kardanial

I fixed the ordeal, after numerus readings on electric steering turns out toyota prius, corolla, saturn vue, chevy malibu, all have same problem reported in magazines as car and driver... I finally found someone to take over the lease and lease a BMW 328i. What a difference, sorry guys.

Read my topic about steering has no center point. I have the exact same problem, and tried different tires from 16" to 18". Made 2 alignements, center point recalibration, everything you can imagine with no luck. These cars have a terrible flaw in the steering, but it seems no one likes to admit it. Some owners though like it this way because it makes the steering very quick and responsive when driving aggressively, I don't think that this works for me for my day to day driving (I drive like an idiot only 10% of the time). Here is in my opinion the problem after many online researches, and going to the toyota dealer instead of lexus ( I have a friend working there ): It's all about the electric assisted steering, and its chip programming. Some larger lexus, I believe GS350 had same problem, got many complaints (I guess age demographic is elder for their owners) so lexus made various programs to tone down steering response for those tastes. Unfortunately, the IS has no updates from the manufacturer yet because there aren't enough complaints yet I guess. I also think that some solve straight line stability by inducing out of spec negative camber and some toe in, which explains complaints some owners have about tire wear at the inside of the rims. (read topics about uneven tire wear). The new 2007 Rav4 has electric steering with a completely different program, hence feel, to avoid this problem. My car drives form day one as if I'm against heavy winds. Good luck, keep me posted if you find any solution, because I gave up myself.

today I went back to the dealer, he informed me that caster settings cannot be changed on virtually any of todays modern vehicles. They can only play with camber and toe. I test drove an is250 awd (mine is the rear wheel drive only) and the steering felt much better to me. But the service manager tested both cars and told me for him both are the same. Then the technician test drove my car and tried to convince me again that this is how the cars are designed. When I tried to insist on checking the car again, both service manager and technician agreed they have to charge me $110.- if I insist on realignment since it was done before. And if I want to induce more toe in or negative camber I have to sign a paper that I'll be resposible for any premature damage that might happen to brakes, tires or suspension components!!! How rude. Tomorrow I'll take it to my local mechanic. Wish me luck

go for the beamer if you enjoy driving. The lexus has the edge in styling and reliability but if you take good care of the bmw, it should last you 5 years at least without major problems. I always thought the bmw was over estimated till i drove one as a loaner for a week as my lexus was at the dealer for repair. It is the benchmark really. I used to own a G35 coupe, very nice car too, but all those japaneese are trying hard to immitate, and there biggest mistake is the exagerration while immitating so the whole recepee gets either too salty or too sweet if you understand what I mean. I'm canadian too, if you regret buying the beamer I'll be ready to swap with you my is250. Go figure.

Do you feel the steering gets heavier as you speed? Should it? Because I'm sure mine does not. I feel it's the same loosness around the center at any speed. Of course at highway speeds I only turn the wheel very slightly so I can't tell exactly about full turns. But for the small adjustments I can assure the steering is as heavy as when the car just barely moves. For everyone who is interested or has the same problem please check the following link, (I don't know why it does not underline, but cut & paste:) I would pay any mechanic to apply it on my car since I don't have the courage to do it myself: http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/article.html?&A=2390 I think this is the solution, and assuming he experimented on a toyota prius, it should be the same for lexus. The same website also explains how to modify hydraulic power assisted steering I think on a lexus ls400.

thanks for your reply, at least someone assures me I'm not crazy. The car I test drove before my purchase was the all wheel drive and I didn't pay much attention at that time because I was more focused on its grip in sharp turns which as I stated before was perfect, furthemore I didn't take it to the highway. Now if you can do me a favour try this simple test. Try to find a side road with enough straight stretch maybe 1 to 2 miles. You don't have to speed maybe 30 to 40mph enough. Center your car and take off your hands completely of the steering and see how long before the car starts to either deviate left or right. Do the slight correction and remove your hands from the steering wheel. I bet it will drift to the opposite side. Also try this, just turn the wheel 1 degree slightly to any side and see if the wheel tries to work against you to recenter itself. If you have my problem it won't turn back unless your turn is over 5 degrees or so. Even if you go into a left or right turn (90 degrees) and take your hands off the steering after the apex, the wheel will return leaving 1 or 2 degress before center. If you can get back to me after these tests I would realy appreciate it.

that's my biggest problem. some service guys tell me this is how electric power steering works, it's numb on center, does only start to assist when a force is applied, which could be your own or some road imperfections, then sometimes it over assists and that's when you have to constantly recorrect it. As I said before, the dealer checked tire pressure more than once. Did alignment, and I had 18" summers, 16" original summers, 16" winters(now installed) all of them same problem. When I researched other lexus forums I found same problem a couple of times but with a lexus LS400, RX and LX (I forgot which models) but I remember I focused on people who had electric steering. One of the guys said that on his car there a about 15 different programmed steering chips, and the dealer changed the chip to somewhat less sensitive which was not as quick as the original, but more balanced. I did a printout, showed it to my dealer, but he said this guy had VGRS which I don't have on my lexus so it's a complete different storey plus he checked for any newer release of steering chips or programs for the IS250, didn't find anything. The only outcome he tested another car but didn't allow me to drive it and tried to convince me that it does the same. He didn't take it to the highway, and the straight road parts were very short. Needless to say he advice I go back to where I purchased my car and ask them for zero point calibration. Now I have to find time for maybe the 6th trip to my dealer. I just hope there is a fix in the end, or if this is the future of electric steering then we can kiss "fun to drive" goodbye.

Hi everyone, six month ago I traded in my Infiniti G35 coupe for a new lexus is250 rwd. I guess i didn't need the extra power, my kids are growing so i needed the extra 2 doors and the lexus looked nicer than the 4door infiniti. From day 1 i noticed when driving on the highway that i have to constantly align the car in my driving lane. Steering with one hand is almost impossible and very tiring. The car feels as if wind forces are draging it from side to side even when there is no wind at all. Sometimes even when changing gears (auto) I feel as if I have a very mild torque steer although it's a rear wheel drive. When I drive on country roads and I turn the steering wheel slightly one or two degees any side, the car keeps turning, the steering wheel does not center itself back unless I center it myself. If I return it too quick, it sways to the other side and I have to reudjust it again. I have done alignment at the dealer, tried three sets of tires from 16" to 18" summer & winter, the problem is still persisting. The dealer tells me don't compare it with your Infiniti you traded but I think I cannot compare it with anything at all. I have had 14 different cars in the past, my wife has a nissan maxima, I have an old 1972 volvo p1800, none of those cars have had this uuuuggggllllyyyy steering. The dealer thinks I'm complaining about handling, the car handles awsome and goes very tight into curves and does not have the punishing ride the infiniti had. Its those self inputs the car does when you are not trying to steer yourself. I hope I can get help from anyone because I'm beginning to hate this car and regeret my purchase and I still have 2 and half years to go on my lease. Thanks kardanial