LEXUS GX460 & TOYOTA 4.6L EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKS AND POTENTIAL CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. THE SYMPTOMS I IDENTIFIED WERE A DIESEL-LIKE CLATTER ON COLD START WHICH WENT AWAY WHEN THE ENGINE WARMED UP. I DID FEEL ABOVE NORMAL FATIGUE WHEN SITTING IN THE CAR FOR LONG PERIODS. MY MULTIPLE REPAIR ATTEMPTS WITH THE LEXUS DEALER SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED WITH LEXUS. LEXUS AND TOYOTA 4.6L V8 EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE CHRONIC CRACKING PROBLEMS. THESE CRACKS COULD EXPOSE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN, THE ELDERLY AND PEOPLE IN POOR HEALTH, TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING WHEN THE CAR IS IN TRAFFIC OR STATIONARY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IT TOOK OVER 2 YEARS OF COMPLAINTS WITH MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND ME, THE OWNER, SUGGESTING THE 'HIGHLY TRAINED AND CERTIFIED LEXUS TECH' CHECK OUT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WAS A CRACK. THE NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRACK VIBRATING/RATTLING/EXHAUST GASES ESCAPING WHICH REDUCED THE NOISE AFTER THE ENGINE HEATED UP. MY CONCERN IS THE TECHS DID NOT RECEIVE SUFFICIENT TRAINING TO IDENTIFY A POTENTISL,Y INJURIOUS OR FATAL PROBLEM. THE SITUATION IS SIMILAR TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT FORD EXPLORERS. RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET I IDENTIFIED A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FROM INDIVIDUALS WITH THE 4.6L TOYOTA V8 ENGINE WHO ALSO HAD EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKS. IT WAS ALSO APPARENT, PEOPLE WITH THE GX470, THE GX460S PREDESSOR, HAD SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR 4.7L TOYOTA V8. UNSURE IF THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM, MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR BROKEN QUALITY PROCESS WITH LEXUS & TOYOTA OR THEIR VENDORS.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11109545 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS GX460. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ROTORS WOULD HAVE TO BE SHAVED TO REMOVE CRYSTALLIZATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT AFTER REPAIRS, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A CLIP TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND RECOMMENDED ADDING WEDGES AS WELL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10441016 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

VEHICLE DRIVES FINE AT LOW SPEEDS. AT HIGHWAY SPEED 65 MPH AND UP STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE TRYING TO MOVE A SPINNING GYRO. THE VEHICLE WANTS TO CONTINUE IN THE DIRECTION IT IS GOING. REQUIRES BOTH HANDS TO MAKE SMALL CORRECTIONS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITH ONE HAND. HAD LEXUS INVESTIGATE PROBLEM THEY RECENTLY GAVE UP. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER GX460 VEHICLES WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE NOW HAS 28,000 MILES STILL SAME PROBLEM. WE STOPPED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE ONLY USE THIS VEHICLE AROUND TOWN WORKS OK AT LOW SPEEDS. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10594019 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS GX460. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V340000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (LEXUS OF TOWSON, 1040 YORK RD, TOWSON, MD 21204, (410) 769-9400) DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE CLAIM NEEDS TO BE DISREGARD AT THE DEALER, LEXUS OF TOWSON; THE TAKATA PARTS ARE AVAILABILE NOW THEY ARE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 8/3/18*JB

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11040340 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov