Vibrating/pulsating brake peddle NX300h

[icic]

I just test drove NX 300 H. Add a Lexus dealer.

 

The car is a 2015 with 83,000 miles on the clock, all the servicing has been done at the branch throughout its history and the previous owner is know well to the dealership having traded in for a new NX350. The last owner had it for eight years.

 

After driving for about five minutes, I started to feel a pulsating vibration through the brake pedal as I gently braked, I was going between 30 to 40 mph. I switched to the adaptive cruise control as I wanted to try that out, Which I carried on using for the majority of the test. So obviously wouldn’t be aware of any other additional vibration through the brake pedal. Using the brakes to turn around or slow down to a stop seem to be okay. Having thought about this further after the test drive and investigating online about what might cause this vibration, I’m now concerned as it doesn’t seem to be a normal part of operation and that the car may have a fault. I contacted the a couple of different service centres(not at the branch selling the car) and they had no idea what would cause that and had not experienced it on any NX300h they had dealt with.

 

I’ve asked the sales department to get the service dept to investigate, over the weekend the salesman took it for a drive and couldn’t actually replicate the problem, the technical department is closed until Monday. Plainly, it seems to be intermittent which is always challenging in finding the issue.

 

I wonder if anyone has experienced this before I might have an indication of what the issue might be. I thought it might be break discs, but apparently the hybrid system uses engine braking at the speeds I was travelling at when the vibration was felt. Also the I understand the disks are only used below 8 mph. Another thought it might be a faulty ABS sensor.

 

Unfortunately the branch is 3 1/2 hours away from me so I can’t just pop in for an additional test drive. I’m hoping it can be solved and I can move ahead with the purchase or having read some of the stories of Lexus’s customer services around unsolvable issues should I just walk away from this car. Any advice would be really appreciated

[Spock66]

1 hour ago, icic said:

Also the I understand the disks are only used below 8 mph. Another thought it might be a faulty ABS sensor.

I would think either the discs / pads or an ABS issue, but don't be fobbed off it's normal.

The split between regenerative / conventional braking will depend on how hard you brake rather than a specific speed and discs will certainly be used above 8 mph.

[Ken R]

Sounds like a disc/ABS issue to me. Under heavy braking the peddle will pulse as a result of the ABS system but have never experienced this under normal braking. Warped discs or ABS cutting in too quickly??