2001 Lexus LS430 from North America - Comments

The Lexus LS 430 was purchased from the dealer in 2003, as a pre-owned with 28,000 miles. It now has 120,000 mostly highway miles.

Experienced failures:

1) Driver side door actuator, door would not open from the inside

2) O2 sensor

3) CD player (just outside of 4 year warranty)

4) Front cup holder operation

5) Windows slow to close, need lubrication

6) Door trunk cylinders failed, trunk falls closed on individuals using trunk.

7) Speed throttle slippage, took 3 weeks for Lexus dealar to resolve

9) TRANSMISSION FAILURE---major $$$ issue, all maintenance at Lexus dealer, is an OPEN issue for cost expenditure responsibility at this time (March 2007)

9) Headlight lens is dulled/worn, if cannot be buffed out, headlights must be replaced at a very high cost as lens are not separate from headlight assembly

10) Windshield cracked, replaced with a local windshield supplier by dealer, was not advised of differences to factory windshield and now suffer from lack of tint and added glare

11) Driver side door pocket broken

12) Center console will not open, hinge needs replacement

13) Rubber bumper material dulled and worn.

This is NOT the total cumulative list, only partial. Do I feel like this car is a lemon? Yes, although a gave Lexus the benefit of the doubt for a long time, but this car is only 6 years old, and at 120,000 mostly highway miles, I have to throw in the towel.

I see your past car was a Mercedes E-class... how was that in comparison to the LS430? Both my wifes 2004 E500 and my 2001 LS430 with 180,000 highway miles have been great. Mercedes gets such a bad rep, but I think people take it to far. As for your Lexus I think you got a lemon although from 99-07 Lexus has had transmission problems in all models. I bought my daughter a used 2001 Lexus IS300 in November for her 16th birthday and the transmission has a little slippage. She is now looking at the CLK350 convertible which is out of the question until she drives safe for a year. Lexus should step up to the plate and pay for all transmissions like Acura did. I have heard hundreds of complaints about the transmission especially in the 99-00 RX300 and 02-06 ES300/330.

Sounds like two very worried Mercedes dealerships:)

Good try guys, but you don't fool me.

The Lexus is awesome, way ahead of Mercedes comparables.

Yes, we also have an LS430 2001 with most of the same failures.

1. Door pocket broken (plastic studs broke off).

2. Glove box hinge broken (fixed during warranty).

3. Trunk hydraulics failed (closing on your head).

4. Speaker, rear deck (broken/cracking).

I bought a Lexus Repair Manual, and have since repaired most all problems.

Good Luck,

Bryan

bryanjs@sbcglobal.net