2003 Lexus LX470 Problems

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

I STARTED THE CAR UP AFTER DINNER. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER FOUR WARNINGS LIGHTS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OFF (ABS VTRAC BRAKE VSC) FOLLOWED BY A LONG WARNING BUZZ AND THEN A COMPLETE LOST OF BRAKING POWER FROM THE PEDAL AND THE HANDBRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SO FOR SAFETY REASON I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER AT FIRST TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH COSTS ABOUT $3000 PLUS TAX. HOWEVER 30 MINUTES LATER THEY CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME NOW THE CAR IS WORKING FINE AFTER THEY'VE DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 5 MILES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS. SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AWAY WHILE I WAS GOING ABOUT 15MPH. AT FIRST THE FOUR LIGHTS WENT ON, AND THEN THE LONG BUZZ. THE CAR STILL HAD SOME BRAKE POWER WHICH I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT BACK INTO MY GARAGE WHEN THE BRAKE POWER THEN LOST COMPLETELY. I THINK WITH VEHICLE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WEIGHING ABOUT 3 TONS, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO HAVE SOME BRAKING POWER EVEN IF THE ELECTRONIC ONES WENT OUT. AND THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT AND "A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" FOR SUCH A HEAVY FAMILY VEHICLE MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF LEXUS CARS. I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER I SHOULD HAVE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED OR NOT, OR SHOULD I TRADE IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A SIMILAR RECALL FOR IS, RX, AND ES. WOULD THIS BE RELATED ALSO? *TR

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

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.

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.

HEAD-ON COLLISION WHERE NO AIR BAGS WERE RELEASED. *LA

INCOMPATIBILITY WITH HIGHER-WEIGHT-LIMIT HARNESSED CHILD RESTRAINTS AND VEHICLE ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS. SPECIFICALLY TETHER ANCHOR WEIGHT LIMITS. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A 40 LB. WEIGHT LIMIT FOR TETHER ANCHORAGE (AS MANDATED IN FMVSS 213), WHILE THERE ARE SEVERAL CR ON THE MARKET WHOSE HARNESSED WEIGHT LIMIT EXCEEDS 40 LBS, UP TO 80 LBS (SPECIFICALLY THE HUSKY, MARATHON & WIZARD MODELS BY BRITAX). THE CR MFR STATES THAT THE CR MUST BE TETHERED ABOVE 50 LBS. WHILE THE VEHICLE MFRS STATE A 40 LB WEIGHT LIMIT ON TETHER ANCHORAGES.

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

THE CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW. *PH A NIGHT VISION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A FACTORY ADD ON, WAS INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE PLACEMENT OF THE HOUSING FOR THIS SYSTEM BLOCKED THE AIR FLOW. AS A RESULT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW IN THE VOLUME NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE ENGINEERING GUIDELINES AND THAT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. *NM

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

I STARTED THE CAR UP AFTER DINNER. ABOUT 2 MINUTES LATER FOUR WARNINGS LIGHTS RELATED TO THE BRAKING SYSTEM WENT OFF (ABS VTRAC BRAKE VSC) FOLLOWED BY A LONG WARNING BUZZ AND THEN A COMPLETE LOST OF BRAKING POWER FROM THE PEDAL AND THE HANDBRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND SO FOR SAFETY REASON I CALLED FOR A TOW TO THE CLOSEST LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER AT FIRST TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH COSTS ABOUT $3000 PLUS TAX. HOWEVER 30 MINUTES LATER THEY CALLED ME BACK AND TOLD ME NOW THE CAR IS WORKING FINE AFTER THEY'VE DRIVEN IT FOR ABOUT 5 MILES AND COULDN'T REPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS. SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND PICKED UP THE VEHICLE. ABOUT THREE DAYS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AWAY WHILE I WAS GOING ABOUT 15MPH. AT FIRST THE FOUR LIGHTS WENT ON, AND THEN THE LONG BUZZ. THE CAR STILL HAD SOME BRAKE POWER WHICH I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT BACK INTO MY GARAGE WHEN THE BRAKE POWER THEN LOST COMPLETELY. I THINK WITH VEHICLE LIKE THIS, ESPECIALLY WEIGHING ABOUT 3 TONS, THERE SHOULD BE A BACKUP SYSTEM WHICH WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO HAVE SOME BRAKING POWER EVEN IF THE ELECTRONIC ONES WENT OUT. AND THE COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT AND "A SINGLE POINT OF FAILURE" FOR SUCH A HEAVY FAMILY VEHICLE MAKES ME WONDER ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF LEXUS CARS. I AM TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER I SHOULD HAVE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED OR NOT, OR SHOULD I TRADE IN FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A SIMILAR RECALL FOR IS, RX, AND ES. WOULD THIS BE RELATED ALSO? *TR

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.

THE CONSUMER COULDN'T SEE OUT THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY SNOW. *PH A NIGHT VISION SYSTEM, WHICH IS A FACTORY ADD ON, WAS INSTALLED IN THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. THE PLACEMENT OF THE HOUSING FOR THIS SYSTEM BLOCKED THE AIR FLOW. AS A RESULT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE TO ALLOW THE AIR TO FLOW IN THE VOLUME NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING WITHIN THE ENGINEERING GUIDELINES AND THAT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. *NM