Lexus quality myth
08-07-12, 12:37 PM
#1
Lexus quality myth
[edited] from another forum
Most hate Toyota/Lexus and the other Japanese companies and Korean...and German...and.....
.
Especially Lexus.
Lexus quality myth.....
So I have an '06 LS430, that I've complained about before. It is the ultra-luxury package, so it has all of the bells and whistles including air suspension. This was an $80k new, and we purchased it two years old for $35k. Seemingly good deal. Here's my rub. At 40k mileage one of the air suspension shock absorbers went out. Lexus balked, but in the end covered under 40k warranty. Fast forward to about 60k mileage; right front air suspension shock goes out, and I spring for the repair almost $2k for a friggin shock absorber........anyway
Fast forward to about 70k mileage, left rear goes out. Lexus covers the part, and I eat the labor under a one time customer appreciation. Cost me about $500. Fast forward to 80k mileage, the dang right rear that Lexus covered under customer appreciation, is out again. What a crap system. Only one that hasn't went out is the left front, which could go at anytime. So my options are to trade, replace bad component again (not happening in a million years).........or what I've been reading, is people have been changing the entire air suspension to the mechanical version for about $1800. This issue is so prevelant, that it is all over the Lexus boards. This is the only issue we have on a car that will probably run well into the 200k range. Our '98 LS 400 has done so relatively well. Anyway, I thought I would keep the car and change out the supension. I would have never guessed to have this much trouble. I had a '98 Expedition with air ride, and not a hint of trouble in 198k of driving........Lexus quality.........what a joke. Like I said it is not a lemon, problem is common on all of the air supsension cars. Just putting it out there for the masses.
Most hate Toyota/Lexus and the other Japanese companies and Korean...and German...and.....
.Especially Lexus.
Lexus quality myth.....
So I have an '06 LS430, that I've complained about before. It is the ultra-luxury package, so it has all of the bells and whistles including air suspension. This was an $80k new, and we purchased it two years old for $35k. Seemingly good deal. Here's my rub. At 40k mileage one of the air suspension shock absorbers went out. Lexus balked, but in the end covered under 40k warranty. Fast forward to about 60k mileage; right front air suspension shock goes out, and I spring for the repair almost $2k for a friggin shock absorber........anyway
Fast forward to about 70k mileage, left rear goes out. Lexus covers the part, and I eat the labor under a one time customer appreciation. Cost me about $500. Fast forward to 80k mileage, the dang right rear that Lexus covered under customer appreciation, is out again. What a crap system. Only one that hasn't went out is the left front, which could go at anytime. So my options are to trade, replace bad component again (not happening in a million years).........or what I've been reading, is people have been changing the entire air suspension to the mechanical version for about $1800. This issue is so prevelant, that it is all over the Lexus boards. This is the only issue we have on a car that will probably run well into the 200k range. Our '98 LS 400 has done so relatively well. Anyway, I thought I would keep the car and change out the supension. I would have never guessed to have this much trouble. I had a '98 Expedition with air ride, and not a hint of trouble in 198k of driving........Lexus quality.........what a joke. Like I said it is not a lemon, problem is common on all of the air supsension cars. Just putting it out there for the masses.
Last edited by rominl; 08-07-12 at 03:01 PM.
08-07-12, 01:00 PM
#2
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
ouch, guy's not full of hot air. 
08-07-12, 01:04 PM
#3
Having had a '69 Corvette show car for many years,I've been a member of that forum for a long time.
I sold the Vette a few years ago.Still peek the 'off topic' section.
Anyway,the hatred for Toyota/Lexus has been going on for years there.
08-07-12, 01:59 PM
#7
actually the air suspension on that generation does go out every now and then, it's pretty well documented. so it's not just one car, granted his went out earlier on some corners. i will agree though if you get a car like this, you should be ready for fork out the bills. maintaining lexus is not cheap anymore
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08-07-12, 02:21 PM
#9
I don't know that maintaining a lexus was ever cheap 
Many, many moons ago I used to maintain the parts inventory application at TMS. One of the pricing calculations used to be that if it was a shared Toyota/Lexus part, automatically add 20% to the price for the "lexus" version
Many, many moons ago I used to maintain the parts inventory application at TMS. One of the pricing calculations used to be that if it was a shared Toyota/Lexus part, automatically add 20% to the price for the "lexus" version
08-07-12, 03:02 PM
#11
I don't know that maintaining a lexus was ever cheap
Many, many moons ago I used to maintain the parts inventory application at TMS. One of the pricing calculations used to be that if it was a shared Toyota/Lexus part, automatically add 20% to the price for the "lexus" version
Many, many moons ago I used to maintain the parts inventory application at TMS. One of the pricing calculations used to be that if it was a shared Toyota/Lexus part, automatically add 20% to the price for the "lexus" version
08-07-12, 03:28 PM
#13
According to him, Lexus greatfully picked up the tab on parts twice after the warranty runs out -
shows customer satisfaction there.
[try owning a W220] if anyone wants to b$tch about quality
On the other hand, there are lots of S class with high failure rate on the air suspension that there are cheaper alternative (Arnott).
On the LS430, either failure rate wasn't high and/or no aftermarket company (so far) to produce rebuilt so they are still expensive.
Again, people picking up these used luxury cars for cheap forget that the repair rate is still as they were when they're brand new
shows customer satisfaction there.
[try owning a W220] if anyone wants to b$tch about quality
On the other hand, there are lots of S class with high failure rate on the air suspension that there are cheaper alternative (Arnott).
On the LS430, either failure rate wasn't high and/or no aftermarket company (so far) to produce rebuilt so they are still expensive.
Again, people picking up these used luxury cars for cheap forget that the repair rate is still as they were when they're brand new
Last edited by GS3Tek; 08-07-12 at 03:33 PM.
08-07-12, 03:30 PM
#14
Lexus Fanatic
I will admit , although I love my LS460 and loved my GS350 theye were not problem free. My GS was a rattle box and the LS has a mystery vibration that 3 dealership foreman and 1 field technical specialist can not figure out. I think Lexus is still the safest bet but they are far from the perfect cars everyone makes them out to be
08-07-12, 03:32 PM
#15
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Can you ask this guy where he is buying cars? I'd be interested in buying a 2 year old LS UL with low miles and a warranty for less than half price.
If he really did buy an 06 UL for 35k in 08, I'd venture to guess that the bent frame or rebuilt title might have something to do with his troubles. That car had to have something seriously wrong with it to have sold that cheap at that time.
If he really did buy an 06 UL for 35k in 08, I'd venture to guess that the bent frame or rebuilt title might have something to do with his troubles. That car had to have something seriously wrong with it to have sold that cheap at that time.