Lx470 Steering Problem

[AASLX470]

On 8/31/06 I purchased a new 06 LX470. From the day I received it has had a steering and tracking problem as well as bad vibration from unbalanced tires. I have taken the vehicle in four times and gone for three test drives with technitions to date and the problem continues.

The Dunlop tires that it shipped with were replaced with Michelins, and this has fixed the vibration issues.

The existing problem is:

The vehicle pulls to the left when under power/acceleration and drifts to the right when coasting.

It has been aligned four times and had the VGRS recalibrated. Only the first alignment seemed to have any remarkable effect on the vehicle, and the VGRS recalibration seemed to improve the problem as well; however shortly after the recalibration I drove it on a ~1,000 mile trip and during that journey the problem came back as pronounced as ever.

Not only does it pull and drift on a consistant bases contigent upon acceleration or coasting, but I constantly have to be compensating one direction or the other when trying to maintain a straight line. The performance of this vehicle at highway speeds is nothing short of dangerous. It seems to have a mind of it's own and starts tracking where ever it wants without consistancy. An expansion joint in the road will cause it to head off in one direction or the other. When I completed a 500 mile drive I was exauhsted; I make this drive regularly so I state this in relative terms.

On the last ride the technition agreed that there is a problem but proffered no theory for the cause. I read an entry from "03LX470" on 01-28-03 where they discribe almost exactly the same problem.

Has anyone else had this problem? Were you able to rsolve it?

I have also experienced the low loud drone at 600rpm while sitting stopped in gear that I understand is a known issue. The dealer performed the TSIB EG012-05 fix and I really can't tell the difference.

I only have 2200 miles on this auto and it puts a big lump in my stomache to drive it as I feel I made a very poor choice purchasing an LX470. I want to like it but so far this LX470 has been a tremendous disapointment.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts that may be shared.

[Jim_Chow]

No idea. My 03 had a steering wheel centering problem; the vehicle tracked straight, but the wheel had to be turned 5-10 deg to the left (VGRS ECU was updated under warranty, as mine was one of the first vehicles w/ VGRS). Vehicle stays rock solid straight w/ no hands on the wheel, regardless of speed, coasting, braking. The dunlop tires are known to lead to vibration issues on the 4runner. Only thing I can think of is caster, but the alignment should take care of this. When alignments are done, they are supposed to take into account the slight slope in the road (for drainage). I've had Southbay toyota in LA (next to toyota usa headquarters) do alignments on my 4runner twice (made some suspension mods) and both times, they've been right on the money; tech was saavy enough to question why one right wheel was aligned and the other not [i pulled the IFS crossmember on one side to remove the front diff] and showed me the numbers. Have you tried a different dealer?

[Jim_Chow]

I guess one possibility, at least when the car drifts w/ no throttle applied, is a brake caliper piston up front could be sticking, causing the pads to drag on one front rotor. I wouldn't expect it on a new vehicle, though. Another possibility could be an axle nut that is torqued too tight, causing a similar thing but when throttle is applied. Another possiblity is some fault with the TRAC/ATRAC or ABS that causes the front brakes to be applied slightly when they shouldn't. These are the only things I can think of.

[AASLX470]

Thanks for your thoughts Jim. Ive had the same experience with my 4Runner and my local Toyota dealership. It may take them a couple of ties, but they can get that thing to drive straight down the road and rock solid. I bought it new in 95 and still drive it regularly. I have to leave for a 1000 mile round trip tomorrow, and I'm really torn between taking the 470 or the 4Runner with 160 K on it. Sorta rubs me the wrong way to be contemplating such a choice after dropping the chunk of change needed to buy an LX470.

I have the centering problem you discribe. Regarding the pull, I've been wondering about the possibility of power being delivered unevenly to the front wheels. While driving it today I experienced it changing direction when hitting expansion joints/bumps in the road at highway speeds. When accelarting from a stop, "in town speeds" the pull to the left is only slightly noticable, but once it shifts into second gear, the pull becomes more pronounced. I also have determined that consistantly on first startup of the day, while just beginning to back out of the garage, I can feel a quick "twich" in the steering wheel, just once, and then I don't notice it any more.

Unfortunatly we only have one dealer here, the next closest is a couple hours away. My dealer claims that they have contacted a regional Lexus engineer and he is supposed to come here to drive the vehicle next week. I have contacted Lexus customer service and they claim they will send the regional rep (paper pusher/customer delay man) to see the vehicle as well.

I hope the engineer can diagnose the problem as I want to like this vehicle, but the more they delay action the more I'm thinking they just need to take it back. I've given them enough opportunities to fix the poblem. I'm glad to hear your LX470 performs well, it gives me hope that mine can be repaired or replaced with a good one.

AAS

[Jim_Chow]

That was my point about suggesting that the front brakes on one side might be rubbing, or axle bearing is too tight. Power is not getting delivered equally, like something is inhibiting the wheels from turning freely. I wonder if they've jacked up the front end, pulled off the tires, and just turned the rotors to see if one is too tight? That's what I'd do. If you have more miles on it, the brake pad thickness would be a tell-tale if the pads were rubbing from, say, a stuck piston. FYI, the rear pads generally wear out quicker than the fronts. New, the fronts are like 11mm thick. If they determine that both front wheels are getting equal power, I'd try a different alignment machine (i.e., different dealer). The only alignments I've had by Toyota were with my 86 4unner after installing a lift and regearing the front diff. I had South Bay Toyota in LA do it; they are right next door to Toyota USA headquarters. They did an excellent job, steering was right on the money and hasn't changed in the 4 yrs since it was done, and I've offroaded quite a bit. On my honda, the honda dealer's body shop did an alignment and it pulled to one side (they said it was in spec, blah, blah). I had the tech ride with me to verify. He had his alignment guy tweak the settings (there's a range of tolerance that you can have and still be "in spec" and now it steers straight.

[Jim_Chow]

check out http://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=120574

In this case, the guy's traction control was turning on, but it was caused by the steering yaw sensor not being zeroed.

[Texasoil]

For your new vehicle to behave as if it decided where to go-drifting around -is unacceptable and definitely NOT normal. Either front and/or rear axles are loose and moving around when powered/unpowered, the alignments (front AND rear) are not properly adjusted, or something is real screwey with the torque split side-to-side in either or both differentials. DO NOT accept this dangerous condition. INSIST the regional rep drive it and either get it FIXED right away or REPLACE the entire vehicle.

[AASLX470]

My dealership finally had an engineer drive up from Dallas. He drove my vehicle and stated that it drove better than the one he drove up. They gave me that vehicle to drive and indeed it had the same problem. They told me that this was inherent with LX470s and it is just that most people don't notice. They said they would buy back the vehicle, but the price they offered me was unacceptable, it was an insult and I really have a problem with them profiting again by turning around and re-selling this vehicle.

I was able to get the service manager to identify the problem as tourque steer and he also stated that I am not the first person to complain about this problem. I then came to realize that they knew what the problem was when I first took it in with only 175 miles on it and they have just been stringing me along hoping I would go away. I have written letters to the CEO/COO/Pres. of Corp. Com. & General Council of Toyota and cc'd Lexus Customer Satisfaction & my service manager(this likely will get me nothing). I think I have been deceived by ommission. I can get rid of this vehicle, but at a pretty big loss which I would be able to accept if it were just that I had made a poor choice, but when it turns out that Lexus has deceived me for over four months only to tell me that the problem is a known issue, I get ticked off.

[Jim_Chow]

My dealership finally had an engineer drive up from Dallas. He drove my vehicle and stated that it drove better than the one he drove up. They gave me that vehicle to drive and indeed it had the same problem. They told me that this was inherent with LX470s and it is just that most people don't notice. They said they would buy back the vehicle, but the price they offered me was unacceptable, it was an insult and I really have a problem with them profiting again by turning around and re-selling this vehicle.

I was able to get the service manager to identify the problem as tourque steer and he also stated that I am not the first person to complain about this problem. I then came to realize that they knew what the problem was when I first took it in with only 175 miles on it and they have just been stringing me along hoping I would go away. I have written letters to the CEO/COO/Pres. of Corp. Com. & General Council of Toyota and cc'd Lexus Customer Satisfaction & my service manager(this likely will get me nothing). I think I have been deceived by ommission. I can get rid of this vehicle, but at a pretty big loss which I would be able to accept if it were just that I had made a poor choice, but when it turns out that Lexus has deceived me for over four months only to tell me that the problem is a known issue, I get ticked off.

I still don't buy it that the torque steer is inherent in all LX470's. I can drive in my 03 and let go of the wheel and the vehicle will track straight. I don't know if they changed anything on the 06's other than that Araco doesn't make them anymore (Toyota does). Rumors is that QC has dropped since the switch around '05. Only problem I have with mine is a minor rattle in the dash that the CPO warranty doesn't cover.

[Pitbull]

My dealership finally had an engineer drive up from Dallas. He drove my vehicle and stated that it drove better than the one he drove up. They gave me that vehicle to drive and indeed it had the same problem. They told me that this was inherent with LX470s and it is just that most people don't notice. They said they would buy back the vehicle, but the price they offered me was unacceptable, it was an insult and I really have a problem with them profiting again by turning around and re-selling this vehicle.

I was able to get the service manager to identify the problem as tourque steer and he also stated that I am not the first person to complain about this problem. I then came to realize that they knew what the problem was when I first took it in with only 175 miles on it and they have just been stringing me along hoping I would go away. I have written letters to the CEO/COO/Pres. of Corp. Com. & General Council of Toyota and cc'd Lexus Customer Satisfaction & my service manager(this likely will get me nothing). I think I have been deceived by ommission. I can get rid of this vehicle, but at a pretty big loss which I would be able to accept if it were just that I had made a poor choice, but when it turns out that Lexus has deceived me for over four months only to tell me that the problem is a known issue, I get ticked off.

How many LX's did you drive before you bought this one? Did you drive this one before you bought it? It's not a sports car, my SC430 tracks tighter then my LX470 but my LX470 is a great driving vehicle. I've driven many LX/LC's and owned a 99 LC before. They all seem to drive about the same, maybe you are very sensitive and now you are over sensitive to this vehicle. Makes me think that yours is normal since the one you drove that the engineer drove up from Dallas drove the same. Now to make it better, make sure you run the front tires at 28-29lbs that might help. Good luck.

[Jim_Chow]

I run my tires at 32psi (Bridgetsone HT's). I heard the factory dunlops are problematic, have lead to all kinds of vibration problems on the GX and 4runner. Those with bridgestones or michelins don't seem to suffer from the same problems.