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Please help with a multi-issue Lexus IS250

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Lexus Hell

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? CA

Brake Misrepresentation -
Has anyone heard of "High-Friction" Brake pads and rotors? I drove my IS250 about 18k miles when I found out that I not only needed new pads but also new rotors. This was because there was about 2mm dishing going on. Lexus first tried to blame the way I drive and being 35 now, I have been driving for 20 years and this was the first car where this has happened, so it's not me. Then they finally admitted that this car has "high-friction brakes" I had a BMW 330i that had high perform. pads and caused the same dust issue that I have now, but there was never any issue with the BMW rotors. Lexus tells me that it is normal to expect to replace the rotors every 20k with the pads. This was a total shock to me since I have had all of my rotors last at least 60k on all my prev. cars even the BMW. This was never disclosed to me before the purchase. Does anyone know a rep source to quote "normal" industry rotor wear?

Radio Window Antenna -
My radio was working fine for the first 6 months and then the static started to increase over the next few months. I took it in and they, without troubleshooting it (I placed a string on the back 1/4 panels which would've fallen), said it was my tint (aftermarket is interfering). I told them that I had the tint applied 2 weeks after buying the car and if it was the tint it would've started then instead of 5 1/2 months later. I also showed them this proof that there is no metallic content in the tint which would cause interference (http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com/RG.php - Note the second bullet). They then took it in to fix it four times and it was still not fixed. After going to the corp office, the mgr agreed to test the vehicle with the 2 loaners which I noticed did not have the radio issue. I noticed a great difference, but he said he couldn't tell and it was the same. It was total BS and he had his mind made up before he went out on the test. Also, I had the same issue with my Mercedes C240 where the radio was getting more static and at first they blamed the tint, but after I talked with the MB Tech, he looked into it more carefully and found that the heating and cooling of the cabin was causing expansion and contraction on the rubber glue which was holding the antenna connector to the window metal feeds. A replacement fixed the problem and I re-tinted it that same week and it still worked fine up until I traded the car. Lexus seems to be too block-headed and too focused on counting their beans to do a simple replacement. They would rather fight it out risking a lemon buy-back.

On another note, the Western Area Office (Irvine) Executive, when I went over his head to call corporate (Torrance), notated my VIN and contact information in the system to state that any inquries or attempts to contact cust svc are to be directed to him. This is creating bias and voiding my warranty since every issue, down to road-side assistance, must go through him and be approved by him. This clearly is an attempt by him to save his ass. What happens if I need assistance and he is not in the office? Do I sit on the side of the road until he comes back from lunch, or flys back in from a business meeting in Tokyo? This act by him alone shows loss of my precieved value under Magnuson-Moss.

Now it is going to arbitration (they must offer it by law). But what I really want is a lawer to take this case. I talked with two already and they seem like they only have time for the cases which are handed to them on a silver platter (cannot loose, even if you are my cousin Vinni). Sure the lemon issue here is the radio, but it is still part of the car, a major function for me and my enjoyment of my purchase and I still legally qualify for the CA Lemon Law and for Magnuson-Moss. I just need a lawyer who is for the underdog and will take this on not for just the radio reception, but for the sake of not letting a greedy, stingy corporation who is using their "quality" reputation which they used PR to establish, get away with screwing over a paying customer who got the shaft by their misrepresentation and failure to uphold my warranty for which I have paid.

Can anyone give me a referral to a great, understanding, non-corporate minded attorney?
 


BL

Senior Member
Can anyone give me a referral to a great, understanding, non-corporate minded attorney?
no , but before you pluck some $$s down for one , try looking up tbs , and or recalls for your particular model .

Another place to ask , or get feedback is @ Batauto.com , read the posting rules , and break it down to the problems you experience(d) .
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
How many miles were on the car when you took it in for the radio? Is the radio covered under their "express written warranty?"


What is the name of your state? CA

Brake Misrepresentation -
Has anyone heard of "High-Friction" Brake pads and rotors? I drove my IS250 about 18k miles when I found out that I not only needed new pads but also new rotors. This was because there was about 2mm dishing going on. Lexus first tried to blame the way I drive and being 35 now, I have been driving for 20 years and this was the first car where this has happened, so it's not me. Then they finally admitted that this car has "high-friction brakes" I had a BMW 330i that had high perform. pads and caused the same dust issue that I have now, but there was never any issue with the BMW rotors. Lexus tells me that it is normal to expect to replace the rotors every 20k with the pads. This was a total shock to me since I have had all of my rotors last at least 60k on all my prev. cars even the BMW. This was never disclosed to me before the purchase. Does anyone know a rep source to quote "normal" industry rotor wear?

Radio Window Antenna -
My radio was working fine for the first 6 months and then the static started to increase over the next few months. I took it in and they, without troubleshooting it (I placed a string on the back 1/4 panels which would've fallen), said it was my tint (aftermarket is interfering). I told them that I had the tint applied 2 weeks after buying the car and if it was the tint it would've started then instead of 5 1/2 months later. I also showed them this proof that there is no metallic content in the tint which would cause interference (http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com/RG.php - Note the second bullet). They then took it in to fix it four times and it was still not fixed. After going to the corp office, the mgr agreed to test the vehicle with the 2 loaners which I noticed did not have the radio issue. I noticed a great difference, but he said he couldn't tell and it was the same. It was total BS and he had his mind made up before he went out on the test. Also, I had the same issue with my Mercedes C240 where the radio was getting more static and at first they blamed the tint, but after I talked with the MB Tech, he looked into it more carefully and found that the heating and cooling of the cabin was causing expansion and contraction on the rubber glue which was holding the antenna connector to the window metal feeds. A replacement fixed the problem and I re-tinted it that same week and it still worked fine up until I traded the car. Lexus seems to be too block-headed and too focused on counting their beans to do a simple replacement. They would rather fight it out risking a lemon buy-back.

On another note, the Western Area Office (Irvine) Executive, when I went over his head to call corporate (Torrance), notated my VIN and contact information in the system to state that any inquries or attempts to contact cust svc are to be directed to him. This is creating bias and voiding my warranty since every issue, down to road-side assistance, must go through him and be approved by him. This clearly is an attempt by him to save his ass. What happens if I need assistance and he is not in the office? Do I sit on the side of the road until he comes back from lunch, or flys back in from a business meeting in Tokyo? This act by him alone shows loss of my precieved value under Magnuson-Moss.

Now it is going to arbitration (they must offer it by law). But what I really want is a lawer to take this case. I talked with two already and they seem like they only have time for the cases which are handed to them on a silver platter (cannot loose, even if you are my cousin Vinni). Sure the lemon issue here is the radio, but it is still part of the car, a major function for me and my enjoyment of my purchase and I still legally qualify for the CA Lemon Law and for Magnuson-Moss. I just need a lawyer who is for the underdog and will take this on not for just the radio reception, but for the sake of not letting a greedy, stingy corporation who is using their "quality" reputation which they used PR to establish, get away with screwing over a paying customer who got the shaft by their misrepresentation and failure to uphold my warranty for which I have paid.

Can anyone give me a referral to a great, understanding, non-corporate minded attorney?
 

Desperate4Advic

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? CA

Brake Misrepresentation -
Has anyone heard of "High-Friction" Brake pads and rotors? I drove my IS250 about 18k miles when I found out that I not only needed new pads but also new rotors. This was because there was about 2mm dishing going on. Lexus first tried to blame the way I drive and being 35 now, I have been driving for 20 years and this was the first car where this has happened, so it's not me. Then they finally admitted that this car has "high-friction brakes" I had a BMW 330i that had high perform. pads and caused the same dust issue that I have now, but there was never any issue with the BMW rotors. Lexus tells me that it is normal to expect to replace the rotors every 20k with the pads. This was a total shock to me since I have had all of my rotors last at least 60k on all my prev. cars even the BMW. This was never disclosed to me before the purchase. Does anyone know a rep source to quote "normal" industry rotor wear?

Radio Window Antenna -
My radio was working fine for the first 6 months and then the static started to increase over the next few months. I took it in and they, without troubleshooting it (I placed a string on the back 1/4 panels which would've fallen), said it was my tint (aftermarket is interfering). I told them that I had the tint applied 2 weeks after buying the car and if it was the tint it would've started then instead of 5 1/2 months later. I also showed them this proof that there is no metallic content in the tint which would cause interference (http://www.johnsonwindowfilms.com/RG.php - Note the second bullet). They then took it in to fix it four times and it was still not fixed. After going to the corp office, the mgr agreed to test the vehicle with the 2 loaners which I noticed did not have the radio issue. I noticed a great difference, but he said he couldn't tell and it was the same. It was total BS and he had his mind made up before he went out on the test. Also, I had the same issue with my Mercedes C240 where the radio was getting more static and at first they blamed the tint, but after I talked with the MB Tech, he looked into it more carefully and found that the heating and cooling of the cabin was causing expansion and contraction on the rubber glue which was holding the antenna connector to the window metal feeds. A replacement fixed the problem and I re-tinted it that same week and it still worked fine up until I traded the car. Lexus seems to be too block-headed and too focused on counting their beans to do a simple replacement. They would rather fight it out risking a lemon buy-back.

On another note, the Western Area Office (Irvine) Executive, when I went over his head to call corporate (Torrance), notated my VIN and contact information in the system to state that any inquries or attempts to contact cust svc are to be directed to him. This is creating bias and voiding my warranty since every issue, down to road-side assistance, must go through him and be approved by him. This clearly is an attempt by him to save his ass. What happens if I need assistance and he is not in the office? Do I sit on the side of the road until he comes back from lunch, or flys back in from a business meeting in Tokyo? This act by him alone shows loss of my precieved value under Magnuson-Moss.

Now it is going to arbitration (they must offer it by law). But what I really want is a lawer to take this case. I talked with two already and they seem like they only have time for the cases which are handed to them on a silver platter (cannot loose, even if you are my cousin Vinni). Sure the lemon issue here is the radio, but it is still part of the car, a major function for me and my enjoyment of my purchase and I still legally qualify for the CA Lemon Law and for Magnuson-Moss. I just need a lawyer who is for the underdog and will take this on not for just the radio reception, but for the sake of not letting a greedy, stingy corporation who is using their "quality" reputation which they used PR to establish, get away with screwing over a paying customer who got the shaft by their misrepresentation and failure to uphold my warranty for which I have paid.

Can anyone give me a referral to a great, understanding, non-corporate minded attorney?
Hey, I'm from CA as well, and have a lexus. What you are describing in regard to your IS may possibly be on a TSB, those usually occur if enough consumers complain about the problem.With my GX 470 '03 I complained about the braking system where the car wouldn't settle until it jolted forward which actually felt like I was getting hit. Lexus for a year told me it's just a characteristic of the car. Then finally the sales rep called me notifying me it was posted on the TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) and since I have a warranty they glady replaced it the entire rear suspension. Since your issue doesn't seem to pose a safety issue it will not become a recall. It may possibly be true that your driving habits are causing the rotors on your vehicle to go out immediately as not enough people are experiencing the same problem for them to make it a huge concern and post it on the TSB. Also, I have a 328ic and my rotors get replaced often bc of how I drive where my brother with an M3 gets maintenanced frequently and hasn't replaced his rotors as much as I have also if I don't replace the brakes in time which causes premature wear on the rotors. Lexus may not make their braking system as well as BMW which isn't their fault as it is a characteristic of Lexus. Sorry not any law advice, but I just think from a car enthusiast standpoint that it'd be hard to really provide substantial evidence to prove that you have a lemon due to multiple variables and comparing your other cars from different makes doesn't really compare a lexus to a lexus to provide a controlled experiment.
 

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