2011 LEXUS IS

I recently purchased a 2011 Lexus IS250 and Johnson City Tennessee from a used car dealership. It was 14° outside and snowing and when I test drove the car, the salesman said it was just because they had sprayed off the vehicle and it was cold and that it would go away when I heard the scrubbing when I touch the brakes. Being that I had seen the Carfax report and there were no recalls listed or issues that should have been causing this, I purchased the vehicle as is, as with most used vehicles there was no warranty. I proceeded to drive my vehicle back to South Carolina where I live and over the course of the next few days and warming in the temperatures, the break sound of grinding metal and metal was not improving.
I finally got a day where I could look at my brakes and notice that the pads on the back were worn and we’re grooving out the rotors. I was very upset with the car salesman but decided it was just easier to go ahead and replace the rear pads on the car. Started trying to remove the pads on the back right side, we noticed that the caliper was also Frozen up and after trying many different ways there was no releasing it, so I ordered new calipers and pads for the rear of vehicle. The back calipers eventually had to be broken off being that there was no sign of release from the pins that hold them into place. After several hours we finally managed to replace the right side caliper and brake pad, and noticed that the pad itself on the inside of it was metal on metal no pad at all, however the outside of the pad look almost brand new. On the driver side rear, we noticed that the pad had in the same thing on the inside, metal to metal, but not the outside and that caliper did not have the same issue, so it has not yet been put on, but the pads were. We bled the system for about an hour but the sponginess and the brake pedal going completely to the floor did not improve. After a few more hours, we thought it was at least enough for me to get home being that I had to go to work the next day and it was already 2:30 a.m. . I laid out of work the next day because I didn’t feel safe driving my vehicle because on my way home that evening I noticed that they were not only spongy and going to the floor, they were not actually stopping me only slowing me down as long as I pumped them enough and gave myself enough distance to be able to slow down to a stop without risk of hurting myself for someone else.
The following day I went to an actual Certified mechanic explain my situation and that’s when we noticed that the brake master cylinder had gone bad. So I replaced this as well. It did not improve the brakes. As a matter of fact, while driving home, I noticed that not only was it not improving much, but that while I was pushing on the pedal to slow it down with the same amount of pressure, it would suddenly stop, which is also extremely dangerous. So again the next day we went through the entire system and over the lines checking for leaks brakes or any other issues that may be causing this. Then I happen to stumble across and article about Lexus having multiple issues and complaints over the break actuator not working. At this point my $80 brake job has already turned into a $500 brake job and while researching actuators, I have learned then that the minimum cost for one of these parts is around $1,200, and that is not including labor for the fact that a dealership has to put them on, which is going to increase the amount it will cost me out of pocket by at least double..
I purchased a used actuator for my vehicle but all the time this has been going on I have been doing research on the 2011 Lexus IS 250, and have learned that Toyota refuses to admit or recall this issue on these vehicles, or willing to pay for repairs or report any form of recall or safety notice to the NHTSA.
I PERSONALLY NOW I’M IN A VERY VERY BAD SITUATION BECAUSE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ONE OF NECESSITY NOT PLEASURE, AND I UNFORTUNATELY HAVE ALREADY SEALED MY FATE BY HAVING TO PURCHASE A VEHICLE THAT COST ME APPROXIMATELY $13,000 AND ONLY 2 WEEKS AFTER THIS PURCHASE, I’M ALSO HAVING TO PUT APPROXIMATELY $3,000 MORE INTO JUST THE BRAKES, AND THAT IS IF SOMETHING HORRIBLE DOESN’T HAPPEN TO ME IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SECURE THE FUNDING TO BE ABLE TO FIX A PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE THAT OBVIOUSLY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY AND FAULT OF TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE THROUGH!
I DON’T KNOW WHICH DIRECTION TO GO IN TO TRY TO GET MY MONEY BACK AS THERE ARE NO LEMON LAWS FOR USED CARS IN MOST SITUATIONS, and my little Lexus that had very obviously been neglected due to the filth and treatment when looking inside the car, that I loved and was willing to put time and effort into, with hope that I had made a smart purchase by investing in a car that I know that if maintained properly normally will last forever. But now I know that I have a lemon, and I am out the only money that I had for a vehicle, I’m making almost $300 a month payments on this vehicle that I cannot even safely drive myself and my grandson in, I drive through the mountains to go to work daily, and I’m about to lose my job because I have not been able to safely commute up and down the start of the Eastern Continental divide to work. I most definitely would love my money back being that my trust in one of the older car companies and their luxury vehicles and the dream of owning a Lexus has been completely destroyed and my faith in Toyota and they’re guarantees are no longer existent to me. I did my research by pulling Carfax reports and asking the dealership if there were any problems or concerns that I may need to be aware of, and I was told no and after researching the vehicle’s VIN, learned that the information on my vehicle is not even close to being accurate because it doesn’t even have anything listed for an accident which I know did happen a few years ago but it was minor, it does not have owners sales, any form of maintenance schedules, or any recalls or repairs that may or may not have been done. I am unfortunately stuck with another car that I cannot be safe in and will ultimately ruin my credit my life and my career because I cannot afford to pay for this car without my job but I cannot securely get to my job in this vehicle being that it is unsafe and I cannot drive it without risk of hurting someone else or myself, especially my grandson. Hopefully one day, someone will not have to die before Toyota will honor their own and guarantees and assist their once loyal customers before the worst case scenarios come to fruition.

Takata recall - on the webpage https://www.nhtsa.gov/recall-spotlight/takata-air-bags, the 2011 lexus is250 awd is shown to be included in the takata airbag recall, however when searching by the vin, no recalls are specified. i have not received any recall information from lexus. please advise if the car is included actually included in the recall. thank you.

Lexus notified me in may 2016 of a recall for takata airbags, but has not taken definitive action to replace my airbag so my car is safe to drive.

Nhtsa recall # 16v-340 i was informed in writing over 6 months ago. nothing further has happened since. the air bags should be replaced immediately if defective! i'm filing a complaint that lexus is taking too long. based on attached screenshot, their excuse is: "recall status: recall incomplete. remedy not yet available" not acceptable.

First started with steering getting stuck a bit while changing lanes now the electric rack and pinion makes noise steering left and right while parking in and out also while driving.

Fuel is not delivered to firing chamber due to failure of fuel pressure sensor. this will cause engine to shut off when on the road. no obd-ii code is present since the failure of the fuel pressure sensor will put the car in protected mode, no code can be read. when engine is shut off, it will have no power to steering or brake system, put driver in a very dangerous situation. i was lucky enough to find out after arriving home. the problem appeared the next morning.

The door panels and dash board gets sticky and melt over the years and the seats starts to tear and become loose

Takata recall - my car is supposedly affected by the recall, but the recall will not actually show up in the system- it sounds like it only happens in 2019 - which is greater than 6 years after the car was put in service. i am concerned about the safety of my passengers and loss of value to the car. additionally, the car is currently in pa but will be moving to warmer weather climate and this will cause the degradation to happen more rapidly. lexus reports there are no issues, which is not true according to their own website.

Takata recall

Takata recall. this recall is taking too long and there is no resolution date proposed. i am trying to trade-in or sell my vehicle and receive offers $4000 or more less then kbb value. i don't want to use the vehicle especially with a front seat passenger. the rear seats are not convenient in the is250c model as it is a two door and the rear seats offer a cramped space for passengers.