The midsize luxury SUV segment is a very niche market and Lexus has always been a brand that has catered to the luxury segment for some time now. The Lexus GX460 is priced at $53,795, making it one of the most affordable options in this segment. However, even after being under the watch of Toyota, the 2013 Lexus GX460 fails to pack great reliability. With just over 12,000 units sold, the user network for the SUV is very limited, and hence the complaints registered on NHTSA stay low at 6. The car was also recalled 3 times and while these numbers might seem low, it doesn’t necessarily mean the vehicle is reliable. Competitors like the Mercedes Benz GL-Class, the Infinity QX56, and the Land Rover Range Rover Sport gives the Lexus a very hard time. The article talks in detail about the limited complaints registered and also a few unofficial concerns that the users face.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
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Remote start – The remote start feature on the car was said to not work at times and this was a common problem among users. However, the fix was as simple as getting the remote battery replaced but users also stated that the battery would die very soon.
Mechanical Problems
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Fuel system – Users started noticing the fuel efficiency drop by large margins and this soon graduated to a loss of power while driving. The car would lose power abruptly and fail to respond when depressing the acceleration pedal, leading to the driver losing control. At times, the vehicle also stalls post hesitating to accelerate and the car was towed to the dealers. The long inspection revealed that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, limiting the amount of fuel that entered the engine. Some research online stated this to be a common issue among the GX460 owners but Lexus never rolled a recall for the problem.
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Suspension – The user noticed one side of the hood to be lower than the other and suspected a flat tire. However, upon checking, the tires seemed to be perfect and the car was taken to the dealers. The measurements were taken and it was confirmed that the vehicle is lopsided but the mechanics stated that the undercarriage measurements show a difference of only 3/4th of an inch and stated it to be normal and safe. No solutions were provided and making a left turn makes it feel like the car could roll over.
Miscellaneous Problems
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Tires – The car is sold as an off-road-focused vehicle with 4-wheel drive but Lexus sells the car with normal city tires. The users found it hard to drive over rough/sandy roads as the tires failed to grip well due to the lack of treads. The car often lost control while going off-road and Lexus was contacted by the users but they failed to respond.
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Front bumper – The front bumper was found to be hanging from one side of the car after the driver parked the car. They also noticed the reinforcing clips to be missing which might have been the reason for the bumper to detach. The mechanics simply installed a new set of clips and the issue was fixed.
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Mirrors – The towing mirror that comes as a part of the towing package from Lexus would fold back while driving, cutting the visibility of the vehicle that is trying to overtake. Users had to manually unfold the mirror after stopping the vehicle and this was repeated multiple times.
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Paint – Users found the pant on the car to peel in multiple spots and this happened without the car being in contact or a crash. Even though the paint peel areas were small, a complete solution was to get the paint redone as spot treatments were not uniform and failed to provide the factory finish.
2013 Lexus GX460 recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
17th October 2019 |
19V741000 |
Frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
The inflator may explode due to propellant degrading after long-term exposure to high humidity. |
Dealers will replace the front driver inflator. |
|
2. |
9th January 2019 |
19V005000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments being sent toward the passenger or the driver, resulting in serious injuries or even death. |
The front passenger airbag module will be replaced. |
|
3. |
9th January 2018 |
18V024000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
If the inflator explodes, there could be sharp metal pieces sent at the passenger or the driver and cause fatal injuries or even death. |
The dealers will inspect and replace the airbag inflator. |
Should you buy the 2013 Lexus GX460?
It is unfortunate to see a brand under Toyota struggle in terms of reliability. Even though the complaints are limited, Lexus hasn’t been able to provide complete solutions to the user. The suspensions made the car lopsided but the dealers claimed it to be normal. Another issue that was reported is the regular tires that came with the car, which users found to be useless when going off-road. The recalls have only covered an airbag fault and the fact that there are other issues that cause trouble to the users makes the 2013 Lexus GX460 a not-so-reliable option. The only advantage the Lexus holds over its competitors is its lower pricing but the extra money for the cars from Mercedes Benz or Land Rover is totally worth it as they come with lesser issues and better brand support.
