NHTSA Complaint #11321391 — 2008 LEXUS IS

LEXUS ISF, YEAR MODELS 2008-2014, ARE AFFECTED BY A VALLEY PLATE LEAK DUE TO THE FACT THAT TOYOTA/LEXUS UTILIZED THE IMPROPER SEALANT AND USED THE IMPROPER AMOUNT, LEADING TO THE HEAT EXCHANGER LEAKING COOLANT ONCE THE ORIGINAL, INADEQUATE SEALANT BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS COULD CAUSE A CONDITION WHERE THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. THIS ISSUE IS VERY PROMINENT IN THE COMMUNITY (EVERY LEXUS FACEBOOK GROUP AND FORUM HAS DOCUMENTED THIS INFORMATION) - MOST ISFS DEVELOP THIS UNDER 100K MILES. FURTHERMORE, ALL ISFS WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A CRACKED RH MANIFOLD ON THE #8 RUNNER. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD IN ADDITION TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. MY 2008 ISF HAS BEEN LEAKING COOLANT FOR ABOUT 15K MILES, PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE (INSPECTED EVERY OIL CHANGE). IN ADDITION, I HAVE TO START TOPPING OF THE COOLANT EVERY WEEK. LEXUS DEALER QUOTED THIS REPAIR AT ALMOST $2000. *TR