2008 Lexus LS Brakes Problems

I am speaking on behalf of my [XXX] mother who owns the car. Summarily, we took the car to two Lexus Service Repair shops (i.e. one in Glendale and one in Longo, El Monte). On [XXX], we the brake and tire sensor lights came on. We first took it to Lexus of Glendale. The diagnosis and estimate was to cover these items: tire sensors, brake sensor, brake pads, air filters, oil change, and nav system to fix the defrost buttons, the DVD software for the nav system, and anything that would cause the brake/ABS emergency light and tire pressure lights to come on. Prior to that, we replaced all 4 tires, upper and lower suspension arms, air filters, fuses, alignment, etc. Both lights (tire sensors and brake lights in the dashboard came on the last week of January 2025. The total cost was $4200.00. Then the same day my mom rolled over a speed bump, and the tire sensor lights came on. She went back and they did not replace the tire sensor lights and we opened up a case on this issue. Then a day later, the brake light and ABS light came on. After a couple of days of that, the brakes would lock up before she turned on the ignition. We filed a complaint with Department of Consumer Affairs, BAR. We scheduled an appointment with Lexus of Longo. Mr. Lam said it could be the actuator and it would cost $4200.00 because we missed this 2017 warranty. I told him we never received any letter from Lexus's CSP warranty program on the brake actuator. And instead, we only received leather interiors or glove compartment interiors. I asked if I could take a photo of this warranty. He allowed me to. Today, after the diagnosis, he said he would charge us $3000.00 for the actuator. I am wondering if you could intervene and have Lexus cover this warranty for my senior mother. She does not have money to buy a new car right now, nor can she learn the new technology on the new cars. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was on the exit for union turnpike on the gcp at a good 40 miles per hour when boom a whole bunch of lights popped up on the dash saying see dealer and 3 lights come on the top right. By the grace of god the car infront of me was very far and i was able to drop the car into manual mode drop gears while turning wheels slowly go into bumps and i slowed down when i came around the corner to a full stop that’s when i had my tow guy grab the car and drop me and the car home

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding the negligence and lack of accountability demonstrated by Lexus Manufacturer in addressing a serious and persistent brake issue in my vehicle, which directly threatens my safety and that of others on the road. Despite repeated attempts to resolve this matter, Lexus has failed to provide a lasting solution or accept responsibility for this critical defect. I have taken my vehicle to multiple authorized dealers, all of whom confirmed the issue and recommended contacting the manufacturer. Following this advice, I reached out to Lexus Manufacturer directly, only to be met with evasive responses, deflection, and an utter lack of action. Issue Description The brakes on my vehicle have consistently failed to function as expected, even after repairs performed by Lexus-certified dealers. This suggests either a fundamental defect in the braking system or inadequate repair protocols by the manufacturer’s representatives. Such a failure in an essential safety system puts me, my passengers, and others on the road in imminent danger. Legal and Ethical Responsibilities Under the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (49 U.S.C. Chapter 301), manufacturers are legally obligated to ensure that their vehicles meet safety standards and to address any defects that pose a risk to public safety. Lexus's failure to rectify this issue or initiate a recall contravenes these obligations. Furthermore, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) outlines specific performance requirements for braking systems (FMVSS No. 105 and FMVSS No. 135 for hydraulic and electric brakes, respectively). Lexus's apparent inability or unwillingness to ensure compliance with these standards raises serious questions about its commitment to safety. Evidence: Enclosed with this complaint are: Correspondence with Lexus Manufacturer, documenting my attempts to seek resolution.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus LS460. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, there was a knocking and ticking sound coming from the brakes. Additionally, the brake light, traction control light, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The ABS, Brakes, and VSC messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the brake actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under Extended Warranty Coverage for the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 126,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus LS460. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the brake actuator. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Warranty Enhancement Program: POL 16-01. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 211,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus LS460. The contact stated while driving at approximately 55 MPH, the braking system malfunctioned, and the brake pedal extended to the floorboard while depressed, causing the braking distance to be extended. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ABS actuator and brake pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 58,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus LS460. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway, the brakes became inoperable. There was a loud audible sound detected. The message to replace actuator was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the brake actuator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who replaced the actuator. The manufacturer was contacted, and opened a case, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

These Vehicles have a ongoing problem with the brake actuator. Lexus I'm sure Is aware of the problem I believe they should take care of it. It's a really expensive fix that we as customers shouldn't have to be responsible for. This issue makes driving the vehicle very uncomfortable.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus LS460. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle off the roadway onto a grassy shoulder to slow the vehicle to prevent a crash. The contact then called the dealer and was advised to enter a code in the vehicle and drive slowly to the dealer. After arriving at the dealer and having the vehicle diagnosed, the contact was informed that the brake actuator and assembly needed to be replaced; however, the repair would be an out of pocket expense. The manufacturer was contacted and provided her with a loaner vehicle however, it was stated that she still had to pay for the vehicle to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Parking Break was stuck on and would not release. Owner removed spare tire and loosened parking break system, but light was still flashing. Dealer check for code and reset. The same thing happened again and the Dealer has started they’ve installed a new relay and if happens again it will be very expensive to fix. I feel this should be listed as a recall. This issue should be repaired by as the car is low mileage and has always been kept in a garage. Please review. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ONE DAY, MY CAR'S BRAKING SYSTEM LOSS POWER TO THE BRAKES AND I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR BEGAN BEEPING AND WILL NOT STOP WHILE THE CAR IS ON. I SIGNED UP FOR DRIVERS.LEXUS.COM TO OBTAIN THE VEHICLE SERVICE HISTORY REPORT AND THE BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BACK IN 2012 WHICH WAS PAID OUT OF POCKET BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. 8 YEARS LATER AND ONLY 55,000 MILES MORE, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. THERE WAS RECALL FOR THIS VERY VEHICLE IN 2016 BUT IT HAS ENDED IN 2018. NOW I AM STUCK OUT OF BEING ABLE TO FIX THE CAR DUE TO THE $3,833 REPAIR COST I CAN'T AFFORD. THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL SINCE IT HAS PASSED EVEN THOUGH THE REPAIR CODE IS DUE TO THE RECALL. I THINK THIS IS NOT RIGHT, ESPECIALLY IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. I HAVE GONE ONLINE AND SEE THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALMOST EVERY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE FROM 2007-2015. PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOUGHT THIS CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALLED ISSUE THAT IS STILL OCCURRING EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN HAS EXPIRED. THIS IS NOT RIGHT FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY ME WHO IS EXPERIENCING THIS FOR THE SECOND TIME ON THIS CAR. I WAS LUCKY IN NOT GETTING IN TO AN ACCIDENT BUT IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT DID, I MAY AS WELL BE DEAD. *TR

BRAKE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY MECHANICAL DEFECT, ISSUES WITH BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS A WELL KNOWN CONCERN WITH SIMILAR MODELS. LEXUS OFFERED A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM FOR PRIMARY COVERAGE BUT THAT ENDED 12/17 AND THERE IS NO COVERAGE BEYOND THAT DATE. THIS DEFECT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT PLAGUES MANY CONSUMERS LEAVING THEM STUCK WITH COSTLY REPAIRS - WHICH SOME MAY CONTINUE TO REMAIN ON THE ROAD WITH THESE MECHANICAL ISSUES. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE ALL ACTIVATED AND MESSAGE DISPLAYS TO IMMEDIATELY PULL THE CAR OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND CONTACT DEALER. WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A CLICKING/POPPING NOISE. FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE A CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH LEXUS/TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT WERE MADE BETWEEN 2007-2017 THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND NOT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. MANY CONSUMERS ARE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL THEY ARE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY LIMITS. *TR

MY 2008 LEXUS LS600HL HAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE ACTUATOR. LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE ON THESE CARS AND PUT OUT A WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT ON THE ACTUATOR BUT ONLY FOR CERTAIN LS THAT FALL WITHIN A CERTAIN VIN# RANGE. MY VEHICLE VIN DID NOT MAKE IT INTO THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE ISSUES STATED IN THE ENHANCEMENT LETTER DOWN TO THE T. ALL STARTED YESTERDAY WHEN I ALMOST TOTALED OUT BECAUSE THE BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 50MPH. LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH AND I COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO RUN ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHILE DOWNSHIFTING THE CAR TO SLOW IT DOWN EVENTUALLY GETTING IT TO A STOP WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR. FOUND OUT LATER AFTER GETTING IT TOWED IT NEEDS A BRAKE ACTUATOR. I AM UNDER THE 150,000 WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT (I AM AT 125,000) MARK BUT MY VIN IS NOT ON THE REPAIR ENHANCEMENT LIST SO I CANT GET IT REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THIS SHOULD OF AFFECTED BY YEARS NOT BY VIN SPECIFICATION. I NEED THIS FIX AND LEXUS WANTS $4000 FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT.

MY BRAKES HAVE BEEN MAKING A CLICKING AND TAPPING SOUND. THEY ALSO FEEL SPONGY AND HARD TO STOP THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE DASH LIGHTS "BRAKE MALFUNCTION" CAME ON. I CONTINUED TO MY HOUSE AND UPON ENTERING MY DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE CAR. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND CONTACTING LEXUS COORPORATION, IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE BRAKE ACTUATOR. I FEEL THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) HAS A LEGISLATIVE MANDATE UNDERTITLE 49 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, CHAPTER 301, MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY, TO ISSUE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS (FMVSS) AND REGULATIONS TO WHICH MANUFACTURERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT MUST CONFORM AND CERTIFY COMPLIANCE. THESE FMVSS ARE REGULATIONS WRITTEN IN TERMS OF MINIMUM SAFETY PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OR ITEMS OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT. THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE SPECIFIED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE PUBLIC IS PROTECTED AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF CRASHES OCCURRING AS A RESULT OF THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, OR PERFORMANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND IS ALSO PROTECTED AGAINST UNREASONABLE RISK OF DEATH OR INJURY IN THE EVENT CRASHES DO OCCUR.

BRAKE PEDAL MAKING STRANGE NOISE, I STOPPED AT THE DILLERSHIP-ALL MY BRAKES WAS CHANGED TO BRAND AND TOYOTA PARTS FROM. BUT THIS CLICKING IS NOT DISAPPEAR. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHY DILLERSHIP CAN'T RESOLVE IT AND WHY IT'S NOT ON RECALL YET. I JUST WAS LOOK TO A REVIEW IT'S MORE THAN 1900 PEOPLE WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY????? SEAMS SOMETHING FISHY IS GOING ON??? GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE CARE THIS PROBLEM FOR SAFETY REASON ASAP!!! WE MADE SEVERAL LATER TO GOVERNOR AND CONGRESS TO RESOLVE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

ABS ACTUATOR IS MALFUNCTIONING/ DYSFUNCTIONAL. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE PART WAS RECALLED.

WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PADDLE, I GET A CLICKING NOISES FROM THE BRAKES. HAPPY HE ONLY HAS 80,000 MILES. DON'T KNOW IF WAS IN THE ORIGINAL RECALL FROM LEXUS BUT FOR THE COST OF A REPAIR THAT THEY KNEW WAS GOING TO. E A PROBLEM THEY SHOULD ALL REPAIRS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE LEXUS SHOULD HAVE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, CAR WARNINGS ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN FLASHING STATING "CHECK ABS", "CHECK VSC", "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM", AND "STOP THE VEHICLE IN A SAFE PLACE IMMEDIATELY. CONTACT A DEALER".

LEXUS ADMITS THAT THE ABS BRAKE ACCUMULATOR IS SUSPECT TO INTERNAL LEAKS WHICH CAN LEAD TO LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

LEXUS HAS A FAULTY BRAKE ACTUATOR DESIGN. IT'S MAKING CLUNKING REPETITIVE NOISES WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. LEXUS KNOWS OF THIS FAULTY DESIGN BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE BECAUSE THEY SAY IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NOISE ALONE WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY. LEXUS OF NAPERVILLE, IL WANTS TO CHARGE ME $3000.00 TO REPLACE THIS COMPONENT. IF THEY DO NOT RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LEXUS AGAIN. GUARANTEE. *TR