Comments: 1-15, 16-22
Starting from the first day I purchased the brand new Lexus, I have had a problem with the 'engine check' warning light. The 'engine check' warning light goes on anytime and I have to take it to the dealer in order to make sure that nothing is wrong. In last one and half years I have owned this car, I had to take it to the dealer at least 15 times besides the regular service visits. When I had the problem last time, the dealer kept the car for 5 days and replaced several parts and said that it won't happen again. Guess what? I have the same problem again.
I bought this high priced car thinking that I don't have to worry about maintenance and visiting the carshop/mechanic/dealer. Ah! I was so wrong! Instead of enjoying it's nice looks, I am always looking at the engine check warning light!
This problem may not be major but it seems the dealer doesn't know the solution.. and
this is certainly not what I expected from Lexus..
I would like to know what happened eventually. My previous car (in fact I still have it) is also a Honda Accord. I would hope that Lexus took care of you eventually - that's what we think we're buying with this car.
Would like to hear an update.
I've had a GS 300 for over 3 years. It has close to 100,000 miles. Never had ANY problems, and it still rides like new...
After having owned Mercedes, and BMW's in the past, I can easily say, that after this lexus, if it ever becomes old, I will get another one.
Let's not make a bad spring out of a rotten flower. Your GS300 may need to go to another dealer for maintenance and/or work... I would recommend this car to anyone that is looking for value and reliability.
Joseph.
I have had fewer problems with my 1988 Lincoln Continental with 130,000 miles and my 1991 Lincoln Town Car with 110,000 miles. In a significant number of the reviews on this site I have read about problems people are having with Lexus but, no one acknowledges that these problems are issues. Wake up! Shouldn't your personal experiences be more important than the collective mind set?
I am on my 3rd Lexus - 2 ES300s and a GS300. *Zero* problems with all 3. I've also owned Acuras and BMWs - the Acura was very good and the BMW was a pain.
Lexus service has been outstanding (Greater Boston - dealers in Watertown and Danvers). BMW service up here is poor at best. Acura was very good.
My toy is a Porsche, but my daily car is the Lexus. As long as Lexus continues to perform at this level it will be difficult, if not impossible, for me to ever change.
Well, let's see. For the price you can buy a Lexus you can get an excellent used Mercedes...
I say get a Mercedes.
(The Mercedes Owner -- A 1981 300 SD Turbo Diesel with almost 200.000 miles and still running strong with no, I repeat NO PROBLEMS!)
So far, the problems people are having with their Lexus are relatively minor--I mean the thing runs, doesn't it? Compare it to other cars in its class, or even across the board, and I think most people will generally say that Lexuses are the most reliable, well-built cars. I've never had a Lexus, but I've had an Audi, and it's had several problems.
I am thinking of buying a Lexus myself and found the check ingine light kept coming on. I took it to the dealer and all it was was that it needed to be serviced (50K mile service). Have you looked into that?
To the original poster of this review, I would suggest you take the car to an alternative Lexus dealer or speak to Lexus customer service direct.
To those people claiming that a Lincoln or Mercedes is a batter bet - check the overall satisfaction of those vehicles compared to Lexus and you will see Lexus wins. Trying to compare a diesel for reliability is not exactly fair is it? I have had several diesels, the last one being a Rover (British make, French engine) and they last 400k miles no problem.
BTW. I drive a Honda and a Peugeot and don't even own a Lexus.
We just bought a 1999 Lexus GS 300 from Carmax with 9,324 miles on it and an interior, trunk, paint, and engine compartment that matched the fact that it was truly a very low mileage vehicle.
When the "Check Engine" light came on the third day we had it, our glee was dashed, despite the fact that the car was performing beautifully. A desperate call to the local Richmond VA Lexus dealership (whose service person assured us that Carmax usually did a thorough check) provided the following explanation and the problem resolved as promised. He did state that the INSTRUCTIONS HAD TO BE FOLLOWED TO THE LETTER.
With the car off as though you are at the gas pump, take the gas cap off and leave it off for 30 seconds. Replace the gas cap and TURN IT UNTIL YOU HEAR THREE CLICKS... THREE CLICKS- Click, Click, Click (sounds more like crack, crack, crack). The light will go off after you have driven it a few more times.
By the next day, the check engine light was off, although he said it could take a few days. You'll have to remember to turn the gas cap for at least three clicks every time you get gas or else the light will keep coming on. Something about not having a tight seal making the car think there was a pressure leak in the gas line and triggering the "Check Engine" light.
Hope this helps.
Lovemy1990then2000chryslertownandcountrybutohtodrivealexus.
We own a 2000 Mercedes Clk cabriolet, and had the same "check engine" light problem. The solution was to reseat the gas cap, as explained in a previous comment. The problem never recurred.
I have owned a 1999 Lexus GS 300 and have found it to be the best and most reliable car I have owned to date. The check engine light coming on is likely due to inadequate turning of the gas cap. It should be turned at least one full rotation, based on my experience.
Bob.
My 2001 GS 300 was one of the worst cars I've owned. Problems included Wheel vibration (even after the dealer replaced the tires, Heated seats never worked, Stereo speakers on one side didn't work. The dealer and Lexus would send "survey" on how they were doing, but after some negative comments I never heard from either again. Traded after 18 months of problems and took a beating on the trade value.
To the Mercedes owner (with the 1981 300SD) :
Old German cars were very reliable and well made. New German cars 1990+ are absolute trash compared to a Lexus.
I own a 1999 Lexus GS300 which I purchased new in Oct. 1998. I never had any problem until May 7 of this year when I was driving on a four-lane road at about 45 mph. Without warning, my wheels locked throwing me into a skid and turning me sideways in the road. I lost control completely of the car. The VSC light began flashing and I heard a beeping sound for several seconds. Needless to say, I was terrified. I had just seconds prior to that exited the Freeway where I had been traveling a lot faster than 45 mph. I shudder to think what might have happened if the wheels had locked on the Freeway. I took it to the Dealer from which I had bought it. They told me that I did not need to be driving the car and they gave me a loaner.
As soon as I could, I looked up this problem on the Internet and, guess what, the 1998 GS300's and GS400's had been recalled because of this problem. The problem is a 'Yaw Rate Sensor' that malfunctions and causes just what happened to me. I immediately called the Lexus customer satisfaction line and was told that since my car was out of warranty that they couldn't do anything for me. The Dealer offered to pay for the part if I paid the labor, but that was $192 I didn't think I ought to pay. It was not a reported problem on the 1999's, but obviously, they had not corrected the problem. After a lot of negotiating and threats of a lawsuit, Lexus agreed to pay the entire bill.
The Dealer is keeping my car for several days to ensure that it is indeed repaired, but I don't think that I will ever feel sale driving that car again. If the sensor goes bad once, it can go bad again. I also had an ES300 prior to this one that was a complete lemon from day one. You would think that I would learn.
I purchased a 2000 GS 300 Platinum Edition brand new in 2000. Notice front end vibration after break-in period while traveling at 63 mph. After dealer rebalanced the wheels, to no avail, the decided to replace OEM tires with TOYO Proxies Z rated. The vibration problem still occurred. Later Dealer replaced Platinum Edition Wheels with 2002 OEM wheels, vibrations still felt this time at 65-67 mph. Now I am being told by the Dealer that they suspect that the vibrations are being caused because the tires are cupping. I find that difficult to believe because I maintain my tire at 34-36 psi, which would be 2-4 psi above the factory specifications. I am now on my third set of tires and my odometer reading is 29,500.