Gillo

I just completed a 1000k Melbourne to Sydney drive (in baking 40 degree heat no less), and have nearly 3k kms on the clock now, and still no rattles.

One thing I must say though, the climate control system is very efficient :)

If only I and others on this thread had been so fortunate!

If this was merely an insignificant rattle or even an isolated incident, it wouldn't be so bad. But mine includes:

1. clicking AND creaking AND 'popping' noises from dash. The noises vary and are very noticeable when going over even the slightest depression in the road. And they are NO better when the car has warmed up either, so it's nothing to do with air temperature.

2. Intermittent (albeit quite faint) kind of 'tweeting' noise from the dash which sounds like a sparrow is stuck behind the dash, trying to escape! I also heard this on the demo car.

3. Incessant rattling noise from seatbelt pillar region - now fixed. It was something to do with the door seals. I also heard this on the demo car.

4. Wind noise from driver's window, but only at motorway speeds and (to be truthful) only when driving at speeds higher than the law would permit! I also heard this on the demo car. Of course I don't regularly drive at those sort of speeds though

The problem for me before I order one here is that I would like to be reassured by a statement from Lexus Manufactureing that they are addressing the problem from a production process design engineering angle!.

Its all very well for the after sales guys to try and smooth out the problems when they occur but we are given no reassurence that they are tackling the problem at ground level.

Its like theiy are putting heads in the sand .

If it was me I would tell the public that I had taken the necessary steps to fix this at production level and keep us ...the prospective customers informed.

Some of this might be temperature related to do with the thermo plastics and I suspect that none of the testing has been done in our climate conditions .cold

damp ...hot cold etc

Is there one of the board mods who can put up a sticky for people to put their names and actual fault on and contact Lexus UK to see if they will officially monitor this list and keep the board informed as to their actions to rectify!!!

who in favour???

I'm with you. Mine is getting worse every day - almost incessant rattling now.

Over the last few days I have noticed a slight rattle coming from the behind the dash, in particular the sat/nav area. The rattle has progressively got worse, with my trip on the motorway today producing a continuous rattle and some vibration which is a right annoyance, especially in such a quiet and expensive car. I have only clocked up 875miles.

I shall be taking it in to Lexus to have it fixed tomorrow.

Has anyone else experienced severe rattles or vibrations from their IS250?

I will let you know the outcome after my visit to the dealership.

Yes indeed...big problems in that area. Sometimes it's a rattle; other times it's a sort of 'popping' sound. The noise tends to spread across the dash at various times; one minute it's on the driver's side; the next minute it's over on the passenger side!

I love Lexus, but have also noticed this problem on RX300s and GS300s and 430s which I have driven. They usually insert a rubber strip along the back of the dash, but it doesn't fully eliminate the noises. I looked on the USA LOC website where customers have reported the exact same thing. One customer said that he took the car in to Lexus, who then actually removed the dash, PROPERLY insulated the bit making the noise, and refitted the dash.

Frankly, I won't just let them insert a rubber strip on my car - they did it on the last one and I was never satisfied until I parted with it and got my gorgeous new IS

I'm with you on this; I'm angry that a £30k + car should rattle, creak, and pop, and Lexus try to fob off their customers by pushing a rubber strip behind the dash. Forgive my cynicism, but I have been having this problem for over 2 years. I wrote to Lexus last year but my lone voice was not enough to make them do anything; in fact their response was "we hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the car". I feel it would be worthwhile some of us who are having this trouble writing to Lexus demanding a proper remedy. Anyone with me?

I have the MM system fitted in my IS250 but find it extremely hard to hear the Sat Nav announcements if I have music playing at any volume above 20-25 when travelling on motorways. It only seems to come out of the front right speaker and does not lower the volume of any music that is playing at the time of announcement as my previous car did.

I have set the volume to 7 (max) and the adaptive volume is also on.

Does anyone else have this problem? I’m sure it can’t be right to have such a nice sound system but have to keep turning it down to hear announcements.

Please keep us posted. In my last car (2003 RX300) the music volume lowered when the Sat Nav voice kicked in - worked really well. I can't believe this system doesn't do the same (or at least doesn't do it as well). That said, it's streets ahead in other ways :)

Has anyone else with a 250 had a problem with wind noise? When travelling at motorway speeds the car is exceptionally quiet except for tyre noise, which is very difficult to remove entirely and has been mentioned before. However, I also have wind noise which seems to come from the area around the top rear of the drivers door. I've checked the obvious things. the seals are all in place and the door is fitting flush with the door jamb but it still sounds like air is getting round the seals.

Anyone else got it? Lexus Bristol will be getting a visit in the new year and it would be handy to know if it's just mine or a typical fault with the new car.

Apart from that I'm really pleased with the car, although still familiarising myself with the intricacies of the voice activated satnav and bluetooth telephone connection! Also like the ECT power switch, although not totally convinced as to what it actually does and whether it really is quicker on acceleration and hills.

Only just seen this post. I have the same problem, usually when I hit 80mph plus...the level of wind noise is quite bad. Please let me know if you have any joy.

Thanks

Has anyone heard a rattling sound coming from the drivers' seatbelt pillar on their IS250 yet?

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Yes, rattle from the seat belt mounting on the drivers side. I have discovered this is noisy when cold but generally fades away as the car and therefore the mounting warms up and expands. I have informed the dealer and will ask them to fix it once they have a solution (one that lasts). If they sort yours out sooner please let me know. I am running an IS250SE and very pleased with it.

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I rang another dealership - Lexus Liverpool (Bootle) - 2 days ago and they instantly knew what it was. By 3pm the following day I'd taken the car in and had it fixed. They said it was the rubber door seal and that they'd had quite a few in for the same thing. All fixed :D At last I can fully enjoy the car!

Has anyone heard a rattling sound coming from the drivers' seatbelt pillar on their IS250 yet?

Hi

I am a new member and have been reading various comments posted here -very interesting.

I have had a Lexus IS 200 for 2 yrs and have now bought the IS 250 SEL, black with black interior. I bought the car on 30th November 2005 and since then it has been with Lexus Tunbridge Wells - rattling sound from the dashboard. I am now told that it is a product fault and was asked to test two other cars, which had exactly the same problem. It is not a major problem, but you can hear it only when the MM is switched off. Both, Lexus Customer Services and the dealers in Tunbridge Wells are trying to hush me.They have given me a red IS 250 as a loan car. 

Have anyone faced a similar problem?

Having said that, I already clocked 500 miles on my new car - its the best car I have ever driven. So, for those who are eagerly waiting for their new car, dont be disappointed by my comments. I am sure you all have made the right choice, I am bit unfortunate - have to wait for another week for them to sort out the problem.

New buyers: Please check if there is any rattling sound from the dashboard/ventilators when you roll out the car. All three IS 250's I have driven appear to have the same problem.

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I posted something about rattles on another thread (see "Official New 2006 Is Topic" thread - end of page 30) yesterday. This rattle has driven me potty. I had the same thing on my last car - a 53 plate RX300 SE Navigator.

This time, as well as a rattle/creak from the dash, I also have an incessant rattling noise which sounds like its coming from the driver's seat belt pillar (but I think it's actually something in the door). Sometimes it is just there in the background (that's still wrong of course)...other times it's audible to passengers too.

With my last car I eventually wrote to Lexus GB about it hoping they would offer some assistance. Sadly not. I got a letter back saying they hoped it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the car. Please read that last sentence again!

Incidentally Lexus inserted a thick rubber strip in my last car, between the dash and windscreen. It helped but certainly wasn't a proper remedy because the noise came back a week later. In the States when someone had this problem, this is what one owner reported on the LOC USA site:

"Apparently there is a bracket that runs the width of the dash and is attached to the firewall. This bracket, when heated by the nearby heat duct would rattle. (Lexus) loosened this bracket, insulated it, and tightened it and the noise is gone."

That, to my mind, sounds like they have paid attention to their customers' needs and done a proper job of fixing the problem. Lexus GB, if you're reading this, please note that we love your cars. But rattles are not acceptable. We (your paying customers) want a proper investigation/solution, not a rubber strip which only provides a temporary fix.

I agree about the rattles, even more so because I have an SE-L with Multimedia on order!  The only good thing about it is the Lexus warranty and the Lexus Customer Care, hopefully either or both will sort out any problems.

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Seems a few people have mentioned rattle on the New IS dash with Multimedia. I have driven over 15 different New IS models and none of them rattled. The only minor problem is the surround where your left knee rests. This clicks on some of the very first models (November cars) but seems to have been put right on the ones coming through in December. On mine I have just had a small piece of foam insrted into the dash and it cured it straight away. As said before, its all covered under warranty, so worry not my friends. :D

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I'm not that worried as mentioned before it will be covered under warranty. I heard that it might be better to wait for at least a year before ordering a new model of car to give them time to iron our any niggles and with the comments about the rattle I was starting to think I had done the wrong thing ordering one of the first ones, but I'm sure it will be fine.

I have driven two SE-Ls with MM and must admit neither of them had a rattle.

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I have been looking at this forum for a few weeks since collecting my new IS 250 SE-L MM, to see if anyone else was experiencing the same rattle as me.

This is my second Lexus (last car 53 plate RX300 SE Sat Nav) and both have suffered incessant rattles from the dash, although IN ADDITION this one has an even more annoying rattle which sounds like it's coming from the seatbelt housing. On closer inspection I have a feeling it's actually something in the door because if I apply pressure to the door with my elbow when driving, it stops (until I stop applying pressure that is!) I can't believe that a £32k+ car rattles, squeaks and creaks. It's incessant and totally spoils my enjoyment of an otherwise fabulous car.

After returning my RX to the dealer more than 5 times to get it fixed, I even wrote to Lexus GB last year and received a written reply saying that they were sorry and hoped it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the car!!! Would I write if it wasn't spoiling my enjoyment of the car!?

Apart from inserting a rubber strip between the dash and the windscreen (which only half worked) there must be a more foolproof way of PROPERLY fixing it. Frankly I refuse to keep wasting a whole day returning the car to my local dealer if all they are going to do is insert a rubber strip. I can get one from B&Q and fit it myself in 30 seconds if that's the best solution!

Incidentally on the Lexus Owners Club USA website I saw this posted in response to a similar problem:

"Apparently there is a bracket which runs the width of the dash and is attached to the firewall. This bracket, when heated by the nearby duct would rattle. My Lexus dealership loosened this bracket, insulated it, and tightened it and the noise is gone."

That's all well and good but mine creaks/rattles whether it's hot or cold.

Before anyone says I've just been unlucky, may I point out that EVERY Lexus I have driven had the same noises including:

'05 plate GS 430 Demonstrator

'05 plate GS 300 Demonstrator

'05 plate RX400h Demonstrator

'55 plate IS 250 Demonstrator

Has anyone else had theirs 'properly' fixed? If so, by which dealership?