Airbag recall question... Lexus asked me to park it.

[dougc]

So I bought my used GX470 a couple months ago and started checking things off my to do list. I called my local Lexus dealer and got on the list to replace my dash and only had to wait a couple weeks and got it replaced this past Thursday. No problems, the new one looks great and I love leaving the dealer and not paying a dime.

That being said, they mentioned there is an airbag recall they'd like to take care of but can't until a solution is released. So they've asked me to sign and paper saying I will park the GX until the solution is made and will give me a rental car through Enterprise until it's fixed.

Has anyone else been asked to do this from their dealer? I haven't made a decision either way since we were leaving out to visit my wife's family in Calgary.

I found a few threads mentioning the recall, but not about having to park your rig till they can come up with a solution.

Thanks guys and gals.

 

[Bluetribal]

I checked on the recall when I went to get on the list a while ago and I thought that the fix for now was to start it and wait for the engine idle to settle in before putting it in gear.

 

[IAmDan]

That sounds like a load of crap. I just had mine in for the dash and mentioned the recall to them and they acted like it wasn't a big deal and that I would be getting an official notice when a remedy is available.

Also, currently working in a dealer, if they insist you park your car because of "Safety", the only place i would park is is their lot in exchange for a loaner car. Recalls that are that serious of a danger to occupants are noted on the letter from the manufacture. That dealer is just covering their butts, for whatever reason. If you wouldn't mind a loaner car for a while, call their bluff and see what new Lexus they will give you to ride around in.

 

[JLee]

I would want a loaner from Lexus, not a rental from Enterprise (unless they're footing the entire bill and renting you a Lexus). Parking a GX and then driving a Focus would not be pleasant.

 

[dougc]

I looked at the NHTSA website and it said the fix was anticipated for September. I haven't found anything about the idle.

They also said if I do drove it, not to have anybody in the front passenger seat. I might try to see what they'll give me for a loaner instead of a rental.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[langsen]

The letter I got from Lexus said to wait for the airbag light to turn off before shifting out of park.

 

[cool breeze]

The letter I got from Lexus said to wait for the airbag light to turn off before shifting out of park.

ditto

 

[Brian DeLoach]

Im curious did Lexus come up with fix for the airbag problem? I currently have my airbag light on but dont have access to a lexus dealer here on St Croix. I have to get permission from the Toyota mother ship in Puerto Rico before the Toyota dealer here will touch my lexus. Had to do the same thing for the dash replacement on my wifes RX, not easy, lots of phone calls. Just wanted to know if the solution was found and then I can start calling my toyota dealer and convince them to work on my Lexus.

 

[dougc]

Yes there has been a fix issued. I just got mine done this past week.

 

[Sam Stewart]

If you get a rental for the recall you have to leave your vehicle at the dealer or park it and sign a for saying you won't drive it. It's for the Takata airbag. Multiple vehicles and manufacturers affected. I personally think it's ridiculous to let the customer keep the car if they are getting a rental but there are so many they pretty much have to. When you go that route you have to verify the mileage with a picture and resign rental agreement every 30 days. Serious legal stuff because it's a recall and a safety issue.

 

[tlin]

I'm confused, the 470 doesn't show up at all here as a vehicle affected by the massive Takata recall efforts. What am I missing?

thx guys...

 

[h2oskikrazy]

I received a recall for the airbag control module over the week end. It doesn't say you can't drive it. It says to wait 6 seconds prior to putting in gear and driving after starting to allow the system to reset itself or something along those lines.

 

[langsen]

I'm confused, the 470 doesn't show up at all here as a vehicle affected by the massive Takata recall efforts. What am I missing?

thx guys...

I don't believe it is part of the Takata recall. From what I understand it's not the airbag itself that is faulty, just the control module. There is info on the NHTSA site here:

2004 LEXUS GX470

 

[tlin]

Thank you for that clarification! Side curtain airbags, 2004-2006 GX's only. It's worthwhile for others to read that as it affects other Toyota vehicles and years of manufacture.

 

[BlackCat]

As an infiniti tech, most of our cars have the recall. We can do an interim repair, which is basically replacing a defective inflator with a defective inflator until the updated part is released. I've only done one inflator so far that had the described rust issue, out of probably 200 or more replacements since its release.

 

[dougc]

I don't believe it is part of the Takata recall. From what I understand it's not the airbag itself that is faulty, just the control module. There is info on the NHTSA site here:

2004 LEXUS GX470

This is what confused me from the beginning. Not sure if my dealer thought it was part of the Takata recall or what. All they did recently to fix it was replace the control module itself.

 

[BlackCat]

This is what confused me from the beginning. Not sure if my dealer thought it was part of the Takata recall or what. All they did recently to fix it was replace the control module itself.

Ah, since I have an 03 I'm not part of it so I haven't looked into it much. The problem with recalls is they typically send out notices before dealers even have parts, or sometimes even before they know what the fix is going to be, which makes it a nightmare.
Kind of a lousy time to have any unrelated airbag recall, in light of the Takata craziness.