2003 Lexus LX470 Recalls & Complaints

Incident: October 11, 2018 · Filed: November 6, 2018

MY 2003 LEXUS LX470 HAS FAULTY VGRS ECU. STEERING WHEEL SPINS TO 180 DEGREES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2018, WHEN I BACKED IT OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 DEGREES. I DROVE IT TO 35MPH W/ STEERING WHEEL AT CROOKED 25-MINUTE ANGLE AND ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN 180 DEGREES AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES, IT SETTLED AT 10-O'CLOCK ANGLE. ON 10/18/2018, MATTHEW OF THE ONE AUTO SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE (536 LISBON ST. DALY CITY, CALIF. (650)993-4689) PERFORMED WHEEL ALIGNMENTS & CORRECTED THE STEERING ANGLE THREE(3) TIMES. AFTER 5 HOURS, MATTHEW CALLED ME WHILE HE SAT INSIDE THE CAR IDLING AND HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. HE SHOWED ME HOW HE ZEROD OUT THE 'STEERING ANGLE'. HE SAID THE STEERING SENSOR (VGRS) IS MALFUNCTIONING OR THE ECU COMPUTER IS BAD. AND WHILE HE WAS TALKING, WE BOTH WITNESSED IN HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER THAT THE STEERING ANGLE CHANGED FROM O DEGREES TO 115 DEGREES'WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING AND STATIONARY. MATTHEW ALSO TOLD THAT HE EXPERIENCED THAT STEERING WHEEL SPINNING TO 180 DEGREES WHEN HE TEST DROVE THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 19, 2018, I PULLED THE SERVICE RECORD OF THE CAR AND I DISCOVERED THE SAME PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS: AT 27,215 MILES, 'GUEST STATES STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CENTERED WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.' AT 42,028 MILES, 'STEERING IS OFF'. AT 76,847 MILES, 'ALIGNMENT STEEERING WHEEL IS OFF CENTERED.' AT 71,657 MILES, 'SERVICE: CENTER STEERING WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND VGRS.' AT 113,775 MILES, '' STEERING OFF CENTER'. ON OCTOBER 25, 2018 , ACCORDING TO DEAN DECASTRO (SERVICE ASST MGR LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE), ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 'STEERING WHEEL NOT CENTERED' IN THE SERVICE RECORDS ARE VGRS ISSUES. ON NOVEMBER 2, 2018, LEXUS OF SERRAMONTE DETERMINED THAT THE VGRS ECU OF THE CAR NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

Incident: January 9, 2017 · Filed: March 20, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Incident: July 29, 2016 · Filed: September 15, 2016

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHAFT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,500. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WITH GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD AND NO ACCIDENTS. I WAS HIGHLY TERRIFIED, SINCE THAT IS THE SECOND TIME WITHIN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED A NEAR FATAL EVENT AFTER A ROUTINE SERVICE WITH LEXUS OF GLENDALE. THE PREVIOUS ONE OCCURRED IN MAY 2016, AFTER A ROUTINE SERVICES, AS I WAS DRIVING IN THE STREET IN COALINGA, I NOTED A MISTY FUMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE, I HAD PULLED OVER SINCE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO FRESNO LEXUS, WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE HOST TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM HAD COME LOOSE, AND THE FUMES WERE THE COOLANT AND NOT DUE TO ENGINE FIRE. I PAID OVER $1500 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE

Incident: July 29, 2016 · Filed: September 15, 2016

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS

Incident: July 29, 2016 · Filed: September 15, 2016

I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS.

Incident: July 1, 2003 · Filed: May 4, 2016

IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF THESE MADE ARE MISSING THE RELAYS FOR THE FOGLIGHTS AND REAR HEAT, AND PARKING BRAKES FREEZE UP.

Incident: November 10, 2010 · Filed: February 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN AND GPS DID NOT FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THE WARNING INDICATORS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GPS COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DAMAGED DUE TO A REMEDY OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V346000 (STEERING). THE SPIRAL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000.

Incident: July 15, 2015 · Filed: September 11, 2015

THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE BETWEEN 10-60 MPH. THERE IS NO ILLUMINATION, THEREFORE YOU HAVE NO IDEA OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NOT COMMON. THEN I NOTIFIED LEXUS COMPANY, AND THEY SAID "CONTACT THE DEALER". THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN--MY WIFE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE, FOR FEAR OF SPEEDING OR OTHER SPEED PROBLEMS, AS WITH OTHER LEXUS VEHICLES. WE HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE LEXUS CERTIFIED DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, AND THINK THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Incident: October 26, 2014 · Filed: October 30, 2014

I WAS DRIVING MY LEXUS LX 470 TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY OCTOBER 26, 2014. WHILE DRIVING AROUND 45 MILES PER HOUR, MY VEHICLE'S STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY TURN 90 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT AND THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER THE CUB. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND NERVOUS BUT LUCKILY SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS ON TIME. THE TRUCK STOPPED AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE I WAS ON THE RIGHT LANE AND NO OTHER VEHICLE WAS BESIDE ME. AFTER RECOVERING FROM THE SHOCK, I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND SAW A RED LIGHT WITH "VGRS" ILLUMINATED. I CALLED HOME AND TOLD MY HUSBAND THE SITUATION. HE ASKED ME TO STAY PUT AND BROUGHT ME OUR SECOND CAR. HE TOOK THE LEXUS HOME AND STARTED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM. HE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINT ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND REALIZED THAT LEXUS COMPANY NEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT CHOSE NOT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TO BE SURE, HE TOOK THE TRUCK TO OUR FAMILY MECHANIC WHO LATER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT LEXUS NEW ABOUT IT FOR YEARS 2003 TO 2007. OUR MECHANIC SAID THAT THE LEXUS COMPANY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON THEIR LS MODEL AND GENERATED A RECALL FOR IT. BUT FOR SOME REASON WE CANNOT EXPLAIN, LEXUS COMPANY DECIDED NOT TO RECALL THE LX MODEL. NOW THE PROBLEM ON THE LX MODEL ALMOST GET ME INTO A FATAL ACCIDENT. I NEED YOUR ORGANIZATION TO START AN INVESTIGATION ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEBODY GET KILLED. *TR

Incident: August 12, 2014 · Filed: September 21, 2014

ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME FOUND TO HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST EFFECTING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / SAFETY, CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS (BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION STRUCTURE), FRAME, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND STEERING LINKAGE. THIS IS GENERAL ATTACK CORROSION WITH STRUCTURAL FAILURE, CORROSION FATIGUE, ETC. THERE WERE / ARE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER ANY DEFINITION OF NORMAL USE TO EXPLAIN THIS DEGREE & EXTENT OF CORROSION OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR