NHTSA Complaint #10281334 — 2002 LEXUS LS430

CURRENTLY, LEXUS DOES NOT HAVE A SERVICE INTERVAL FOR THE POWER STEERING FLUID THAT IS USED IN THE LS430 RACK AND PINION. I HAVE FOUND THE FLUID IS NOW DARK BROWN IN COLOR AND HAS ATTACHED TO THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE OPAQUE RESERVOIR TO VIEW THE FLUID LEVEL. THE DENIGRATED POWER STEERING FLUID HAS OCCURRED WITHIN 60,000 MILES. THIS IS THE ONLY FLUID NOT REPLACED DURING THE 60,000 MILE SERVICE THE SOLE PURPOSE OF THE RESERVOIR IS TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE THE CURRENT FLUID LEVEL IN THE EVENT ADDITIONAL FLUID IS NEEDED TO AVOID FAILURE OF THE STEERING UNIT. THE COST OF THIS SMALL WHITE PLASTIC RESERVOIR EXCEEDS $250.00 FOR THE PART ONLY AND DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR TO REPLACE THE UNIT, FLUID AND ANY HOSES THAT MAY BE NEEDED. I HAVE CONTACTED LEXUS DEALERSHIP TWICE OVER THIS ISSUE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVOCATES THAT I SHOULD JOSTLE THE RESERVOIR TO CAUSE THE FLUID INSIDE THE SEALED OR CAPPED UNIT TO SPLASH ABOVE THE BLACKENED RING. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW ONE TO SEE IF THE FLUID IS AT A DANGEROUS LEVEL. I GUESS ONE COULD BE OVER ENTHUSIASTIC AND DAMAGE, CRACK OR BREAK THE PLASTIC RESERVOIR OR A HOSE AND CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE UNIT OR OTHER ATTACHED PARTS. TWO ITEMS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IF NOT SERVICING THIS POWER STEERING FLUID, IT WILL DECREASE THE SERVICE LIFE OF THE RACK AND PINION STEERING UNIT! FAILURE TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING FLUID IN A TIMELY MANNER DOES CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE OPAQUE WHITE PLASTIC RESERVOIR, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE AMOUNT VISUALLY INSIDE THE RESERVOIR. THE CURRENT PRACTICE BY LEXUS SELLS PARTS AND AVOIDS SAFETY CONCERNS LEADING TO FAILURE OF STEERING COMPONENTS AND OR CAUSES PRE-MATURE FAILURE OF THE STEERING COMPONENTS. *TR