A major disappointment with my GX550 (8 Viewers)

[richord]

I was swept off my feet when I saw the 2024 GX550 in person. Refined machismo!

I traded in my 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. The warranty was almost up on the Jeep so my rational was I could get another macho truck with more comfort and reliability. Jeeps are not known for reliability but after 3 years and 37,000 miles I had no repairs, just regular maintenance!

My GX550 had to have the hood flutter "fix". That was not only a disappointment but a shock. Did I buy a lemon or is this the new standard of quality for Toyota?

Then a few annoying fixes. The "kick to open" tailgate stopped working. Diagnosis? Dirt somehow prevented it from working. More recently the backup camera recall. Then the shudder of the transmission when coming to a slow stop. I would agree, annoying "bugs" but not earth shattering.

The last straw was the notice about metal shavings in the engine. "We don't have a remedy" but we'll update you in January. Well, according to my calendar, January left us. I was told by the dealer that maybe they'll replace the engine this year or next year or if it fails before then. Wow "Quality is Job One".

So, I am left with a vehicle with a defective engine and no date for repair. Should I take it on long trips?

Doesn't install any confidence whatsoever.

 

[J250ish]

For the transmission, have you gotten the update? After getting mine while in service the transmission works so smoothly…

The engine thing is blown out of proportion… I don’t think I’ve ever once read a GX with engine blowing up due to the shavings.. correct me if I’m wrong.. and there’s plenty of people who have beat the dog shit out of these rigs with out problems..

Can’t speak about hood flutter since I don’t have any, and your kick sensor because I don’t have that as well..

 

[ilumo]

I was swept off my feet when I saw the 2024 GX550 in person. Refined machismo!

I traded in my 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon. The warranty was almost up on the Jeep so my rational was I could get another macho truck with more comfort and reliability. Jeeps are not known for reliability but after 3 years and 37,000 miles I had no repairs, just regular maintenance!

My GX550 had to have the hood flutter "fix". That was not only a disappointment but a shock. Did I buy a lemon or is this the new standard of quality for Toyota?

Then a few annoying fixes. The "kick to open" tailgate stopped working. Diagnosis? Dirt somehow prevented it from working. More recently the backup camera recall. Then the shudder of the transmission when coming to a slow stop. I would agree, annoying "bugs" but not earth shattering.

The last straw was the notice about metal shavings in the engine. "We don't have a remedy" but we'll update you in January. Well, according to my calendar, January left us. I was told by the dealer that maybe they'll replace the engine this year or next year or if it fails before then. Wow "Quality is Job One".

So, I am left with a vehicle with a defective engine and no date for repair. Should I take it on long trips?

Doesn't install any confidence whatsoever.

Did you get the actual recall notice in your app?

 

[richord]

For the transmission, have you gotten the update? After getting mine while in service the transmission works so smoothly…

The engine thing is blown out of proportion… I don’t think I’ve ever once read a GX with engine blowing up due to the shavings.. correct me if I’m wrong.. and there’s plenty of people who have beat the dog shit out of these rigs with out problems..

Can’t speak about hood flutter since I don’t have any, and your kick sensor because I don’t have that as well..

Yes, they did the software update for the transmission. Seems fine now.

I don't take Toyota sending me a recall notice for the engine as "blown out of proportion". They admitted the engine is prone to failure, so I take them at their word. The dealer told me they had replaced 2 engines so far.

My point is that this magnitude of defect is disappointing.

 

[richord]

Did you get the actual recall notice in your app?

Yes. On my app, a written notice from Toyota and repeat reminders from CarFax.

 

[Matthew@LC250Mods]

Toyota hoods have fluttered for decaades--it's extremely annoying but has been a common quirk on 4Runners, Sequoias, Highlanders, Tundras, etc.

The V6 engine issues have been a relatively new thing--aside from a few outliers like the old 3.0 V6, Toyota engines are usually rock solid. That being said, I know many people who have had their engines replaced in their GX or Tundra but I have never actually met anyone who had a failure yet.

 

[richord]

Toyota hoods have fluttered for decaades--it's extremely annoying but has been a common quirk on 4Runners, Sequoias, Highlanders, Tundras, etc.

The V6 engine issues have been a relatively new thing--aside from a few outliers like the old 3.0 V6, Toyota engines are usually rock solid. That being said, I know many people who have had their engines replaced in their GX or Tundra but I have never actually met anyone who had a failure yet.

I had a 1996 LX 450. This was the first year Lexus rebranded the Land Cruiser. I guess those were the "good old days". 150,000 miles with no mechanical problems. I believe that was a steel hood.

I think the new hood on the GX 550 is made from aluminum foil. The dealer had to insert spacers to reduce the flutter. I must say, crap design!

It's not the engine failure that concerns me. It's the risk of failure. We did some long trips, 1,500 miles in it. Wouldn't be enjoyable to be away from home and the thing fails. Who's responsible for towing it and to where? Who provides a loaner car when I'm out of town?

If it just broke when I'm near home that would be less annoying.

It's the not knowing that bothers me the most. And will they replace it even if it doesn't fail? And when?

 

[ilumo]

I had a 1996 LX 450. This was the first year Lexus rebranded the Land Cruiser. I guess those were the "good old days". 150,000 miles with no mechanical problems. I believe that was a steel hood.

I think the new hood on the GX 550 is made from aluminum foil. The dealer had to insert spacers to reduce the flutter. I must say, crap design!

It's not the engine failure that concerns me. It's the risk of failure. We did some long trips, 1,500 miles in it. Wouldn't be enjoyable to be away from home and the thing fails. Who's responsible for towing it and to where? Who provides a loaner car when I'm out of town?

If it just broke when I'm near home that would be less annoying.

It's the not knowing that bothers me the most. And will they replace it even if it doesn't fail? And when?

All valid concerns and I hope Lexus is more transparent about what they are doing to mitigate this issue.