Lexus security question

Chammers · May 20

Has anyone on this forum actually had their LC500 stolen?
Or even suffered an attempted theft?

BrettMRC · May 20

There was one on here IIRC last year, ended up in a container along with a Bentley.

At least one other that I know of this year in the UK as well.

Spock66 · May 20

It's not a common car and I suspect many are low usage weekend cars kept in garages.

malcolmw · May 20

Yes, as Spock66 says. Mine only goes out when it is dry. 🙂

eightk · May 20

As above one was recovered from a container bound for Dubai.
From what little I know the cars are stolen to order then shipped overseas either whole or chopped into big chunks eg the front end with engine and suspension still attached so unless the evening’s shopping list includes an LC along with the usual half a dozen RXs I think the LC could be classed as low risk comparatively speaking.

That doesn’t stop me worrying that my bumper will get ripped off the car though, or the car vandalised when they realise an immobiliser is fitted…

Brian R · May 21

It does seem as if these are relatively rare cars to be stolen, but until Lexus send out a message that they and all others in the brand are now proofed against canbus theft, then I fear they are still potential targets. Just as Andy says, it's one thing to have a tracker fitted, but the lo life may well still rip off the bumper and cause significant and expensive damage. Far better that Lexus cars are seen/known to be a waste of time for burglar Bill when and if the mythical security fix(s) actually happen.

wendle · May 21

Mine had a attempted theft, the Ghost stopped them from taking it, caused £4k of damage

Some added protection, will hopefully deter a attempted theft again

eightk · May 27

On 5/21/2024 at 11:39 AM, wendle said:

Mine had a attempted theft, the Ghost stopped them from taking it, caused £4k of damage

Some added protection, will hopefully deter a attempted theft again

Crap. This is exactly why Lexus need to pull their fingers out of their arses and get something useful announced.
May I ask exactly what happened - did they get inside the car or into the engine bay? Any wiring damage anywhere other than the headlamp loom? What exactly was damaged? Do you have any warning signs or stickers advertising that the car has a Ghost? Steering wheel lock? Hope it’s not put you off the LC - don’t let the bastards win!

wendle · May 27

7 hours ago, eightk said:

Crap. This is exactly why Lexus need to pull their fingers out of their arses and get something useful announced.
May I ask exactly what happened - did they get inside the car or into the engine bay? Any wiring damage anywhere other than the headlamp loom? What exactly was damaged? Do you have any warning signs or stickers advertising that the car has a Ghost? Steering wheel lock? Hope it’s not put you off the LC - don’t let the bastards win!

yes they got the car open and were inside the car, but it wouldn't start because of the Ghost.

No wiring damage, they just unplugged the plug behind the headlight.

they pulled back the bumper which cracked, so it needed a new bumper and re calibration of the sensors behind the bumper

i didn't have any warning signs, as at the time of fitting my Ghost they did not do them, i have now got a sticker of e bay which i have put on the windscreen

no steering lock

No it has not put me off the LC, its a amazing car and it will be sad when it has to go

ExLex · July 3

On 5/20/2024 at 10:38 AM, Chammers said:

Has anyone on this forum actually had their LC500 stolen?
Or even suffered an attempted theft?

Yes, mine was stolen earlier in the year. London. Canbus theft, not recovered, insurance write off.

BrettMRC · July 4

12 hours ago, ExLex said:

Yes, mine was stolen earlier in the year. London. Canbus theft, not recovered, insurance write off.

From the road, drive or garage?

Absolute scum 😞

ExLex · July 4

Parked on road - London resident parking bay. Small amount of CCTV shows it being driven off, so the canbus access through the bumper does not create enough damage to make them undriveable.

eightk · July 7

C'mon Lexus, get on with it.

Arth_Vader · July 13

From the RX forum, a class action link.

https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/news/2024-news/toyota-and-lexus-owners-could-be-owed-compensation-as-some-keyless-vehicles-found-to-be-vulnerable-to-a-device-which-allows-them-to-be-stolen-in-minutes/

Arth_Vader · July 31

Have any LC500 owner been contacted by dealers about having a tracker fitted?

I see this is happening on the RX and ES forums

Brian R · August 1

8 hours ago, Arth_Vader said:

Have any LC500 owner been contacted by dealers about having a tracker fitted?

I see this is happening on the RX and ES forums

I took mine in for a service on the 12th July and asked what is the latest situation. Frankly an uninspiring answer and that I would be contacted by post when or if anything is made available. As I have said elsewhere, Lexus have offered tea and sympathy but nothing else. Indeed, even their own "statement" offers no further information, and my latest request via that page was not even published. Basically, don't hold your breath.

BrettMRC · August 1

Lexus / Toyota don't give a **** I'm afraid, they've had our money.

wendle · August 1

I personally dont understand the purpose of a tracker other than being able to retrieve your car once it has already been stolen, the same damage to your car has already been done, surely fitting a better security device would be a better idea so the car can't be stolen in the first place, i understand the damage will still be there but at least you dont have to go and retrieve your car that may have been miss treated and less lightly of any further damage done to the car as it has not been driven away to some secluded place were they can spend some time doing further damage.

malcolmw · August 1

1 hour ago, Brian R said:

I took mine in for a service on the 12th July and asked what is the latest situation. Frankly an uninspiring answer and that I would be contacted by post when or if anything is made available.

We took our NX350h in for service on the 25th July and I took the opportunity to ask about my LC. I had the same response as you - "nothing yet".

Fortunately, my LC is kept in a garage so, even if they offered a tracker, I probably wouldn't go for it. A CANBUS encryption fix is the only way really.

Brian R · August 1

12 minutes ago, malcolmw said:

We took our NX350h in for service on the 25th July and I took the opportunity to ask about my LC. I had the same response as you - "nothing yet".

Fortunately, my LC is kept in a garage so, even if they offered a tracker, I probably wouldn't go for it. A CANBUS encryption fix is the only way really.

Couldn't agree more, Malcolm, but the silence from Lexus is deafening. Meanwhile, the crims continue to have a field day and I, for one, wouldn't be in any hurry to buy another Lexus given their lackadaisical approach to this matter and their jam tomorrow platitudes. In all honesty they are no worse than so many other brands, but they are not what I bought into, or at least so I thought.

Toyota Owner · August 1

50 minutes ago, wendle said:

surely fitting a better security device would be a better idea so the car can't be stolen in the first place, i understand the damage will still be there

A combined aftermarket alarm / immobiliser system professionally fitted will convince the thieves to go away when they attempt the theft as they wont be expecting the alarm to sound a warn away or full alarm if they don't take the first hint.