Considering buying a 2021 GX460 sport luxury - a few red flags re: oil change and reverse&steering going out

[mantutuli]

Hi y'all, new to the forum

As the title says, I saw some odd stuff in the carfax as well as dealer service records.
At around 16k miles, the original owner brought the truck into service

"AWD SYSTEM MALFUNCTION NOTIFICATION CUSTOMER HAS NO STEERING AND NO REVERSE CHECK AND ADVISE ~|~UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. NO LIGHTS ON DASH, STEERING AND REVERSE WORKING. NO CURRENT CODES IN SYSTEM. ~|~NO WORK PERFORMED RECOMMENDED OR NEEDED AT THIS TIME."

I havent seen anything online about that other than maybe dead battery or rusted part causing a fault. The vehicle has 45k on it now, with nothing reported.
Should I be concerned and pass on the vehicle?

Another red flag I'm seeing is over the past year, the oil and filter have been changed 4 times. Every 3k miles or so. Other than the owner NOT using suggested oil, which would be odd because they've used the right oil for the previous 3 years.

Does that throw a red flag for anyone else? I mean,way too often oil changes and then the truck is traded in? Seems suspect to me, but I'm not a very trusting person.

Thanks in advance

 

[r2m]

From what you stated, I've never heard of those issues before. If nothing has shown up from the 16,000 mile point when this incident happened up to the current 45,000 miles on the clock, personally I wouldn't worry about it. That's almost 30,000 miles with no issues since the event.
A couple of things may help us here:

1. What year is it?
2. Do you have ALL the service records?
3. How does the underside look? e.g.: rust, scraps, dents, anything unusual?
4. Accidents?

Come on back and let us know, but my initial read is that it should be okay.

 

[mantutuli]

From what you stated, I've never heard of those issues before. If nothing has shown up from the 16,000 mile point when this incident happened up to the current 45,000 miles on the clock, personally I wouldn't worry about it. That's almost 30,000 miles with no issues since the event.
A couple of things may help us here:

1. What year is it?
2. Do you have ALL the service records?
3. How does the underside look? e.g.: rust, scraps, dents, anything unusual?
4. Accidents?

Come on back and let us know, but my initial read is that it should be okay.

Sorry, I thought I listed it as a 2021
The only "records" I have are from mylexus . com which has all dealer records. The other service stuff I have is from carfax. So thats whatever was reported there.
Underneath has very minimal rust. Theres a few spots, like right at the flanges of the u-joints. See pics.
No scraps, dents, anything that looks weird, from what I can see from crawling underneath, but I'm bring it to my mechanic for PPI

 

[mantutuli]

LAST PIC

 

[mantutuli]

Thank you for your reply(s)

 

[r2m]

Personally, and this is my opinion only, anything that can be brushed off with a wire brush I wouldn't really call rust and wouldn't worry about it.
The whole underside looks really good.
The MyLexus and CarFax info you have, does it show at what mileage the services were done? If the services were done consistently at around the proper mileage intervals, again, I would consider that good and if the price is right, pull the trigger.

 

[mantutuli]

Personally, and this is my opinion only, anything that can be brushed off with a wire brush I wouldn't really call rust and wouldn't worry about it.
The whole underside looks really good.
The MyLexus and CarFax info you have, does it show at what mileage the services were done? If the services were done consistently at around the proper mileage intervals, again, I would consider that good and if the price is right, pull the trigger.

Thanks -
The price is about KBB + 5k, which is the same price as a comparable aftermarket/3rd party warranty to the CPO.
The service records seem like they're the factory ones 5000, 10,000, 15,000, 23,000(10k service), then 43,000, with some non-dealer oil changes.
Nothing about greasing u-joints/drive shaft(s), trans/transfer case/diff fluid changes
Breaks and battery changed. Air filter changed.

I'm also eyeing a 2019 a few states away. Much more extensive service history. I know it was used to trailer stuff. Dont know what, how long, how much that impacts the vehicle. only has 39k miles (the 2021 has 44k+). Same cost, about KBB + a few grand for CPO.
service at 5000, 8000(10k), 15k, REPLACE LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP- factory recall, oil change 18k, oil change, all air filters, 28k, mulitple alignments - pulling to the right issue, well documented on forums, break fluid message at 30k, 36k brakes, resurface rotors, break flush, injector cleaning.
One service I dont understand is SERVICE: AUTOGEAR MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTION: ~|~WETSAND 4 ~|~
Wetsanding is paint

Re: rust. I was thinking about using a drummel with wire brush, but i dont want the metal exposed, so considering either converter or inhibitor and then so rustolium or something. I'm hesitant to mess with anything around the drive shaft/ u joints. Unless i disassemble I cant get everywhere. The few times I've removed drive shafts ,it was impressed upon me to make them with nail polish so I could align them the same was i removed them. The shafts are balanced. So, If I remove rust, I could loose my marks, and I wouldnt want to put any chemical products like converter on it, not knowing if I'd throw off the balance. I dont know if under carriage sprayers hit the shaft or not.

 

[r2m]

Thanks -
The price is about KBB + 5k, which is the same price as a comparable aftermarket/3rd party warranty to the CPO.
The service records seem like they're the factory ones 5000, 10,000, 15,000, 23,000(10k service), then 43,000, with some non-dealer oil changes.
Nothing about greasing u-joints/drive shaft(s), trans/transfer case/diff fluid changes
Breaks and battery changed. Air filter changed.

I'm also eyeing a 2019 a few states away. Much more extensive service history. I know it was used to trailer stuff. Dont know what, how long, how much that impacts the vehicle. only has 39k miles (the 2021 has 44k+). Same cost, about KBB + a few grand for CPO.
service at 5000, 8000(10k), 15k, REPLACE LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP- factory recall, oil change 18k, oil change, all air filters, 28k, mulitple alignments - pulling to the right issue, well documented on forums, break fluid message at 30k, 36k brakes, resurface rotors, break flush, injector cleaning.
One service I dont understand is SERVICE: AUTOGEAR MISCELLANEOUS DESCRIPTION: ~|~WETSAND 4 ~|~
Wetsanding is paint

Re: rust. I was thinking about using a drummel with wire brush, but i dont want the metal exposed, so considering either converter or inhibitor and then so rustolium or something. I'm hesitant to mess with anything around the drive shaft/ u joints. Unless i disassemble I cant get everywhere. The few times I've removed drive shafts ,it was impressed upon me to make them with nail polish so I could align them the same was i removed them. The shafts are balanced. So, If I remove rust, I could loose my marks, and I wouldnt want to put any chemical products like converter on it, not knowing if I'd throw off the balance. I dont know if under carriage sprayers hit the shaft or not.

Living in So. Cal, I don't know much about the whole rust thing. There's been lots of discussion about rust under coatings from a lot of the folks in the upper states. Let's see if they see this and chime in.

 

[mantutuli]

Living in So. Cal, I don't know much about the whole rust thing. There's been lots of discussion about rust under coatings from a lot of the folks in the upper states. Let's see if they see this and chime in.

I lived in so cal 20 years. my 1999 benz was cherry until I moved to boston where it sat in snow for 10 years. the brine they started using, as opposed to salt, destroys cars. thats why i'm so sensitive about it. it was so bad, there are parts my mechanic can even take off for fear the bolts will snap.