Bought a new 2005 IS300 and mid January the sound system went 100% dead. The lights on the radio/cd illuminate as normal but no sound. Waited 10 days for the amplifier module to be "special shipped". Returned car to dealer and they say it was not the amp after all and they need to replace the whole unit. More delays! Has anyone experienced the same problem?
Haven't heard of this before. Feel for you.
I have heard of the occasional disk getting jammed in there but never heard of the whole system quitting like that. Over at IS300.net they discuss everything about the car and this is a new one on me. I'm sure the replacement unit will be fine. Give them crap if they scratch up your dash replacing it!
Any componant, on any car can fail at anytime! There is never a rhyme or reason, could just be a defective part, that's why the start the warranty at 0 miles instead of 12,000 they relize parts may fail.
So don't be worried about it failing, be more concerned if they don't fix it!
But I may have shot for the Amp first also, so let them do what they do and I find most Lexus dealers are excellent with customer service, but they can make mistakes (as we all do!).
Good Luck
The dealer removed a radio system from a new IS300 and replaced it, with what was after all, a defective unit. The sound system works again and I hope it will continue to run trouble free.
It seems that this is an unusual problem and does not reflect on the overall quality of the car - which is excellent. My wife traded a 2000 BMW 3 series for this car which had a Harmon-Kardon Sound upgraded sound system. The sound from the Lexus is very superior to that system. In fact I would have to say that the sound is the best I have ever heard in a car!
Also, this car gives a super "tight" drive and overall I give it top marks - higher than the BMW which after driving the IS300 seemed a little like a river boat - (I know river boats because I own a 1999 DeVille)
If I had to judge this issue, the only complaint I would have is the time it took to get the amplifier module - 10 days - which I find excessive. (What happened to Overnight Shipping)
Things happen - and in this case they did - but I must say the IS300 is fantastic car.
I've had my 2002 IS300 since the end of Sept. 2002 and haven't had a single issue with it thus far. I'd better knock on wood because I sure would hate to jinx myself on this! :-) At any rate, there's simply no way that I can describe how happy I have been with this car. I've had some pretty nice rides over the years but my IS300 really has been superior in build quality and reliability to any of my other cars. I have absolutely ZERO regrets about purchasing an IS300.
R.M.
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