2003 Lexus LX470 problems

“MY 2003 LEXUS LX470 HAS FAULTY VGRS ECU. STEERING WHEEL SPINS TO 180 DEGREES. ON OCTOBER 11, 2018, WHEN I BACKED IT OUT FROM THE DRIVEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED 180 DEGREES. I DROVE IT TO 35MPH W/ STEERING WHEEL AT CROOKED 25-MINUTE ANGLE AND ON A SHARP RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN 180 DEGREES AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 2 MILES, IT SETTLED AT 10-O'CLOCK ANGLE. ON 10/18/2018, MATTHEW OF THE ONE AUTO SERVICE AND PERFORMANCE (536 LISBON ST. DALY CITY, CALIF. (650)993-4689) PERFORMED WHEEL ALIGNMENTS & CORRECTED THE STEERING ANGLE THREE(3) TIMES. AFTER 5 HOURS, MATTHEW CALLED ME WHILE HE SAT INSIDE THE CAR IDLING AND HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER ATTACHED TO THE CAR. HE SHOWED ME HOW HE ZEROD OUT THE 'STEERING ANGLE'. HE SAID THE STEERING SENSOR (VGRS) IS MALFUNCTIONING OR THE ECU COMPUTER IS BAD. AND WHILE HE WAS TALKING, WE BOTH WITNESSED IN HIS SNAP-ON COMPUTER THAT THE STEERING ANGLE CHANGED FROM O DEGREES TO 115 DEGREES'WHILE THE CAR WAS IDLING AND STATIONARY. MATTHEW ALSO TOLD THAT HE EXPERIENCED THAT STEERING WHEEL SPINNING TO 180 DEGREES WHEN HE TEST DROVE THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 19, 2018, I PULLED THE SERVICE RECORD OF THE CAR AND I DISCOVERED THE SAME PATTERN OF…”

“I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS”

“ENTIRE UNDER CARRIAGE AND FRAME FOUND TO HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST EFFECTING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY / SAFETY, CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEMS (BRAKE LINES, SUSPENSION STRUCTURE), FRAME, FUEL LINES, FUEL TANK, AND STEERING LINKAGE. THIS IS GENERAL ATTACK CORROSION WITH STRUCTURAL FAILURE, CORROSION FATIGUE, ETC. THERE WERE / ARE NO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER ANY DEFINITION OF NORMAL USE TO EXPLAIN THIS DEGREE & EXTENT OF CORROSION OTHER THAN A MANUFACTURING ISSUE. *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LEXUS LX470. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V065000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”

“I TOOK THE CAR TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED, AND THREE DAYS LATER, AS I WAS DRIVING ON 5 FREEWAY FROM COALINGA TO LOS ANGELES, ALL OF A SUDDEN, I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, AND THE CAR STALLED, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TA DS A NEARBY SERVICE STATION (CHEVRON) IN VALENCIA. I NOTED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND THE VEHICLE BECAME UNDRIVEABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE, WHO DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD COME LOOSE AND LODGED IN THE ENGINE SHALT, THUS BREAKING ONE OF THE PISTON RODS, WITH A RESULTANT ENGINE KNOCK. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, AND THAT COST ME OVER $8,000. LEXUS OF GLENDALE WAS NOT ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE SPARK PLUG CAME LOOSE IN THE FIRST PLACE, SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CARE FOR OVER 10 YEARS, WILL GOOD MAINTENANCE RECORD, AND NO ACCIDENTS.”

“IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT ALOT OF THESE MADE ARE MISSING THE RELAYS FOR THE FOGLIGHTS AND REAR HEAT, AND PARKING BRAKES FREEZE UP.”