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lara_thunder53

Lexus GS ABS Failure

ABS lamp intermittently illuminating on my 2011 Lexus GS with gasoline engine, coinciding with complete ABS failure. Error code indicates lateral acceleration sensor. Has anyone else experienced similar problems? Could a defective control unit be the culprit? Vehicle stability, traction control, electronic stability, steering angle, and electronic control are all affected and I feel that a serious accident could happen if I don’t solve this problem quickly.

4 comment(s)

davidcrystal71

The lateral acceleration sensor is a common failure point on these GS models, especially around your mileage (166k km). The ABS light and system failure are definitely classic symptoms. The fact that the error is stored points to a real issue, not just a glitch. When the lateral acceleration sensor goes bad, it messes with the vehicle's ability to accurately gauge its movement, which throws off the ABS, VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), and even the traction control systems. Have you noticed any issues with the VSC or traction control lights coming on as well? Does the steering feel weird? Is the steering angle behaving erratically?

lara_thunder53 (Author)

Yes, I have noticed the VSC light illuminating occasionally, and the steering does feel a bit "off" at times, almost like it's twitching slightly, especially when I’m driving on slightly uneven surfaces. Could you elaborate a little more on how the lateral acceleration sensor affects these systems? And if it is indeed the control unit, is there a possibility of fixing it instead of replacing it entirely?

davidcrystal71

The VSC light and twitchy steering confirm it even further. The lateral acceleration sensor feeds data to the ABS/VSC control unit. It’s basically a gyroscope that tells the computer how fast the car is rotating around its vertical axis. This information, combined with steering angle and wheel speed data, is used to determine if the car is starting to skid or lose control. If the sensor is sending incorrect or no data, the system freaks out. I wouldn't try fixing the control unit yourself. Given the symptoms, and the fact that these units are known to fail, I'd bet money that's the issue. Diagnostics can be tricky, so you will need specialized equipment. My suggestion is to go to a workshop. It's going to be around 1000€, I reckon.

lara_thunder53 (Author)

It seems like a visit to a trusted workshop is the best course of action to get this resolved properly and safely. I will take your advice and seek assistance. I’ll be sure to mention the likely cause, as this might speed up the process. The total repair cost was approximately 1000€, as you predicted. I am grateful for your assistance!

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