2003 Lexus LS430

THE PISTON-LIKE AIR STRUTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HOLD THE REAR TRUNK LID OPEN ON MY 2003 LEXUS LS 430 (BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2002) SLOWLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING STARTING AROUND 4 YEARS AGO. NOW THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. WHILE THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO HAVE TO OPEN THE TRUNK MANUALLY, THE REAL DANGER IS THAT ARE NO PROVISIONS TO HOLD THE TRUNK LID IN THE OPEN POSITION. THUS, EVEN A LIGHT WIND OR VIBRATION CAUSED BY PASSING VEHICLES WILL CAUSE THE TRUNK TO TEETER OFF THE OPEN POSITION AND SLAM SHUT. THE DOWNWARD MOTION OF THE SHARP AND HEAVY EDGES OF THE TRUNK CAN (AND HAVE) CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY TO HEAD, FINGERS, AND OTHER BODY PARTS - NOT MENTION DAMAGING CARGO. *TR

HYDRAULIC TRUNK SUPPORTS FAILED, WITH HEAVY TRUNK FALLING ON HEAD OF PERSON WORKING IN TRUNK. MAY HAVE CAUSED A CONCUSSION, AT LEAST A GROOVE IN TOP OF HEAD. PERSON STUNNED FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. IF THE TRUNK HAD HIT PERSON IN THE BACK WHILE LEANING OVER INTO THE TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE BROKEN A VERTEBRAE. IF IT HAD HIT FINGERS IN LOWER PART OF TRUNK, IT MAY HAVE CHOPPED THEM OFF, PARTICULARLY A CHILD'S. THESE HYDRAULIC SUPPORTS WORE OUT AT AROUND 60-70 THOUSAND MILES. NOT REALIZING THE DANGER, I NEGLECTED CONTACTING LEXUS ABOUT REPLACING THEM. HOWEVER, THIS DANGER SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR UNATTENDED TO BY OTHER OWNERS OF LEXUS CARS. WHEN LEXUS WAS CONTACTED AT THIS LATE DATE, THEY OFFERED MINIMAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE PROBLEM, PLUS A BIT OF A RUNAROUND. I SUGGEST CONTACTING AN IMPORTED PARTS DEALER FOR THE EASILY INSTALLABLE PARTS AT A SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED PRICE.

RE: 2003 LEXUS LS 430 THE PISTON SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE ENGINE HOOD IN PLACE, IN ORDER TO CHECK THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, HAVE DETERIORATED OVER TIME SO THAT THE ENGINE HOOD CAN SUDDENLY SLAM DOWN, SERIOUSLY INJURING ANYONE WHO IS CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL, COOLANT, ETC. I ALMOST WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHILE CHECKING THE OIL. IN ADDITION, IT IS THE SAME TYPE OF PISTON SUPPORTS THAT HOLD THE TRUNK OPEN. THESE TOO, ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE. MONTHS AGO I ALMOST LOST A FINGER WHEN THE TRUNK LID SUDDENLY CLOSED. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

TRUNK SUPPORT STRUTS NOT FUNCTIONING APPROPRIATELY, CAUSING TRUNK LID TO ABRUPTLY FALL AND INJURING ANYTHING IN THE PATH OF CLOSURE. WE NOTICED THE INCREASING LACK OF ABILITY TO HOLD THE LID OPEN, NEVER UNDERSTANDING THAT IT ACTUALLY WAS SUPPOSE TO ALSO LIFT THE LID (IT NEVER DID LIFT THE LID AND WE HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR FOUR YEARS/ 45,000 MILES) AND COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY REPLACED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD (SEEMS LIKE EARLY LIFE FAILURE). WHEN ASKING THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISOR HE SAID, YES THESE DO SEEM TO WEAKEN OFTEN AND THEY COULD BE REPLACED FOR $500. THE CONSEQUENCE PRIOR TO THE DEALERSHIP VISIT WAS THE TRUNK LID FALLING AND HITTING MY BACK CAUSING BRUISING. SINCE MY SHOULDER HELPED TO ELIMINATE THE BLOW IT CERTAINLY COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. POTENTIALLY SOMEONE WHO HAD THEIR HANDS AT THE BASE OF THE TRUNK COULD EITHER HAVE SEVERE DAMAGE OR POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIMB. FOR A HIGH-END VEHICLE, LET ALONE ANY VEHICLE, THIS EARLY LIFE FAILURE AND THE DANGER IT POSES TO ANYONE IN THE WAY OF THE FALLING TRUNK LID IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. LEXUS/TOYOTA CORPORATION SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND PROVIDE THE UPDATED TRUNK STRUT FOR THE SAFETY OF LS430 OWNERS, FRIENDS, FAMILIES, AND AUTO SERVICE PERSONNEL. *TR