RX330 bubbling of painted aluminum wheels?

[nopcbs]

We have a 2004 RX330 with the 18" painted Al wheels. It has 26,000 miles on
it.

The last year or so I noticed that on each wheel there is bubbling under the
silver paint. Not subtle, either, big bubbles although none have yet caused
a paint chip.

We have a 1992 LS, as well, and this sort of thing did not happen until
after something like a decade of ownership. Seems WAY too soon for this sort
of thing to be happening.

We live in Michigan.

Am going to discuss this with the dealer this week, but wonder if other RX
owners have experienced this.

I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling in
plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the Japanese
plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of small
headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.



George Litwinski

"I know top management has always been behind me. I’ve felt them there many
times."

Officer Herbert “Spermwhale” Whalen in Joseph Wambaugh’s The Choirboys

[Elmo P. Shagnasty]

Post by nopcbs
I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling in
plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the Japanese
plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of small
headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.

There is no doubt that Toyota has shaved things too far with Lexus,
trying to squeeze more profit out of it.

They spent many years making very good cars of high value, but now
they're just cashing in on the reputation.

Problem is, the reputation will be gone if they continue this way.

Honda did the same thing from 96-05 or so. I think they figured it out
before their reputation was completely gone, though.

[stu]

Lexus has poor paint jobs and very mediocre engineering. Quality control
seems very good. Great hype....

Post by Elmo P. Shagnasty

Post by nopcbs
I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling in
plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the Japanese
plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of small
headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.

There is no doubt that Toyota has shaved things too far with Lexus,
trying to squeeze more profit out of it.
They spent many years making very good cars of high value, but now
they're just cashing in on the reputation.
Problem is, the reputation will be gone if they continue this way.
Honda did the same thing from 96-05 or so. I think they figured it out
before their reputation was completely gone, though.

[tww1491]

Post by nopcbs
We have a 2004 RX330 with the 18" painted Al wheels. It has 26,000 miles
on it.
The last year or so I noticed that on each wheel there is bubbling under
the silver paint. Not subtle, either, big bubbles although none have yet
caused a paint chip.
We have a 1992 LS, as well, and this sort of thing did not happen until
after something like a decade of ownership. Seems WAY too soon for this
sort of thing to be happening.
We live in Michigan.
Am going to discuss this with the dealer this week, but wonder if other RX
owners have experienced this.
I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling
in plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the
Japanese plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of
small headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.

Hopefully, this is under warranty. Good luck.

Post by nopcbs
George Litwinski
"I know top management has always been behind me. I've felt them there
many times."
Officer Herbert "Spermwhale" Whalen in Joseph Wambaugh's The Choirboys

[mcbrue]

True - Lexus has very poor engineering. They assemble a pack of
features and then just dump them into the car without any thought
about how to make them work. But that way they can claim they have the
feature - engineering for show, not go.

[j***@hotmail.com]

The quality of Toyota/Lexus seems to be going down since 1997. But
Toyota is making tons of money, and that's what counts for a company,
I guess.

Post by nopcbs
We have a 2004 RX330 with the 18" painted Al wheels. It has 26,000 miles on
it.
The last year or so I noticed that on each wheel there is bubbling under the
silver paint. Not subtle, either, big bubbles although none have yet caused
a paint chip.
We have a 1992 LS, as well, and this sort of thing did not happen until
after something like a decade of ownership. Seems WAY too soon for this sort
of thing to be happening.
We live in Michigan.
Am going to discuss this with the dealer this week, but wonder if other RX
owners have experienced this.
I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling in
plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the Japanese
plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of small
headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.
George Litwinski
"I know top management has always been behind me. I've felt them there many
times."
Officer Herbert "Spermwhale" Whalen in Joseph Wambaugh's The Choirboys

[j***@hotmail.com]

Shouldn't this be covered under the 4yr comprehensive warranty?? Fixed
for free?

Post by nopcbs
We have a 2004 RX330 with the 18" painted Al wheels. It has 26,000 miles on
it.
The last year or so I noticed that on each wheel there is bubbling under the
silver paint. Not subtle, either, big bubbles although none have yet caused
a paint chip.
We have a 1992 LS, as well, and this sort of thing did not happen until
after something like a decade of ownership. Seems WAY too soon for this sort
of thing to be happening.
We live in Michigan.
Am going to discuss this with the dealer this week, but wonder if other RX
owners have experienced this.
I must say that the overall quality of the RX330 is not up to what we
experienced with the 1992 LS400. So far nothing mechanical, but there have
been a series of minor things (failed bushing, failed sun visor support,
failed valve stem in wheel that caused a catastrophic tire failure, poorly
installed grill, non-functioning roof rack adjustments, strange mottling in
plastic trim, and so on). Someone was asleep at the wheel in the Japanese
plant this thing was manufactured in. If I wanted this kind of small
headache after small headache, I might as well have bought German.
George Litwinski
"I know top management has always been behind me. I've felt them there many
times."
Officer Herbert "Spermwhale" Whalen in Joseph Wambaugh's The Choirboys