I googled the issue-road debris caused the condenser to leak. (see attached) my dealership said they have two more in the shop with same issue. they asked me if I would agree to being a guinea pig and allow them to add a screen behind the grill. lexus said it would be $2500 to repair my car and I nicely let them know this sounds like a products liability case and i’d be happy to be the first named plaintiff. sadly I think it will happen again.
2025 TX350 Air Condition problems
