2009 Lexus LS460 Problems

The contact owns a 2009 LEXUS LS460. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, an abnormal ticking noise would emit from the vehicle as the indicator light would flash on the instrument panel. Over time, the ABS warning light and a message to pull over and drive to the nearest dealer were displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was initially taken to an independent mechanic where repairs to the brakes were performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact then took the vehicle to the dealer and diagnosed the vehicle with a defective ABS actuator and junction box assembly. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

AT APPROXIMATELY 97K MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ALL BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND A MESSAGE DISPLAYED 'IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER SAFELY AND CONTACT YOUR LEXUS DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE' I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE ACTUATOR MODULE FAILED WHICH AUTOMATICALLY MAKES THE ABS SYSTEM INOPERABLE AND MANY OTHER SAFETY FEATURES. AS ABS IS REQUIRED ON ALL VEHICLES THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE REPAIRED. I LEARNED THE COMPANY HAD AN 'EXTENDED SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THESE CARS AND HAVE SENSE REDESIGNED THIS PART, HOWEVER I WAS NOTIFIED I WAS ONE MONTH AND TEN DAYS PAST THE TEN YEAR 'GRACE' PERIOD OF 'VEHICLE IN-SERVICE' AND I WOULD NOT QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE WITH REPLACEMENT. THIS ITEM FAILING IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AND CAN LEAD TO TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE A RECALL MUST BE ISSUED TO ENSURE SAFE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A RECALL WAS NOT ISSUED IN THE FIRST PLACE IT SEEMES AS THOUGH THE 'WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT' OR 'EXTENDED SERVICE BULLETIN'. WAS JUST A WAY TO POST PONE THE PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED PROPERLY AND THE BAD PR THAT COMES WITH A RECALL.

THE VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSED MY ELDERLY PARENTS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE IS LOST. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED THE VEHICLE TO ONE DIRECTION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON "CHECK VSC" SYSTEM. LEXUS HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS AND SENSORS BEFORE ON THESE VEHICLES. ON OURS A RECALL WAS SAID TO BE NEEDED FOR THE SENSOR BUT INSTEAD THE SENSOR WAS JUST WIPED AND CLEANED AND A COVER ON IT WAS CHANGED. CURRENTLY VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE MORE THEN 3MPH AND OCCASIONALLY VEHICLE ALSO SHUTS OFF. ALL LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON CAR.

VEHICLE AT FAST FOOD DRIVE UP NOTES ENGINE VIBRATION, WARNING LIGHTS FOR ENGINE, VSC WARNING, AND INSTRUCT TO TAKE VEHICLE TO LEXUS DEALER ASAP. CAR HAS VIRTUALLY NO POWER WITH 8-10 MPH MAX. LEXUS SERVICE DEPT NOTES VALVE SPRING IS BROKEN AMONG THE 32 VALVES IN THE ENGINE. WARRANTIES HAD EXPIRED. LEXUS OPTS TO REPLACE ONLY ONE DEFECTIVE SPRING BUT HALF OF THE TOTAL NUMBER (ONE SIDE OF V8) WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS CONCERN THAT UNBALANCE OF SPRING STRENGTH IN THE ENGINE COULD LEAD TO PROBLEMS AT ANY TIME. THESE VALVE SPRINGS WERE THE SUBJECT OF A LEXUS RECALL IN 2007 AND 2008 MODELS OF THIS VEHICLE. 2009 MODELS SUPPOSEDLY USED A DIFFERENT SPRING OR PERHAPS A DIFFERENT SUPPLIER. SOME PROBLEMS WITH 2009S WERE REPORTED TOO. IN 2010 ANOTHER DIFFERENT SPRING WAS USED IN 460 V8. I AM NOT EVEN SURE THAT A 2008 VERSION OF THE ENGINE WAS NOT USED IN MY CAR SINCE IT WAS ASSEMBLED IN THE SUMMER OF 2008. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT LEXUS SHOULD COVER COMPLETE VALVE SPRING REPLACEMENT.

THE VEHICLE ALMOST CAUSED MY ELDERLY PARENTS TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE POWER TO THE VEHICLE IS LOST. THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED THE VEHICLE TO ONE DIRECTION. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON "CHECK VSC" SYSTEM. LEXUS HAS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTORS AND SENSORS BEFORE ON THESE VEHICLES. ON OURS A RECALL WAS SAID TO BE NEEDED FOR THE SENSOR BUT INSTEAD THE SENSOR WAS JUST WIPED AND CLEANED AND A COVER ON IT WAS CHANGED. CURRENTLY VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE MORE THEN 3MPH AND OCCASIONALLY VEHICLE ALSO SHUTS OFF. ALL LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON CAR.

CAR CURRENTLY (9/14/15) HAS 46,289 MILES, NOW WITH CLUNKING NOISES DURING BRAKING. LEXUS CORPORATION AWARE OF PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL ARMS AND BRAKE ACTUATOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS BOTH CONTROL ARMS AND BRAKE ACTUATOR. LEXUS REFUSES TO HONOR REPLACEMENT FEES OF REPLACEMENT PARTS.