Check your Shark fins!!

greenturbobob · October 20

Hi, thanks for the add. Just to make you aware, that our shark fin on our 6 week old LBX has been letting a lot of water into the rear of the vehicle, through the headlining, then running down into the boot wheel well, via the left "C" pillar trim. It might be worth checking yours in case you have a similar problem. Ours manifested itself when the reversing camera display was on constantly and the reversing lights would not turn off. There is now corrosion into the wheel well were the 2 inches of water was sitting, the 12 volt socket is also corroded and we as mentioned above the electrics are playing up!! Go check!!

RONNIE W HODGEKINSON · October 20

Get it back To The Dealership TOOT SWEET

EEH · October 20

7 hours ago, greenturbobob said:

Hi, thanks for the add. Just to make you aware, that our shark fin on our 6 week old LBX has been letting a lot of water into the rear of the vehicle, through the headlining, then running down into the boot wheel well, via the left "C" pillar trim. It might be worth checking yours in case you have a similar problem. Ours manifested itself when the reversing camera display was on constantly and the reversing lights would not turn off. There is now corrosion into the wheel well were the 2 inches of water was sitting, the 12 volt socket is also corroded and we as mentioned above the electrics are playing u

Rob this is shocking to see!!!! I posted in this form on the 30th of August re my concern about the shark fin antenna fitment concern. I was washing my LBX and when I was drying the car, I bumped the shark fin and noticed it seemed to lift up a little. I then posted and as comments suggested to take it to the dealer. I have done nothing about it, thinking its maybe just me, but now seeing your post makes me very worried!!

This is totally not on and suspect I have the same issue as you. Does your shark fin antenna feel rather wobbly? If you gently push is from one side, does it seem to lift? I suspect there are many other cars out there with the same issue. I will definitely have to get mine seen too.

Please can I ask you to keep us posted please on what the dealers have to say, would be most obliged.

greenturbobob · October 21

13 hours ago, EEH said:

Rob this is shocking to see!!!! I posted in this form on the 30th of August re my concern about the shark fin antenna fitment concern. I was washing my LBX and when I was drying the car, I bumped the shark fin and noticed it seemed to lift up a little. I then posted and as comments suggested to take it to the dealer. I have done nothing about it, thinking its maybe just me, but now seeing your post makes me very worried!!

This is totally not on and suspect I have the same issue as you. Does your shark fin antenna feel rather wobbly? If you gently push is from one side, does it seem to lift? I suspect there are many other cars out there with the same issue. I will definitely have to get mine seen too.

Please can I ask you to keep us posted please on what the dealers have to say, would be most obliged.

Yes i saw your post and I will keep you posted, have you checked your wheel well for water or corrosion yet? My fin can be moved very easily from side to side exposing a gap between it and the roof, which i assume is where the water is coming in from. We tried to arrange recovery yesterday as we were not to drive the car with electrical faults. It wasn't recovered as the nearest Lexus dealer was closed, hopefully we will have better luck today.

EEH · October 21

8 hours ago, greenturbobob said:

Yes i saw your post and I will keep you posted, have you checked your wheel well for water or corrosion yet? My fin can be moved very easily from side to side exposing a gap between it and the roof, which i assume is where the water is coming in from. We tried to arrange recovery yesterday as we were not to drive the car with electrical faults. It wasn't recovered as the nearest Lexus dealer was closed, hopefully we will have better luck today.

Thanks Rob. I recon we have the same issue. Luckily my car has been covered under a carport the whole time so not standing in the rain etc, but will definitely have a look on wheel well as well.

I suspect there are a lot more LBX owners out there have the same issue and not aware.

lotoit · October 21

Mine in under heavy rain since days... hope this is not a mass issue. Tomorrow with sunlight i'll check it.

Tel · October 23

Mine has zero Issues & has been in many rain storms.

Tel

lotoit · October 23

Mine too seems ok.

lotoit · October 23

However, I must say that the shark fin does not seem to be fixed very solidly. I suspect that using an automatic car wash it could get damaged and partially detach.

EEH · October 23

13 minutes ago, lotoit said:

However, I must say that the shark fin does not seem to be fixed very solidly. I suspect that using an automatic car wash it could get damaged and partially detach.

Thanks for the update. Mine is definitely not very tightly screwed on and seems to flexible when compared to the one on our BMW which does not move at all. Makes me feel a bit better that it is normal? Suppose only time will tell and with snow and rain

Tel · October 23

Mine feels solid & I cannot except BumW build is superior !

Tel

steve2006 · October 23

Mine has been on my Celsior/LS430 for over 20 years and has never let in water. Really says it all about the demise both of the quality of parts and quality control these days.

greenturbobob · October 23

Ok well my car has gone back to the dealer and they have stripped the rear interior out, seats headlining side panels etc and found the shark fin is "damp". There doesn't appear to be any major damage at present... so fingers crossed. It looks like it might be repaired but I am still waiting on Lexus to confirm. The photos I posted originally are really interesting, because if you look at them you can see what appears to be rust popping the the paint up together with a "brownish" colour around them. Having looked at a showroom model and the one we have been lent, It appears all the LBX are the same but it isn't rust at all, its "blobs" of excess paint that are stained. Its just a poor surface finish, but given its the wheel well and under the rear boot floor its not a deal breaker. I found out by breaking the "blobs" expecting to see to see rust but instead its just paint with a clean surface underneath. Phew! Very impressed with the service thus far...

Toyota Owner · October 23

The brown stuff being confused with rust has been mentioned before on the Toyota forum - it turned out to be some kind of cavity wax applied at the factory confirmed by Toyota UK on inspection of the vehicle.

EEH · October 24

12 hours ago, greenturbobob said:

Ok well my car has gone back to the dealer and they have stripped the rear interior out, seats headlining side panels etc and found the shark fin is "damp". There doesn't appear to be any major damage at present... so fingers crossed. It looks like it might be repaired but I am still waiting on Lexus to confirm. The photos I posted originally are really interesting, because if you look at them you can see what appears to be rust popping the the paint up together with a "brownish" colour around them. Having looked at a showroom model and the one we have been lent, It appears all the LBX are the same but it isn't rust at all, its "blobs" of excess paint that are stained. Its just a poor surface finish, but given its the wheel well and under the rear boot floor its not a deal breaker. I found out by breaking the "blobs" expecting to see to see rust but instead its just paint with a clean surface underneath. Phew! Very impressed with the service thus far...

Thanks for keeping us posted Rob! Glad the service and outcome on the spare tyre well area is good news.

I would be interested to hear what your dealer has to say why the shark fin allowed water in the first place as we seem to have varying opinions re this topic on how different cars have different levels of attachment of their shark fins. Perhaps a factory issue on some and others done properly (some have as we would say "Friday cars" ?)

More NB what the dealer offers as a solution to the problem to stop it happening again. Many thanks