2018 LS500 AWD - Engine Malfunction at 44k miles

[JoeyQ911]

Greetings,

In November 2021, I made the decision to acquire an LS500 from VRoom.com, boasting 19,000 miles. The initial allure of its features and amenities left a lasting impression. As the odometer ticked to 44,000 miles over the span of two years with routine maintenance every 7,500 miles, a noticeable hiccup surfaced. This abnormality, identified as "turbo lag," manifested as a momentary delay in acceleration when pressing the gas pedal.

 However, the situation took a drastic turn. At around 44,500 miles, a cascade of alarming issues unfolded, ominously illuminating the instrument panel. The series of warnings included Parking Support Brake Malfunction, Secondary Collision Brake System Malfunction, Check Engine Reduced Engine Power, and Traction Control Turned Off. Promptly following this warning symphony, the car came to an unexpected halt which resulted in a trip to the dealership.  A corporate technician flew in to diagnose and validate the failure.  Under the manufacturer's warranty, Lexus orchestrated the replacement of the engine block and various other components (exceeding $50,000).

 Receiving the car back by the end of December brought temporary relief. However, this respite was short-lived with the car succumbing to a "Reduced Engine Power" state, restricting its speed to a mere 20mph and necessitating the use of paddle shifters to navigate gears. This time, the culprit was identified as the fuel pump, which underwent a warranty-covered replacement, amounting to $4,600.

 As the calendar flipped to mid-January, the vehicle was once again in my possession. Unfortunately, a mere three days later, an alarming development transpired — brake failure. Presently, as of January 22, 2024, the car finds itself back at the dealership, with brake issues looming large on the list of challenges to overcome.

 

I love this car but I think signs are telling me to let it go before the warranty expires.  

I'm curious to know if anyone else has experienced anything like this and if anyone has an LS500 (2018-2021 Gen5 models) with over 100k miles?  I have yet to find one with high milage.

 

[RX400h]

Hello, Joey. Welcome to the forum.

Wow! I'm sorry to see all the issues you've experienced. Here in CA, we have a lemon law that can be a lifesaver. Does your state have something like this? By the way, according to Consumer Reports, the 2018 LS500 was rated much worse than average in its used car verdict table.

 

 

[ThomasRWC]

I just experienced similar situations yesterday morning. I got my 2018 LS500 (38K miles) towed to the nearest dealership. I'm still waiting for the diagnostic results. Reading your experience, I'm very concerned now. I bought it as preowned certified and the warranty is valid until the end of November 2024. I really like my LS500 but if it's not as reliable as my other Lexus cars I owned, I may have to trade it.

[ThomasRWC]

Finally I got my car back. It took a week and a half to diagnose and replace a part after their Field Technical Specialists came out to the dealer. They replaced the part called Throttle Body Assembly. I'm hoping sincerely that there will be no more issues, but I plan driving the car more than I normally would to monitor the car closely before the warranty expires in November.