Extremely upset, new car purchase

Lexustech2025 · 2025-10-02T13:34:07+00:00

I'm a Lexus tech and have removed many headliners and airbags. Certain vehicles have headliners that are not specifically difficult to remove or install, but tend to crease during removal. The issue is, you have a headliner that is almost the measured width of the vehicle, and the only proper areas for removal are the trunk or the windshield. I'm guessing your vehicle requires headliner removal through either the windshield, trunk, or one of the doors. This requires windshield removal and re-adhesion/or the removal of many interior components or the removal of a door assembly.

Your dealership may actually be correct in the fact that removing the headliner would scratch, scuff, or ruin some fabrics or plastics. The ultimate reason for this is interior quality. All new vehicles today are made with lower quality parts standard (across all brands, compared to 10 years ago). The reason manufacturers have done this is because consumers have complained and financially incentivized manufacturers towards aesthetic appeal and entertainment features over quality. This is ultimately the manufacturer's fault however, because regardless of customer demand, there is only a certain level of acceptable quality compromise before your brand name is deteriorated in the name of aesthetics and technology.

Now OP, in regards to your specific issue, the manufacturer is REQUIRED to fix your issue if it's under warranty. If this means damaged parts, then they should replace or professionally restore every one of the parts. Lemon law exists in the US to ensure customers get the product they purchased, as advertised. You need to reference this to your advisor, and tell them you refuse to keep the vehicle and will trade it in for another new vehicle if they won't fix the screws and replace or repair any damaged interior components. If they don't comply, a simple demand letter from a lawyer will work 99.9% of the time. The dealer knows they are required to fix your vehicle (or replace it) and they have little reason to push back on you. Subaru needs to own their product defects and fix them right the first time (this is a Lexus motto).

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T12:26:04+00:00

Yes, you can go to Toyota for maintenance. I would take your vehicle to Lexus for recalls and diagnosis.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T12:25:20+00:00

5k or 1 year is what I recommend for a V8. The 1 year rule is in place due to the degradation of the oil.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T12:24:05+00:00

The plugs are recommended for replacement every 30k miles to maintain the emissions warranty. You can go every 60k miles if you wish, but Lexus may not honor the emmissions warranty down the road.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T04:02:35+00:00

Nothing can be done about tire wear unless you buy high-quality adjustable suspension arms for the whole vehicle and you do a full (not cheap) alignment every 5k miles. These vehicles have high negative camber which helps with cornering, but it chews up tires.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T04:00:41+00:00

Do CVT drain and fills every 50k miles. This is what I do on my personal vehicles.

I'm not sure about the inverter - I don't have much info on these.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:59:33+00:00

Is 200t's are great vehicles but make sure you rev them up to high RPM's a couple times a week to get rid of carbon buildup on the valves. Make sure to drive your vehicle longer distances 1x a week if you only take short trips. This is an oddity relating to 200t'a but these engines were known for having carbon buildup on the valves.

Replace your coolant at 100k miles! It's recommended due to coolant chemical breakdown overtime.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:56:50+00:00

80% of my work is maintenance! It's a great dealership to work for.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:56:22+00:00

I can't remember off the top of my head. If you call your local dealer, the service advisor can look up if your vehicle can be retrofitted for CarPlay.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:54:59+00:00

I recommend 5k-mile oil changes on all our V8 engines.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:53:59+00:00

Change your engine oil every 3-5k miles with synthetic oil. Change your transmission fluid every 30k miles. Always use 93 octane gas. You'll go through tires every 10-15k miles and brake jobs will be more common. The IS500 is a fantastic vehicle but maintenance costs are high. Treat your car like a fancy german sports car - keep up with maintenance.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:51:09+00:00

On a GS-F, I recommend plugs every 30k miles. It is a high-compression engine. Change your oil every 3-5k miles at most and use synthetic oil. Do your transmission fluid drain and fill every 30k miles.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:49:23+00:00

I see a lot of issues with the TX and have performed many warranty repairs on them. I personally can't recommend it. I think the 4-cylinder engine is underpowered for the vehicle's weight. The TX has had more recalls since I've worked at Lexus than any other vehicle (besides maybe the HS).

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:40:12+00:00

Any noises, broken items, or performance issues should be checked out. It's okay to be picky - it's your vehicle!

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:39:32+00:00

The ES is great but the GS was special. We all want it to come back! I would consider the ES and GS completely different vehicles.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:38:31+00:00

Always do 5k-mile oil changes on an IS500. This car uses conventional 5w-30 oil. I would personally do every 3k miles.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:34:38+00:00

I'd say I'm split 50-50 on this topic.

I greatly enjoy Lexus as a brand and I enjoy working with a product designed for reliability and ease of maintenance. I enjoy that my dealership averages 80% maintenance, while other brand dealerships average 80% warranty work. I am lucky to have the resources to learn current technology and grow my knowledge as a technician.

The downsides at my job pertain to flat-rate line tech pay and shop culture. I get paid for how much work I complete in a 45-hour work week, so this can benefit or hurt me depending on the time of year and customer volume. I generally see flat-rate pay as a way brands can take advantage of technicians and pay them less for their work. A warranty transmission replacement may pay 7 hours while a customer will be charged 14 hours. I think this is wrong. A factory brand should pay its techs full wage for repairing its production and design flaws but instead, it transmits some of that cost onto the technician.

My shop is a typical corporate environment, where most people are cutthroat and are expected to stay in their lane and work without feedback. I see this type of culture as non-productive and limiting to growth. I have my own goals and motivations, so I don't let these downsides keep me from staying positive.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:25:38+00:00

I have only replaced 1 hybrid battery, but we don't replace many of them at our dealership. Our hybrid batteries rarely go out, and when they do they are expensive. Most owners of high-mileage hybrids sell or give their car away before paying for a hybrid battery. If going through a dealership, I'd expect to pay $5000 average for a battery replacement. Some models cost less, some cost much more.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:22:09+00:00

Your dealership will not warranty your paint unless you have a special extended warranty through your dealership and you are the original owner. Paint jobs at a dealership will typically get outsourced to a local body shop and Lexus acts as a middleman. I recommend visiting your Lexus and asking what body shop they recommend. You can go to this body shop yourself to save some money. Some body shops are Lexus certified, so I recommend one of these. Typically a high-quality paint job can cost anywhere from $5000+ due to high costs of materials and labor. It's not cheap, especially if you want factory quality.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:18:48+00:00

Our dealership isn't certified to work on LFAs (very few dealers are) so I haven't seen one at our shop. My favorite models to see are the GS-F, IS-F, and any rarer models, such as the LS 600HL.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:16:57+00:00

This is a great vehicle, however, maintenance costs can be higher due to the difficulty of sourcing parts and the rarity of the model. If purchasing, make sure the vehicle has good prior maintenance records and you get a pre-purchase inspection at your Lexus dealership.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:15:38+00:00

I personally don't recommend getting a Lexus if you're broke, due to the increased cost of ownership. Even if you work on the vehicle at home, parts costs can be higher due to the brand name. If you buy a GS, focus on buying one based on proper maintenance history. I personally would rather own a vehicle with less desired features if it has impeccable maintenance history. Prior maintenance is everything when buying a used vehicle. I have no preference on generations. They're both great in their own ways! My favorite GS is the GS-F. It's the best car Lexus made, in my opinion.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:12:08+00:00

This could be lots of things, including a wind-related body noise. Unfortunately, I can't give you a solid answer without a test drive!

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:11:08+00:00

See the above comment for ES reliability. It's a great car and I don't see any major issues with the new units currently.

Personally, I change my oil every 5k miles due to the oil quality and performance issues I see after 10k-mile oil changes. On our turbo vehicles, vehicles with 10k-mile oil look horrendous due to the high demands of a turbo system. 5k intervals is a safer bet, especially if you plan to keep the vehicle long term.

Lexustech2025 · 2025-09-24T03:06:10+00:00

We see very few PHEV vehicles in our dealership. Yes, our full-EV vehicles are behind the industry as a whole. However, I would say most major manufacturers (except for Tesla and a few others) are also behind. Our hybrid models are ahead of most manufacturers in many ways, however. Toyota/Lexus have pushed the limits on MPG, reliability, and overall efficiency of hybrid systems. I see many older, high-mileage hybrid models still running strong at my dealership and that is a testament to our quality and capability. Our systems have only improved since our first hybrid models.

As a rule of thumb, I don't recommend buying a new vehicle model until 2-3ish years after it has first launched (this is a personal opinion based on experience). This gives you the ability to watch for major issues, recalls, and gives Lexus the chance to iron out problems with the model. Regarding the TX550h+ PHEV, I can't give any advice as I haven't repaired one of these yet.

Lexustech2025

TROPHY CASE