Tow Hook Cover on Front Grill RX450h+

[WinkDM]

Has anyone ever had the tow hook cover "disappear".  After 1600 km or 994 miles the passanger side tow hook cover was missing.  I was told by the dealership that since there is no cover they can't determine if it is a manufactures defect and beside it was likely stolen, so therefore not covered by the warrenty. The nylon/plastic tie that connects the cover to the car, so that it is not lost when the tow bar needs to be used, does not look strong enough to hold the cover if it was dislodged  by a rock and was flapping about at 60 mph.   

If anyone else has experienced the unexplained loss of the Tow Cover please let me know. If I do need to pay to replace it I don't think that I will do it at that dealership. The fact that the tow cover is missing is second to the dealership insisting that the cover was stolen (god knows for what reason) is that they just lost my business over a $180.00 plastic cap. I am fortunate that there are two Lexus dealerships in my city and soon there will be a third. 

 

[McBrian]

They get stolen, knocked free, or torn off in parking lots (when the owner/tow company doesn't put it back) all the time. Easy thing for roving people at night to pop off and (quite easily) tear off the car. HUGE rash of that in a few of my areas a few years back. Kinda goes in waves since it's a way to subtly vandalize without setting alarms off, etc. God forbid it hits TikTok...

Indeed the little tail of plastic isn't strong enough to hold it on when you're in the wind, but that's not what it was designed to do. 

Is $180 steep? Yes. If it doesn't come painted it's gonna be a lot more.

 

[McBrian]

To follow there is near zero chance a rock popped up and squarely hit that piece to pop it out with no damage to anything else. It requires wedging with a tool or fingernails to release.