Lexus4321

Design flaw was mentioned in this thread.

IanG

Total speculation, there is absolutely no confirmed reason for the stop sale.

GX4602011

I think that was speculation about the hitch itself and not the GX. It's a mystery to us all, so understandable to disuse all possibilities.

At this point I may not bother with the redesigned hitch when/if it becomes available. The Curt does save some weight on the rear compared to the (last) OEM one and I currently have no plans on towing anything close to 5Klbs.

IanG

I was at my Lexus dealer today to have my GX serviced and had a good chat with the Parts Manager.
I asked him about the hitch and he told me it was a supply issue from the company that makes them for Lexus, but he confirmed that he is expecting them to start arriving anytime.

ballistice

That's what it's been all along. Where these wild rumors of "stop sale" came from is crazy.

ICSFSEDoD

This wild rumors are because Lexus sent an order to return all units back to the port, and none were allowed to be sold, a stop sale.

ballistice

That is 100% false info. I spoke with both reputable Lexus parts and Curt reps on numerous occasions.. It was a supply issue. Always has been. Just like everything else that has been difficult to get. Somehow the gullible customers got caught up in the internet, salesmen's and dealerships typical bullpucky.

GX4602011

The parts department told me they had them in stock, but there was a stop sale and so could not sell them.(Nov 2021). Then the dealers were told to send them back (Dec 2021). I bought the Curt version in December once I learned that Lexus instructed the dealer to return the hitches. I wouldn't say I was a gullible customer, I also believe that there are other members here who also had similar experience as I.

Is it possible that due to supply limitations that Lexus stop-sale of dealers inventory to get them back to provide to specific customers?

mello03

iTrader: (1)

As most things these days we won’t know the real story until later, but I talked to two different places that had them in stock. They couldn’t sell them since Lexus put a “stop sale” on them. Frustrating whatever the reason.

sfuad

If it was merely a supply chain issue, why new part # for the hitch.
It can be supply chain issue to get the newly designed hitch available to customers, but the old one definitely had some issues which Lexus has been tight lipped and not disclosing the exact reasons for the Stop sale order

IanG

New part number could simply be a different supplier of the part.
You say "the old one definitely had some issues " any proof or documentation to support this statement?

GX4602011

Yes, I think the 'supply issue' being used now by dealers is related to the newer hitch and some have confused that with the earlier hitch which had a stop sale and return-to-Lexus. I cannot image that the 'supply issue' would be the materiel used to make a hitch as it's just steel and fasteners. Perhaps there was a new company who started to make the hitches late summer/fall of last year and there were defects from those?

It will be interesting to see the new hitch and how it differs from the earlier one.

John00

new part numbers cost about $10,000. revs are less expensive as they dont impact all part communication (label masters, etc.)
some new part cost contributors
new number request and approval process
entry into tracking systems.
new packaging and part marking
updating requirements, BOMs
potential separate storage location
updating tax info for held parts
on and on

jlficken

Another month gone and still no hitch.

It has now been 1 year since the OEM Class IV hitch was placed on Stop Sale.

Keep up the good work Lexus 🙄

SEELEXUS

As of today (Oct 6), my local Houston Lexus dealer (parts department) confirmed they see the new tow hitch part in the system and they said there are 139 of them being distributed soon (none in the Dallas warehouse as of today). The part number is 08920-48010. They were willing to take my information and prepare an order for me - and they will watch for warehouse delivery (in the past, they wouldn’t take my information (i.e., name, phone, etc.) because they had no legit part number or product in transit).

The new hitch was over $900, before installation.