2008-2018 Radiator Failure and Public Service Announcement (24 Viewers)

[gaijin]

2013LC with 30,000 miles:

I wonder how much longer I have ...

 

[ForrestGrump]

2013LC with 30,000 miles:

I wonder how much longer I have ...

I know years of LC are different, mine is an 08 and had a crack almost identical to your picture. Very faint but as you got closer it was more apparent. It definitely wasn't as bad as others have posted so I thought I was safe for a little bit. It blew on a cold winter morning oddly enough. I only found it because my battery was dead. My theory is that this failure has an element of time to it. The older (time wise) it gets, the more likely these are to go. BTW, mine had 139k on the clock.

 

[1HaytchZed]

This is what I was worried about. I see everyone replacing their radiators but no one knows if they are putting in the same (expensive) defective part that's just gonna blow again one day.
I may try the Fiberglass patch and wait for a deal on a KOYORAD.

It's quite a wide range of failure patterns, the correlation of mileage to failure isn't quite 1, mine was at 140k and I didn't have ANY signs of failure or even a crack where others have had failures way under 100k. I think we MAY see a pattern/correlation if we start mapping geographical locations, the western/southern URJ200s do see much higher ambient and operating temps.

 

[FerzLC]

It's quite a wide range of failure patterns, the correlation of mileage to failure isn't quite 1, mine was at 140k and I didn't have ANY signs of failure or even a crack where others have had failures way under 100k. I think we MAY see a pattern/correlation if we start mapping geographical locations, the western/southern URJ200s do see much higher ambient and operating temps.

Mine was in Arizona until 82k when I bought it. Now lives in Northern California. Once again ‘13 with 94k when the rad went.

 

[Mutant]

It's quite a wide range of failure patterns, the correlation of mileage to failure isn't quite 1, mine was at 140k and I didn't have ANY signs of failure or even a crack where others have had failures way under 100k. I think we MAY see a pattern/correlation if we start mapping geographical locations, the western/southern URJ200s do see much higher ambient and operating temps.

Yeah it may be climate/temp related....either way these Radiators are defective bad parts from Toyota and no one knows what OEM or Aftermarket radiators are more reliable after the one in their $85,000 truck blows up

I'm curious what @Markuson and others said to Toyota Care to get that $300 credit (outside warranty)

 

[UCrazyKid]

Patch it before it blows like I did.

 

[ForrestGrump]

Also interested in hearing if anyone had a replacement failure. Especially in the earlier years as some may be approaching a similar timeframe and mileage mark as when their first failed.

 

[Mutant]

Also interested in hearing if anyone had a replacement failure. Especially in the earlier years as some may be approaching a similar timeframe and mileage mark as when their first failed.

I read somewhere on here that one person's replacement OEM radiator also s*** the bed not long after install.

Maybe Toyota should go ahead and make the Radiator a scheduled replacement item due at 75k miles similar to the old timing belts. At least give the customers a warning that their s*** might blow up again and again

 

[1HaytchZed]

Maybe Toyota should go ahead and make the Radiator a scheduled replacement item due at 75k miles similar to the old timing belts. At least give the customers a warning that their s*** might blow up again and again

It's not a product designed to fail, aka designed obsolescence, or one that fails due to wear and tear. It's quite simply a failed attempt for the legendary LC's cooling system with no recourse. If someone has experienced a "mitigated" radiator failure after replacement with the same failure mechanism as prior, and repeated instances, then we have a major issue that Toyota can NOT ignore, hopefully.

 

[UCrazyKid]

I read somewhere on here that one person's replacement OEM radiator also s*** the bed not long after install.

Maybe Toyota should go ahead and make the Radiator a scheduled replacement item due at 75k miles similar to the old timing belts. At least give the customers a warning that their s*** might blow up again and again

Class Action? ...and how about the water pump, cam tower seals, starter motor... This must be what it was like to have PHH (Pesky Heater Hose) fail in 80's as well as head gaskets.

 

[Mutant]

Class Action? ...and how about the water pump, cam tower seals, starter motor... This must be what it was like to have PHH (Pesky Heater Hose) fail in 80's as well as head gaskets.

People generally expect seals to wear out eventually. Starters and water pumps are normal replacement items everyone knows about. No one expects the radiator to blow up for no reason in an $85,000 vehicle at relatively low mileage.
We kinda need that Rad to keep from overheating and destroying the engine

It's been reported here that Toyota Care has dished out money to people who complained about this. So they probably know they screwed up somewhere with this Radiator

 

[1HaytchZed]

Class action would work for the radiator IF the replaced ones start blowing up as well. Failed corrective action, no recourse. But I would be happy if there was a recall or TSB for the radiator and the cam tower seal failures. These issues not only affect the LCs, they also affect the Tundras and Sequoias and are clear weaknesses due to flaws in the 3UR design.

 

[dwai]

Just got mine changed out today long with starter and water pump.
Even if the service quote from the shop noted a Toyota part, the radiator was from koyorad which is why it doesn't have the stamp.

 

[Mutant]

I noticed that the crack was getting slightly bigger so I copied @UCrazyKid and patched over the problem area with the same VersaChem radiator patch kit. I used 2 epoxy kits (only one piece of fiberglass).

Framed area with tape, sanded, applied first layer of epoxy, let cure, place fiberglass, apply 2nd layer of epoxy. Not pretty but time will tell if it was worth it. @UCrazyKid was right...this stuff gets really HOT quickly and hardens way faster than you want it too! Mine may be worse or better since I used twice the epoxy.
Time will tell if it was worth the effort. The patch kits are a lot cheaper than radiators!

Here it is a week later covered in dust (just like everything is here)

 

[gomez268]

So after stumbling across this thread, I am concerned.

I just bought my 08 Cruiser 3 weeks ago and got it with 162K miles on her. I looked and didn't notice any cracking and to be honest, it looks pretty new, so I'm wondering if it has already been replaced or maybe it was garage kept. If the part number has not changed, is there a way to check if it's been replaced?

This is what the radiator looks like.

View attachment 1678025

 

[Docboy]

/\ That radiator looks pretty good to me, looks almost brand new. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

Anyone know if there is a function to the "raised square?" Is there something beneath this square that's causing so much grief?

 

[SouthStarJeff]

Mine went last week. ‘10 lx, 89k. Was leaking at the side tank. The Lexus replacement part definitely has some changes.

 

[bloc]

I just bought a 13 LC from Tennessee with ~107k and just starting to see a hairline crack.

Factory radiator is about $275 from autonation south Austin, and I figure it’ll take me three hours to replace.

Personally I think this is acceptable given how great the rest of the vehicle is, including overall reliability.

It’s not like we are seeing windows in our blocks, bad transmissions, wheels falling off..

 

[Overland Tailor]

Just to keep the records.. Wife's 2010 LX570 - 124,000 Miles.

Ordering tomorrow and replacing Tuesday.. Just glad it happened at home and not when she was traveling.

John

 

[Mutant]

I just bought a 13 LC from Tennessee with ~107k and just starting to see a hairline crack.

Factory radiator is about $275 from autonation south Austin, and I figure it’ll take me three hours to replace.

Personally I think this is acceptable given how great the rest of the vehicle is, including overall reliability.

It’s not like we are seeing windows in our blocks, bad transmissions, wheels falling off..

Don't forget that the new Toyota Radiator you install will most likely have the same failure after X number of miles. I'm sure it will take a few years however some people are losing their radiators at pretty low mileage. Just know that you haven't fixed the problem, only delayed it further.