I wanted to share my experience with Lexus because I think people considering a new Lexus should know what happened to me. I purchased a brand-new 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ from Regency Lexus in BC in late January 2026. I paid approximately $60,000 before tax, expecting the quality, reliability, and customer service associated with a premium brand.
Instead, within approximately one week of taking delivery, I experienced a tire failure on the highway. Months later, after repeated inspections, alignment work, replacement tires, and Lexus engineering involvement, I was still dealing with a persistent right-hand pull. I eventually pursued CAMVAP, but my complaint was classified as tire-related, and CAMVAP declined to take further action.
I'm sharing the details because the most important part of this story is that the vehicle continued to pull to the right after I replaced all four original tires with brand-new tires of a different model.
1. A tire failure within the first week
I took delivery of my new 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ in late January 2026. The vehicle had approximately 32 km on the odometer when I purchased it.
On February 4, after less than 1,000 km of ownership, one of the original Bridgestone Alenza run-flat tires failed while I was driving on the highway.
This was a brand-new vehicle. I had barely had time to enjoy it before dealing with a serious problem.
I had the tire inspected, and the feedback I received from Kal Tire and Toyota technicians did not identify a clear puncture, impact, or other external cause that explained the failure. I also had video relating to the incident.
The incident left me concerned about the original tire and, more broadly, the condition of the vehicle. I expected Lexus and the dealership to take the concern seriously and help establish what had happened.
Unfortunately, the tire failure was only the beginning of the problems.
2. The vehicle developed a persistent pull to the right
Following the initial incident, I experienced a persistent tendency for the vehicle to pull to the right.
I wasn't satisfied with how the vehicle drove, and I wanted the issue properly investigated. A new vehicle at this price point should not require months of troubleshooting before the owner can feel confident in its steering behaviour.
I sought assistance from multiple service providers, including Kal Tire, Toyota technicians in Kamloops, and Lexus service personnel. Alignment inspections and adjustments were performed, but the pulling continued.
This became an ongoing cycle of inspections, adjustments, test drives, and attempts to determine why the vehicle was not driving as I expected.
3. I replaced all four tires, but the pulling continued
This is the part of the situation I find particularly frustrating.
I replaced all four original Bridgestone run-flat tires with brand-new Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires in the manufacturer's specified size.
These were not the original tires, tires that had been driven on for months, or a single replacement tire. I replaced the entire set with four new tires of a different model.
The vehicle continued to pull to the right after the replacement tires were installed.
The pulling had been present with the original factory tires and remained with the new Michelin tires.
I recognize that this does not, by itself, conclusively establish the mechanical cause. However, it raises an obvious question: if the vehicle continues to exhibit the same steering symptom after all four original tires have been replaced, why should the entire complaint be treated as though it is simply a tire problem?
I wanted the persistent pulling investigated independently of the original tire failure. I wanted to understand why the vehicle continued to pull and to have the problem resolved.
Instead, I eventually found myself in a dispute in which the tire-related classification became central, despite the fact that the steering symptom continued with the replacement tires.
4. Multiple alignments and service visits did not resolve the problem
Over the following months, I had multiple alignment inspections and adjustments performed.
Different service providers became involved, including Kal Tire, Toyota technicians, and Lexus. The vehicle's alignment was checked and adjusted repeatedly.
At one point, an alignment inspection reportedly identified unsecured hardware associated with earlier alignment work. There were also discussions about alignment measurements and differences between readings.
Despite all these attempts, the vehicle continued to pull to the right.
Eventually, the alignment readings were reported to be within factory specifications. However, the pulling remained.
That distinction matters. I understand that manufacturers specify acceptable alignment tolerances, but being told that measurements are within specifications does not automatically resolve a customer's concern about a vehicle's behaviour on the road.
I had already spent considerable time trying different approaches to address the problem. The fact that repeated alignment work did not provide a satisfactory resolution was a major source of frustration.
I was not asking for a perfect vehicle in every conceivable respect. I wanted a brand-new vehicle that drove properly and a clear explanation for a persistent steering concern.
5. Lexus became involved at a higher technical level
The matter eventually escalated beyond routine service visits.
Lexus became involved in the investigation, including the involvement of Lexus engineers. The vehicle was transported for further investigation, and additional work was undertaken.
I had hoped that this level of involvement would finally identify the cause and lead to a satisfactory resolution.
However, even after these interventions, I remained dissatisfied with the steering behaviour. The right-hand pull was still a concern.
By this point, I had spent months trying to resolve an issue that appeared almost immediately after delivery. I had replaced all four tires, obtained multiple alignment inspections, dealt with different service providers, and gone through additional Lexus investigations.
I was frustrated by the time and effort involved, the additional expenses, and the fact that I still did not have the outcome I expected.
6. I pursued CAMVAP for an independent resolution
After repeated attempts to address the problem, I pursued the Canadian Motor Vehicle Arbitration Plan (CAMVAP).
My intention was to obtain an independent review and a meaningful resolution to a problem that had remained unresolved despite numerous service visits.
An independent technical inspection was conducted through the process. The resulting technical report documented that a slight right-hand pull remained, even though the alignment was reported to be within specifications.
For me, this was an important part of the history. The persistent pulling was not merely something I had mentioned in passing. It was documented in the independent technical inspection.
I hoped the process would help address the unresolved concern and provide a path forward.
Unfortunately, CAMVAP ultimately classified the complaint as tire-related and declined to take further action on my vehicle.
I was left without the resolution I had been seeking.
7. Why the CAMVAP outcome is so frustrating
What I find particularly difficult to accept is that the pulling continued after I replaced all four original tires with new Michelin tires.
The original tires were no longer on the vehicle, yet the same steering symptom persisted.
There had also been repeated alignment inspections and adjustments, involvement from Toyota and Lexus technicians, Lexus engineering involvement, and an independent technical report documenting a remaining pull.
I understand that CAMVAP has rules governing eligibility and the matters it can consider. I am not claiming that its decision proves a mechanical defect exists, nor am I claiming to know the definitive cause of the pulling.
My frustration is that I sought a resolution to a persistent steering concern, yet the process ended with the complaint classified as tire-related and no further action taken on my vehicle.
From my perspective, the continuing pull with the replacement tires was a central part of the complaint and deserved to be considered in its own right.
I remain concerned that the original tire incident and the ongoing steering symptom became tied together in a way that left the broader issue unresolved.
8. The financial and personal impact
Beyond the mechanical concern itself, this experience has cost me time, money, and peace of mind.
I incurred expenses relating to replacement tires and alignment work. I lost work time and had to repeatedly arrange appointments, coordinate inspections, communicate with different service providers, and pursue the matter through the dispute-resolution process.
Instead of enjoying a new vehicle, I spent months managing a problem that appeared within the first week of ownership.
I paid approximately $60,000 before tax for this vehicle. I did not expect to be dealing with an unresolved steering concern, repeated service visits, and a prolonged dispute almost immediately after purchasing it.
The situation has also fundamentally changed how I feel about owning the vehicle. I no longer have the confidence I expected to have in a brand-new Lexus.
I am now faced with deciding what to do with a nearly new vehicle that I am unhappy with, while considering the potential financial loss involved in trading it in.
That is an incredibly disappointing position to be in after making such a significant purchase.
9. My overall experience with Lexus and Regency Lexus
I appreciate that diagnosing mechanical issues can sometimes be complicated. I also understand that no manufacturer can guarantee that every new vehicle will be completely free of problems.
What matters to me is how a problem is handled when it appears almost immediately after delivery.
I expected clear communication, accountability, and a genuine effort to reach a satisfactory outcome. Instead, I have spent months pursuing answers and trying to resolve a persistent concern that continued despite repeated interventions.
The original tire failure occurred within the first week. The vehicle continued to pull to the right with a completely different set of new tires. Multiple alignment inspections and adjustments did not resolve the issue. Lexus engineers became involved, and an independent technical inspection documented that the pull remained.
Yet I am still without a satisfactory resolution.
This experience has seriously damaged my confidence in both the vehicle and the Lexus ownership experience.
I would encourage anyone considering a new Lexus to document everything, keep all repair reports and correspondence, and carefully consider how they would handle an unresolved problem if one arose.
10. Where things stand now
I purchased a new Lexus expecting premium quality, reliability, and peace of mind.
Instead, I experienced an early tire failure, a persistent right-hand pull that continued after replacing all four tires, repeated alignment work, multiple inspections, Lexus engineering involvement, additional expenses, and a CAMVAP process that ultimately did not provide the resolution I sought.
I cannot claim to know the precise mechanical cause of the pulling. What I can say is that it persisted across two different sets of tires and despite repeated attempts to address it.
I am deeply disappointed that, after all this time and effort, I remain in this position.
I would like to hear from other Lexus owners, particularly anyone who has experienced persistent pulling or steering concerns on a new vehicle, had the same symptoms continue after replacing the tires, or gone through CAMVAP over a similar dispute.
Did you manage to get a satisfactory resolution? Was the issue eventually diagnosed? Were you able to get the manufacturer to take responsibility for investigating it?
I am sharing this experience because I want other buyers to understand what happened and because I would genuinely like to know whether others have encountered something similar.