Gs450H Warranty Claim

Hybrid tin can man · November 21, 2013

Hi all, I bought a GS450h from a dealer in April. It came with a one year warranty.

When I first bought the car it would pull to the left. I took it back to
the dealer and was told by the mechanic that it was a characteristic of
the car. Kwik Fit then informed me that the tracking and camber were
out.

I recently had the car serviced from a toyota garage because it was closer and easier to travel to.

The servicing report pointed out an oil leak. It is a slow seeping of oil from a seal.

I contacted my Lexus dealer and they informed me that I will have to pay an £85 diagnostic charge.

Is this normal practice?

Bought a Car from Audi out of their bargain basement and they authorised over £2500 worth of repairs including a courtesy car.

Feel a bit let down. Thought Lexus would offer better service.

steve2006 · November 21, 2013

Hello and welcome to the LOC.

Was this a Lexus dealer you purchased the car from?

Who sorted out the tracking/camber problem?

Seems a bit unusual for Lexus to ask for a diagnostic fee if the car is covered by their warranty, might be an idea to check with another dealer as to their policy or contact Lexus GB.

Hybrid tin can man · November 21, 2013

Lexus Glasgow.

Tracking and camber problem still persists. I will tell the dealer to repair it.

Will phone lexus GB and see what they have to say.

I read through the warranty terms and conditions and no where does it state that the buyer is liable to pay on any part covered by the warranty.

royoftherovers · November 21, 2013

That sounds like incredibly poor service from an Authorised Lexus Dealership.

I suggest that you seek a meeting with the Dealership Principal and request respectfully that it deals with your problems in accordance with the conditions under which you purchased the vehicle.

If unsuccessful, then contact Lexus UK DIRECTLY and please keep us informed of how you are getting on.

Regards

John

Hybrid tin can man · November 27, 2013

Will do. Car is booked in for the 3rd of December.

Hybrid tin can man · December 4, 2013

Had the car diagnosed yesterday. Gasket needs changing. They charged me 85 pounds even though the warranty claim is valid.

Car is booked in for next friday for repairs.

royoftherovers · December 4, 2013

Hi Tincanman.

Have read your first post again.

Did you buy the car from an Official Lexus dealer?

If yes, why did it need to be serviced less than 12 months after purchase and why have it serviced by Toyota as that would negate the terms of the warranty would it not?

If no, then why did you not take the car back to the original seller for him to deal with your complaint?

Sorry to ask these questions but something does not seem to gel with me.

Regards

john

Hybrid tin can man · December 5, 2013

Yes, offcial Lexus Dealer.

Service is required every year or 10,000 miles, whichever is sooner.

Toyota and Lexus are the same company. You can have your lexus serviced at any toyota garage.

wendle · December 5, 2013

My local Toyota
garage would not touch my Lexus, they told me that it needed to go to a Lexus
dealership for there technicians to look at it. (this was 4 years ago, things
could have changed since then)

It probably doesn’t mean much but the Lexus technicians wear
different stile of overalls than the Toyota
mechanics.

Hybrid tin can man · December 5, 2013

I was surprised when the Toyota dealer said he could service my Lexus. There was no difference in cost though. I would have went to Lexus but it is almost a two hour return journey. Would have took up most of my day.

royoftherovers · December 5, 2013

Yes, offcial Lexus Dealer.

Service is required every year or 10,000 miles, whichever is sooner.

Toyota and Lexus are the same company. You can have your lexus serviced at any toyota garage.

Thanks Tincanman.

I can only provide you with my understanding of my purchase from my Official Lexus Dealer.

It was purchased with a full service history and had just been serviced and everything scrutinised (at my request) by the Dealership from which I made the purchase and came with a full 12 month warranty.

In other words (and this was communicated to the Sales Specialist)I would have nothing to pay for 12 months unless I covered more than 10,000 miles in which case it would need a service for which it would be returned to the same Lexus Dealer. Any problems arising in the first 12 months would be covered by the Lexus Warranty / Dealership.

I would not dream of taking the car to another (non-Lexus Official)dealer notwithstanding the fact that Lexus is part of the Toyota Corporate Organisation for fear of breaking the terms of the warranty.

Daihatsu and Subaru are both (I believe) part of Corporate Toyota and I would not take one of those other than to an Official Daihatsu or Subaru Official Dealer whilst still in the Warranty period.

If something occurs which necessitates returning the car to Lexus within the 12 months from the date of purchase then I would not expect to pay (nor would I pay) for anything including costs of diagnosing the problem.

I hope that my explanation of the terms of my purchase is helpful toyou and I hope that your problem is resolved quickly to your entire satisfaction with minimum or nil cost to you.

Good luck and regards

John

royoftherovers · December 5, 2013

I was surprised when the Toyota dealer said he could service my Lexus. There was no difference in cost though. I would have went to Lexus but it is almost a two hour return journey. Would have took up most of my day.

I fully understand and appreciate your dilemma Tincanman.

It`s just that whilst the Toyota garage might be happy to receive your business and cash, the Lexus Dealership might not be so happy. If however, the Toyota garage can demonstrate to the Lexus garage that what they have done is exactly to Lexus standards, THEN IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO ACHIEVE A SOLUTION which is acceptable to all given your remoteness from the Lexus Dealership.

Good luck and regards (again)

John

Hybrid tin can man · December 5, 2013

Yes, offcial Lexus Dealer.

Service is required every year or 10,000 miles, whichever is sooner.

Toyota and Lexus are the same company. You can have your lexus serviced at any toyota garage.

Thanks Tincanman.
I can only provide you with my understanding of my purchase from my Official Lexus Dealer.

It was purchased with a full service history and had just been serviced and everything scrutinised (at my request) by the Dealership from which I made the purchase and came with a full 12 month warranty.

In other words (and this was communicated to the Sales Specialist)I would have nothing to pay for 12 months unless I covered more than 10,000 miles in which case it would need a service for which it would be returned to the same Lexus Dealer. Any problems arising in the first 12 months would be covered by the Lexus Warranty / Dealership.

I would not dream of taking the car to another (non-Lexus Official)dealer notwithstanding the fact that Lexus is part of the Toyota Corporate Organisation for fear of breaking the terms of the warranty.

Daihatsu and Subaru are both (I believe) part of Corporate Toyota and I would not take one of those other than to an Official Daihatsu or Subaru Official Dealer whilst still in the Warranty period.

If something occurs which necessitates returning the car to Lexus within the 12 months from the date of purchase then I would not expect to pay (nor would I pay) for anything including costs of diagnosing the problem.

I hope that my explanation of the terms of my purchase is helpful toyou and I hope that your problem is resolved quickly to your entire satisfaction with minimum or nil cost to you.

Good luck and regards

John

Toyota said they could authorise warranty repairs but I took it to Lexus none the less. The dealer will get paid by the waranty company for parts and labour. I still don't see why I was charged for diagnosis.

I will wait until the work is done and then write to Lexus GB.

nelmo · December 5, 2013

why have it serviced by Toyota as that would negate the terms of the warranty would it not?

Has no-one heard of the 'Block Exemption Regulation'? Law in 2003 - a dealer cannot force you to have your servicing done at an authorised dealer to maintain the warranty. Just needs to be a garage that provides a VAT receipt (so no dodgy back-street cowboys).

The important wording is this bit:

'According to the UK Department of Business Education & Skills, the empowerment created by this law provides competition in the automobile industry as vehicle owners now have the opportunity to repair and service their vehicle at alternative workshops to the automobile manufacturers. BER provides automobile users the flexibility and benefit to reduce the amount spent on servicing, thereby providing consumers more choice and better value for money'

Details here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_Exemption_Regulation_(EU)

Boxbrownie · December 9, 2013

^^^^^

What he said, I am surprised no one mentioned this before.

I just had my ML serviced at an independant MB specialist and MB even have to let them have access to the electronic service record that all new MB use now so the service history can be updated and recorded online.

polish · December 18, 2015

hi every one ,warranty finishes march 16, was thinking of getting new2 year warranty for 450h. have done14000 from new every- thing running perfect as it should ,have just read tincanman's blog, makes me start to think,is it worth a grand ? for piece of mind.

any advice would be welcome .regards polish

merry Christmas to one and all happy new year

PCM · December 19, 2015

hi every one ,warranty finishes march 16, was thinking of getting new2 year warranty for 450h. have done14000 from new every- thing running perfect as it should ,have just read tincanman's blog, makes me start to think,is it worth a grand ? for piece of mind.

any advice would be welcome .regards polish

merry Christmas to one and all happy new year

So far I've had 2 callipers and a stepper motor on my 1 year Lexus warranty.

To add 2 more years was 695...

steve2006 · December 19, 2015

From what I have read previously it may be worth haggling with extended warranties as the cost does seem to be flexible, Lexus also offer fixed price servicing and packages which may be worth considering also.