Battery warranty after 15 years?

[NinaT]

Hi all

I am buying a used RX450 and aware of the warranty for the Battery which extends it by 10,000 miles or 1 year, up to 15 years, however, what happens when the car reaches 15 years?

My plan was to buy a 10 year old and sell after 5 years so keen to understand this point before committing, I did ask at my local lexus dealership and didn’t get a straight answer.....!

many thanks!

[ColinBarber]

My understanding is that the vehicle has to be less than 15 years old when it is tested and issued with a 10k miles/12 month warranty. So in theory you could get it tested the day before it was registered, 14 years and 364 days ago, and get 12 months cover.

After the warranty expires, any required repair on the hybrid Battery would be at the owners expense, and you would be very much advised that you don't go to a Lexus dealer for that due to the costs involved.

[NinaT]

Thanks Colin, I’m viewing a 2010 today so my question was more about what happens after 15 years even if I pay the annual warranty? It specifically states up to 15 years only, so what have other owners of an older car done?

thanks!

[ColinBarber]

There are two warranties that Lexus offer:

First is the Lexus extended warranty, which is similar to the initial 3 year warranty you get from new, and covers virtually everything. This can be taken out until a vehicle is 10 years old. On the RX that is a two year warranty and so you could be covered until nearly 12 years old if timed correctly.

The other warranty via the hybrid health check is just for the hybrid Battery, which can be taken out until the vehicle is 15 years old as I explained above.

After 15 years Lexus don't offer a warranty option. There are third party ones but they typically have limitations and maximum claim amounts which probably make them virtually worthless to cover a hybrid Battery.

 

The options therefore are to pay for a repair or replacement if the Battery has an issue. There are some third party repairers that specialise in hybrid batteries so you don't have to go to Lexus (e.g. https://www.hybridbatterysolutions.co.uk), or you obtain a used Battery from an RX450h that has been written off.

The RX400h launched in 2005. I've only heard of a handful of problems with the batteries on them - and most a result of water damage rather than a failure on the Battery pack itself. They are very reliable, but obviously someone has to be the unlucky person to experience a problem.

The RX450h has a different design, I'm yet to heard of a problem with one of those Battery packs but having launched in 2009 they are younger so we don't know about their 15 to 20 year reliability.

Based on all the evidence from Toyota/Lexus hybrids you will be unlucky to have a problem before 200,000 miles. A repair is likely to cost around £1,000 and a third party replacement £2,000. From Lexus it would be £3,000+. A used one from salvage, probably £1,000+ once you have paid for fitting and you obviously don't know how long that would last.