1993 Lexus LS400

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT-TIME, THE LIGHTING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT COMPLETELY DARK AND IT BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO READ ANY OF THE CARS INSTRUMENTATION SUCH AS VEHICLE SPEED AND WARNING INDICATORS. AT VARIOUS TIMES SINCE THEN THE GAUGES IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE ALSO BECOME UNRELIABLE, THESE INCLUDE THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE, THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE TACHOMETER. AT TIMES THEY WILL NOT MOVE FROM THEIR "0" SETTING, SUCH AS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS POWERED OFF, UNTIL THEY WARM-UP OR YOU BANG THE DASH WITH YOUR HAND AND AT OTHER TIMES THEY WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. THE LIGHTING PROBLEM STILL OCCURS ON THE INSTRUMENTS ALSO. THE DEALER SAID ALL THEY COULD DO WAS REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND COMPONENTS IN THE DASH AT A COST OF OVER $2000 PLUS LABOR, SO OFTEN I JUST HAVE TO GUESS HOW FAST I AM DRIVING OR HOW MUCH FUEL IS IN THE CAR AS THE REPAIR WOULD BE ALMOST AS MUCH AS I PAID FOR THE CAR (THE INSTRUMENTS WERE WORKING WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR). *TR

WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE THE WHOLE DASH WILL GO DARK AND NOT LIGHT BACK UP OR KEEP FLICKERING. YOU ARE UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING OR ANY WARNING LIGHTS AND THE GAS GAUGE DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE DASH LIGHTS GO OUT. DRIVING ALONE IS UNSAFE AND EVEN WITH OUR 2 CHILDREN MAKES IT VERY UNSAFE NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING AND FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING SO YOU COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL AND LEFT STRANDED WITH KIDS ON THE ROAD. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND LEXUS REFUSES ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THIS PROBLEM AND SOMETHING REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I HAVE A '93 LEXUS LS400. APPARENTLY, 80% OF THESE CARS IN THIS YEAR HAVE FAULTY INSTUMENT PANELS. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACH NEEDLES DO NOT WORK, GAS GAUGE IS HARDLY RESPONSIVE, AND AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS FAIL TO TURN ON LEAVING THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS OF COURSE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I BELIEVE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF A FACTORY DESIGN FLAW, WHICH LEXUS SHOULD HELP RESOLVE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN LINGERING FOR OVER 6 YEARS NOW BECAUSE LEXUS HAS QUOTED ME AT $1500 TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BOARD!!!! HOW CAN THEY GET AWAY WITH THIS??? MAYBE PEOPLE NEED TO DIE IN CAR ACCIDENTS FOR SOMEONE TO TAKE ACTION AND GET THESE FAULTY PARTS RECALLED!!!!!! I REFUSE TO SPEND HARD EARNED MONEY ON THIS REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALREADY GAVE LEXUS OVER $50,000 FOR THE CAR AND SERVICE. MY OPINION ABOUT LEXUS AND ITS "PERSUIT FOR PERFECTION" HAS CHANGED; THEY ARE JUST A BUNCH OF THIEVES. IF YOU SEARCH YOUR RECORDS I AM SURE THERE IS MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SOME ISSUE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. CARLOS.*AK