To figure out how much you might spend on the Lexus engine repair cost, it is imperative that you know the difference between all engines offered in Lexus vehicles. Being aware of which Lexus engines are top tier and which one’s struggle can help you make a good decision about which model is reliable and durable for you to purchase.
An engine replacement’s overall average price is between $2,500 and $4,000, while an engine rebuild will cost only between $500 and $800 for most engine types.
Lexus Engine Types
2JZ-GE 3.0-liter
The 1st generation Lexus IS300 is used in Lexus’ sports sedan vehicles, with the 2JZ engine providing 240 horsepower and giving the option of a 5-speed manual transmission for some vehicles. Although this has caused some engine concerns, manual IS300 engines are still considered high-quality engines due to the ample power and drivability.
2GR-FSE
Another popular Lexus engine type is the 2GR, frequently found in almost every car model in the Lexus lineup. A popular V6 engine, this car engine provides smooth shifting, sample performance qualities, and great fuel efficiency when compared to other engines that cause higher Lexus engine repair costs.
With flexibility and durability, this 2GR FSE engine is used in every-day cars, sports cars, and trucks, showing this mechanism’s versatility. This engine is known for its horsepower, using a supercharger instead of an internal-combustion mechanism.
2UR-GSE 5.0-liter
The 5.0-liter, V8 engine was first used in the Lexus IS-F car, with the engine being a high-compression and high-performance vehicle. Nowadays, this engine is used in the RC-F and GS-F vehicles, fearing a favorable compression rate and a very high horsepower rating of 467 horsepower.
Although this engine is a technological and performance powerhouse, there have been some concerns about a high Lexus engine repair cost associated with these model types.
1LR-GUE 4.8-liter
This Lexus 4.8-liter V10 engine was only used in the Lexus LFA model. With a 12:1 compression ratio and a high 96500redline rate, this engine is used for high-performance vehicles, producing 90% of peak torque at 3700RPM. Even with the high engine response and predictability, some owners are concerned about a high Lexus engine repair cost in the Lexus LFA over the years.
1UZ-FE 4.0-liter
The 1UZ is the engine that is considered one of the first and original models. First used in the 1980s, this 4.liter, V8 engine provided smoothness, plenty of torque, and clear shifting for thousands of miles.
Although this type of engine is known for its durability and can withstand hundreds of miles, there have been some high Leus engine repair costs associated with this kind of V8.
Lexus Engine Crack 2020 Recall
In 2020, Toyota recalled nearly 45,000 car models produced from the model years of 2019 and 2020. The recall involved vehicles with a 2.5-liter, inline-four engine that experienced engine cracking and a high Lexus engine repair cost.
The recall dealt with vehicles that could lead to engine cracks, coolant leaks, stalling, overheating, and engine fires, leading to an unsafe condition for both the drivers and the surrounding vehicles’ passengers.
Although the company estimated that only about 250 vehicles would have the problem, the high Lexus engine repair cost and the safety issues associated with the engine fires are severe enough to warrant a full recall.
Toyota had to recall some of their most popular vehicles – even the popular Lexus models were susceptible to these severe and serious problems that led to buyer concerns and reliability issues. The engine cracks result from a manufacturing error that could cause the engine stalling or the car to catch fire.
The recall covered all models with a 2.5-liter, inline=four engine and focused on the 2020 model years of the Camry, Camry hybrid, 2019-2020 RAV4, Avalon hybrid, and the 2020 Lexus ES300H.
In 2020 alone, almost 45,000 model units were covered by the recall. Almost 37,000 of the total units recalled were the 2019 and 2020 RAV crossovers, but the Lexus ES300H still was susceptible to a high engine repair cost and durability issues.
If the issue occurs in the type of Lexus car that you currently own, the engine cracks can lead to excessive engine noise, billowing engine smoke, dashboard warning lights flashing, and engine overheating. The NHTSA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, stated that Toyota estimated only about .5% of the vehicles had the problem – but they had to carry on with the recall due to safety concerns.
Lexus Engine Stalling 2020 Recall
In early 2020, Lexus and Toyota recalled nearly 2 million vehicles that dealt with frequent engine stalling and a high Lexus engine repair cost. The model years affected were built from 2013 to 2019 and included vehicles with faulty fuel pumps. The faulty fuel pumps that were not transferring the oil and fuel could lead to sudden stalling and hesitation while driving.
If your car suddenly stalls or hesitates while driving, you cannot accelerate and power the vehicle as intended. The problem of a faulty fuel pump increases the risk of crashes. It increases the likelihood of a dangerous driving situation, especially if your car is driving at high speeds on the highway.
If the fuel pump fails, drivers may notice that the engine begins running rough, causing rough idling. Rough engine idling leads to a higher Lexus engine repair cost and various other warning lights that appear on the dashboard. If the engine stalls frequently or has other problems associated with the high engine repair cost, it might not restart.
Engines that cannot restart require a complete engine replacement, which can be one of the most expensive fixes in your vehicle. Unfortunately for Lexus model owners, Lexus and Toyota have no fix for this specified recall dealing with engine stalling and a high engine repair cost.
Lexus IS 350
The Lexus IS359 had numerous problems in various categories throughout the years, such as the interior accessories, the steering mechanism, and the engine. The NHTSA cited problems with the engine, the vehicle speed control, the engine cooling system, and the accelerator pedal.
The NHTSA cited concerns regarding the engine that typically occurred at around 128,000 miles, with owners stating that the engine burns too much after an oil change. The engine oil burns more than it should, and the excessive engine oil consumption leads to overheating and a high Lexus engine repair cost. These engine problems are especially apparent in the 2006 Lexus IS 350 model.
Lexus ES 330
The Lexus US 330 had concerns regarding the engine, such as hesitation while accelerating. Furthermore, NHTSA concerns engine cooling, accelerator pedal, and vehicle speed control. Owners of the Lexus ES 330 for the 2005 model stated that the hesitation while accelerating occurred at around 65,000 miles with common symptoms of the engine taking 2-3 seconds to accelerate while pressing down on the pedal.
Lexus ES 350
The Lexus ES 350 was prone to a high Lexus engine repair cost, especially in the 2007 model year. The top categories of concern in the Lexus ES 350 dealt with a blown engine head, oil leaking from the timing chain cover, a ticking noise, fuel injectors making noise during use, and the accelerator sticking.
A blown engine head would often occur at around 88,000 miles, with owners having to fork out around $4,000 to fix the issue.
Lexus GX470
The worst model year of this car type was the 2005 Lexus GX 470, with numerous engine concerns leading to high Lexus engine repair costs. The most common problems from owners dealt with the secondary air injection failure, the VSCS not working correctly, and vehicle speed control malfunctions.
The secondary air injection failure would cost around $14,80 and happen at nearly 110,000 miles on average. The most common solution is to repair the secondary air injection or replace the entire bypass sensor.
If you are looking for a new Lexus GS car, avoid the 1998 Lexus GS. Car complaints rate this model year as the worst 2nd-generation Lexus GS year overall in terms of problem severity and problem frequency, with this 1998 model often having a high Lexus engine repair cost.
Lexus IS 250
The worst model year of this Lexus car is the 2007 Lexus IS 250. Unfortunately, this kind of IS 250 had engine problems from owners and the NHTSA, with the latter citing concerns about the check engine and VSC light turning on during use, along with the engine cooling and the accelerator pedal.
Lexus IS 460
The 2007 Lexus IS 460 dealt with many problems in the interior accessories category, the brakes category, the suspension category, and the engine category. The NHTSA cited concerns about the engine, stating that the car had trouble accelerating, the accelerator pedal did not move the car, the vehicle would increase in RPMs without increasing speed, and the spark plugs would fail prematurely.
Lexus RX 330
The 2004 Lexus RX 330 is a victim of interior accessories problems, AC and heater problems, steering problems, and engine problems. The main concerns regarding the engine dealt with the o2 sensor failure and the sudden and unintended acceleration. The average cost to repair the oxygen sensor comes in at around $700 and happens at an average of 150,000 miles.
Lexus RX 350
The worst categories regarding the Lexus RX 350 dealt with the interior accessories, the engine, the body and paint, and the steering. Along with various user concerns, the NHTSA cited 78 issues regarding the Lexus RX engine system.
The main owner's concerns focused on the massive oil leak, the ignition coil failure, and the sudden loss of power in the engine. The typical repair happened at just below 100,000 miles and often dealt with an oil line recall, increasing the overall Lexus engine repair cost.
The Bottom Line on Lexus Engine Repair Cost
Knowing the most common engine types can help you determine the Lexus engine repair’s overall cost! You can expect to pay between $2,500 for a full engine replacement, while completing an engine rebuild will cost between $500 and $800 depending on the engine type.