Lexus Battery Warranty

[Phyllis]

I replaced the battery on my 2001 LX470 37 months ago with a new Lexus battery that I purchased from the local Lexus dealership. This Easter morning while driving from Ohio to North Carolina, the car began to stop every 20 seconds or so but restart itself immediately. I thought continued driving in this condition could not be good, but also thought stopping might mean not being able to restart along I-77 in 30 degree weather. Long story short, by using my GPS with points-of-interest, I found an AutoZone open with the proper battery in stock (it gives phone numbers as well as locations). The GPS pointed me in the right direction, I got a new battery, and was on my way.

Took the old battery to the local Lexus dealer to discuss only getting 37 months on an 84-month warranty battery. At 37 months, their warranty only provided a $50+ credit against the purchase of a new battery FROM LEXUS. That was impossible for me to do on an Easter Sunday morning.

I just wanted to point out to you all how useless the Lexus battery warranty could be if a Lexus dealer is not near or not open. The battery itself might be a good battery, as I was told, although my experience does not bear this out. But be wary of the warranty.

After some complaint, the dealership gave me a $50+ credit against future work done at their service department. You might need to do the same.

[LXPearl]

Battery warranties tend to only apply to a replacement from the same brand or at the same shop/chain. It sounds like you were having battery problems - I assume you cleaned the terminals at the battery to assure it was not a bad connection. Terminals can develop a film between terminal and cable, a common problem even when it all still looks OK at first glance. However, at 37 months, it could be a bad battery for a variety of reasons. The 84 month warranty is designed to be long enough so that when the battery fails, you will return to the same vendor for a replacement. Therefore the mean time before failure is going to be far enough before 84 months so the remaining warranty balance is enough to entice you to buy the same branded replacement.

I am impressed with the Lexus dealer, they went above and beyond in giving you a $50 credit toward service. Another instance of why they are at the top on customer satisfaction lists.

[Jim_Chow]

Battery warranties tend to only apply to a replacement from the same brand or at the same shop/chain. It sounds like you were having battery problems - I assume you cleaned the terminals at the battery to assure it was not a bad connection. Terminals can develop a film between terminal and cable, a common problem even when it all still looks OK at first glance. However, at 37 months, it could be a bad battery for a variety of reasons. The 84 month warranty is designed to be long enough so that when the battery fails, you will return to the same vendor for a replacement. Therefore the mean time before failure is going to be far enough before 84 months so the remaining warranty balance is enough to entice you to buy the same branded replacement.

I am impressed with the Lexus dealer, they went above and beyond in giving you a $50 credit toward service. Another instance of why they are at the top on customer satisfaction lists.

I installed an Odyssey PC1700MJT full metal jacket AGM battery.