Issues with 2019 Lexus ES 350 Stock Audio System
- Thread starter UESider
- Start date
This discussion thread has 51,000 views. That's a lot of consumers that know that the new ES 350 has NO surround sound at all and NO ability to adjust the sound with the useless fader. We all know that this is completely different from previous cars we have had where we enjoyed the sound system. Apparently this is true of even the 17 speaker ML system! I think we know who the KNOW NOTHING is.
There may be sound coming from the other speakers but you cannot hear it because the front is so loud and cannot be adjusted by the fader. Have you driven around in the car and listened to it? The passenger side is even worse for some reason. If audio "experts" believe that hearing only sound from the front speakers is best, fine with me. The whole purpose of the fader is to let each individual adjust the sound to what they like. Isn't that what a fader is supposed to do? It used to do it in the 2015 ES 350. I want the sound to fill up the car and be non-directional. That is the way my Acura MDX sounds and the way our prior ES sounded. It did not occur to us that we had to check the fader when we tested the new ES. I wish we had checked the reviews. Lexus screwed this up. This is NOT a premium sound system and does not belong in a luxury car.
Hi there....Just returned from my Lexus dealer. They replaced the amplifier in my 2019 300h and I can honestly say I now have surround sound in my car. There is more power coming from the back speakers, not just the tinny sound that I used to have, there is bass coming from the back also and you can actually FADE from the front to the back, it just doesnt cut out like it used to and you do not have to crank up the volume as much. Thank you LeeSoFL for posting the TSB on this problem. Had I not seen this, I never would have known. Lexus is not advertising this and this is wrong. Everyone with a 2019 ES350/300h should have gotten a first class letter in the mail like Lexus headquarters said if there would be a fix. I urge everyone who is dissatsified with the sound system to contact their Lexus Dealer and get this new amp installed. It takes less than an hour and is covered by the warranty.
I also just had the amp replaced in my 2019 ES 350 stock radio and agree with all of Pam's comments. If you push the fader all the way to the rear one or two notches, you can adjust the sound better than before. Some may think it is a modest improvement, but I am satisfied until I can get rid of the lease.
I had to talk with several people at my dealer and even provide them the TSB number before they would acknowledge the problem. Be persistent if they stonewall you.
I have been a long-time fan of Toyota because they were a leader (perhaps THE leader) in automotive quality and fuel efficiency. This has really disappointed me. First, they put this sound system in the car apparently without field testing and then tried to defend it for over a year as a design "feature" even while they were changing the 2020 model. Why change it if was working by design? Without consumers complaining in forums like this, they probably would not have.
I had to talk with several people at my dealer and even provide them the TSB number before they would acknowledge the problem. Be persistent if they stonewall you.
I have been a long-time fan of Toyota because they were a leader (perhaps THE leader) in automotive quality and fuel efficiency. This has really disappointed me. First, they put this sound system in the car apparently without field testing and then tried to defend it for over a year as a design "feature" even while they were changing the 2020 model. Why change it if was working by design? Without consumers complaining in forums like this, they probably would not have.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 7
- Reactions
- 10
Armed with the TSB posted on the forum, the service center replaced the old amp with the new one, and wow the difference is night and day! As Pam and MAH mentioned, the sound now actually fills in the entire car and I can hear noticeable bass coming from the rear where before there was absolutely nothing. I even sat in the backseat to test things out and the entire rear of the car was shaking and vibrating from the bass of the subwoofer lol. I also didn’t have to put my ear right up against the rear speakers to hear no more than a whisper of audio coming out like before. This now is much better, and I can confidently say that IMO, is the best audio system I have had out of my two previous Lexus vehicles. Even the sound in the front is now more evenly distributed with stronger bass and clarity. Given that there are 7 front speakers and 3 in the back by design, there still will always be somewhat of a front bias as I’ve honestly found in all my previous Lexus vehicles. Nevertheless, you can actually fade to the rear now and adjust the system more to your liking. I am no music expert, but I currently have my fader set two notches to the rear with surround and ASL ON, treble +1, Mid +2, and Bass +3. I listen to hip hop and I enjoy heavy bass. This system now sounds great. I also use Apple Car Play to listen to all my audio, so the source definitely does matter. I urge everyone to print out the TSB and get this done asap. Thank you to everyone for your persistence and for fighting for what’s right. We all paid a lot of money for this vehicle, and it’s only fair that we should finally be getting what we have deserved this entire past year. Best of luck to everyone
For those of us who were disappointed to find that we had no rear speaker support in our ES350 (base stereo), take heart!! The "fix is in." I just had mine repaired. After a year, we were at the dealer for something else and inquired about a fix.. a service advisor over heard me and said "Yes , there is now an amplifier part available to give support to an almost inaudible rear speaker system." We made our appointment and had it done in 90 min. We had complained to Lexus headquarters all year, was given a "case number" but was never contacted even though NOW there is a solution to the problem. It's still sub par for a Lexus,, but it's a great improvement!! Here is one of the part numbers noted on my repair invoice: #8628006220 (note:I do not have navigation system... that required a different part so make sure you tell them before they order it). There's alot of other numbers and notations. Just tell them someone said there is a solution and it was done. GOOD LUCK!!! :
Here is the TSB again for anyone who missed it. Lexus is obviously not informing us of this fix. After complaining several times over the last year and a half, I was told if and when there was a fix, we would all be notified by First class mail....... WRONG!!!!!!! Shame on Lexus again.
We have to find out through blogs like this which I am very grateful for. So, let's keep it going and let's all get the new surround sound system that's been so long overdue!!
Lexus installed the amplifier in my 2019 ES350 and it did absolutely NOTHING to elevate the sound in the rear and door speakers. The only thing that happened was louder sound from the front speaker. At this point, I want to just get rid of the car. I have had Lexus vehicles for over 20 years and I will never purchase another nor will I recommend their cars.
Been driving the 2020 ES 300h for a few weeks, buttery smooth refined ride ... and it was ruined by the awful stock audio. That is, until I did this:
1. subscribed to premium Spotify,
2. elevated equalizer settings in the Spotify app,
3. reclined my driver seat back a tad,
4. moved audio balance one bar to the right,
5. plug in for apple carplay/ Spotify.
These steps fixed the low bass problem, brought rear speakers to life. Gotta use Spotify, but oh well. The difference in sound quality is night/ day. Audio problem solved.
1. subscribed to premium Spotify,
2. elevated equalizer settings in the Spotify app,
3. reclined my driver seat back a tad,
4. moved audio balance one bar to the right,
5. plug in for apple carplay/ Spotify.
These steps fixed the low bass problem, brought rear speakers to life. Gotta use Spotify, but oh well. The difference in sound quality is night/ day. Audio problem solved.
Last edited:
- Messages
- 6
- Reactions
- 1
Yes, the situation is terrible with our 2019 ES350 Ultra-Luxury model w/ ML system. Zero surround system, and complaints made to everyone from our dealer to US Lexus to Japan have been dead ended with the story that the audio system "works as designed". In that respect they are absolutely correct as a Lexus employee at the Georgetown KY manufacturing facility inadvertently told me exactly what happened to "many hundreds of ES350's" were finished up with "any radio in inventory" on account of an OEM issue. More people should complain. It's terrible what happened and a very poor example of corporate attitudes.
how do you finish with "any radio in inventory"? That does not exist.
Sell the car, sue the company, it is not something they can fix - they designed it like that.
flipside909
Premium Member
- Messages
- 317
- Reactions
- 372
In my opinion, the Japanese decided that the front of the ES cabin is like a theater where the sound is biased toward the front, while the back is there to "fill" sound. The rear door speakers are buried low in the door panel so you cannot hear the sound clearly. I honestly think they forgot about their buyer, vs one guy's opinion/decision.
Just bought a 2019 ES350 and I wish I would have found this forum before I did. I was lied to by my "product specialist" that my car had the Martin Levinson system and then he told me it was not available, except in the newer models, after I called him on it, another lie. I too have nothing from the rear speakers. I am finding my "luxury car buying experience" as something I never want to experience again. Thought Lexus was different, should have stayed with Lincoln. Thanks for the service bulletin, I have an appointment for service next week.