stevegold

The timing chain cover oil leak was the result of a manufacturing defect in the adhesive that attached it to the engine. This is well documented. If I were you, I would fight like hell with Lexus (not the dealer) to reimburse you for the repair. Most of the repair is labor and there is some room in the rates. Also, they found a problem with one of the CV boots and had to replace it, costing me about $450. I did this thinking I would hold onto the car for a few more years. The car ran fine after the repair. But, later when the other CV boot had to be replaced at a cost of $650, I decided that this car was not worth the additional investment and traded it in.

Good for you!. Just be sure that if the dealer does not support you (as mine did not!), you still should go to Torrance and make your case and don't take no for an answer.

I had the same problem last year at 66k. I had bought the vehicle in 2010 as a lease return with the extended 3 year warranty. Of course, it was about a year over the warranty, but well under the 100k mileage. After extended conversations with Lexus in Torrence, Ca. they agreed to pay for the labor which came to about $2,500 and I paid the parts of about $500. Of course they found other things wrong, mainly cv boot on one side which cost me another $450. Since this repair is of a known defect in the silicon sealant of the timing chain cover at the time of manufacture, I would go to the mat with Torrance for them to pick up the labor, especially since you are under the 100k mileage part of the warranty. Then, you should be able to handle the parts, whatever that cost is. My $3,000 was at an agreed upon price between Torrance and the dealer, so there may have been some cost sharing there, as opposed to being straight "retail!" Good lick!

My 2007 ES 350 has a timing chain cover sealant leak. With 60,000, it is out of warranty. Obviously, this is a factory defect on this model. Lexus will only give me $500 toward an almost $3,000 repair. OUCH!