morehous

I just joined the Lexus Club so I could participate in this thread. I just got back my 1998 LS400 from its 90,000 mile check (including the replacement of timing belts--ouch!), and noticed that all my seat, radio, etc. settings were gone. As I readjusted the driver's seat for a new setting I became aware for the first time that while the steering column would go up and down, it would not go back and forth--except for about 1/8th inch with a low volume groan. Lexus service said that it was the fault of a bad motor--which, unlike the up and down motor, comes attached to a huge hunk of steering column. Anyway, the quoted cost of the part alone was more than $1,400 dollars, with a total repair cost of about $2,200. The service manager authorized a reduction to $1,560. This morning I tried to check for "secret warranties" in Google and used the NHTSA Web site to check for Lexus technical service bulletings which might indicate this was a not uncommon failure and their willingness--if pressed--to do better than a 30% discount. I didn't turn up anything. Has anyone checked into this? Does anyone know of Lexus paying more to fix this kind of problem?