2002 Lexus IS300 review from North America

The car has a wind tunnel noise through the drivers side that begins at about 45 mph and goes up from there. The noise was there from day one of my possession of the car. I took it to the dealer that I purchased the car from (not my local dealer) and was told that they had adjusted the door which did not fix the problem. They were ordering a door seal that would be there the next day. I was not going to be there the next day, however, so asked if I could get it fixed at my local dealer. I was told that would be find since it was a warranty item.

At my local dealer, they could not hear the noise. I asked what my next step should be since we didn't agree. They told me the District Operations Manager (DOM) of Lexus Corporation would be there in 6 weeks.

I took the car in for the DOM to drive. According to their paperwork, she did not drive the car a full mile, which would not have allowed her to get on the freeway. She also took a reading with an audiometer. The DOM called me at work to tell me that she found nothing wrong with the vehicle. She said, "We are sorry that you are dissatisfied with the design of the vehicle, but Lexus is going to do nothing to fix it." She would not give me the name of her supervisor or anyone higher in the company.

I went to arbitration against Lexus Corp with paperwork showing my own audiometer readings at appropriate speeds for the noise, the paperwork from the first dealer that showed them having tried to fix the problem, the paperwork showing that she did not drive the car a full mile, and a map showing that it is impossible to drive from the dealership to the freeway and back without going more than a mile. Lexus sent the local service manager, the DOM, and an Area Manager (the man I was not allowed to talk to earlier.)

I lost in arbitration. I am very frustrated at this point and don't know what to do to fix the noise. I asked about taking it to the original dealer (500 miles out of my way) and was told that the DOM is writing in her report that there is nothing wrong with the car and it will not be covered by the warranty.

I enjoy the car, but have gotten such a bitter taste in my mouth about Lexus Corp. I would never purchase another Toyota or Lexus product.