Defective LS430 safety problems.

[ls430-defect]

My 2001 LS430 has a serious problem that Lexus cannot resolve. The electronic displays and some controls such as sound, hi/lo beam, trunk release, remote trunk release, instrument panel lights, seat memories, gas gauge etc were all dead suddenly when driving in a rainy day. The problems will disappear if engine is restarted again. Problems recurred twice in four days after the first episode. It appears to be onboard computer that requires re-boot after it went down due to whatever reason (moisture?).

Lexus replaced the battery but could not explain why. Lexus are not sure if same problems will occur again. Lexus also refuse to guarantee that ABS, airbags or any other safety devices are not affected under such defective condition. It is dangerous to drive it without knowing what's going on. WATCH OUT its quality. It's is not as "perfect" as you might be led to believe. Lexus should investigate the causes and recall all its LS430 around the world.

[Phi]

Sorry I don't have an answer to your prob, but more of a suggestion.

First off, if I spent as much money as you did on that car, I'd MAKE SURE Lexus guaranteed my ABS, Airbag etc...are functional. You paid for it, why shouldn't it work!? If it doesn't work, that's what warranty is for! I'm pretty sure that there is some legal angle you can take with regards to the manufacturer not addressing malfunctioning safety devices (ie. neglagence, violation of minimum safety standards). Make noise and document everything. Write letters to Toyota/Lexus Canada , Ministry of Trans., local media etc...
Besides the fact that you paid for the car with working ABS and a warranty, there's the principle as well.
Just image this scenerio, you're driving along one rainy night and all of a sudden your electricals go haywire and you lose braking assistance and collide with head on traffic and the airbag doesn't deploy (knock on wood this doesn't happen) Do you think Toyota is gonna announce to the public that this problem could have been as a result of a malfunctioning $10 relay but wasn't covered by the warranty!? I don't think so!
Try hopping over to www.ClubLexus.com to see if others there have experienced similar problems.
Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Deep]

Buddy you paid over a hundred G for a car and they won't fix it for you? Fuck that, tell them to fix it or talk to you lawyer. (then send SBC after them.)

[TRD2000GT]

IS this the Car?! WOW!!

http://www.carsdirect.com/researchcenter/factsheet?more=2&make=LE&modelid=339&a code=USB20LEC101A0

[FLOWERMAN]

On a side note, and to show you that you got a rare lemon, my dad has a 2002 Lexus LS430 UL which has had no problems whatsoever since we've owned it. Much less expensive than its German counterparts but performs quite satisfiably, IMO.