A major disappointment with my GX550 (4 Viewers)

[richord]

I think you're obsessing a bit much and reading way too far into this. You need to dump the Lexus and go with something else.

A professional engine change is a straightforward task. I won't be taking my GX to Billy Bob's Shadetree Auto Haus for the warranty work. I had to have a second engine put into my 2004 Land Rover Discovery and the professional shop did a perfect job. So perfect, in fact, that the engine ran beautifully for another 80,000 or so miles until it's block cracked just like the first engine (the 4.6 V8s from that era had casting issues and were horrendous pieces of junk).

I was a Land Rover daily driver for over 25 years. 1996 Discovery, 2004 Discovery, and 2013 Discovery (LR4). I couldn't get rid of the LR4 fast enough, what a shit show that thing was with all the delicate electronics and also still basic things like coolant pipes, head gaskets, water pump, etc. Land Rover couldn't figure out a cooling system to save its life.

Obsessing, perhaps. Trust in the vehicle - not at all.

But when the manufacturer tells you the engine may fail, no remedy and we don't know when we'll fix it, I think I'm entitled to my obsessing. My point is if I take this vehicle on a long trip and it fails, then it's me that's inconvenienced.

"Dump" a Lexus like this that's under a recall? I guess some folks can say, it's just money. In this case my loss on trade in or sale.

With regards to Land Rover, yes, they are notoriously unreliable but a lot of fun! Since I can do my own repairs, and enjoy that too, I don't obsess about it. I knew they we unreliable but also repairable.