My driver's side brake light bulb went out. Lexus dealer is telling me that a new bulb is over $300. I am having a hard time believing any manuafacturer would design a car with $300 brake light bulbs, unless it had something to do with a Pentagon procurement.

Any suggestions, or alternatives?

 

im not sure what they are quoting you. the bulb itself is simply a dual element push in type bulb. they may be picking the wrong year, thinking you have a rx350 which has the led type tail lamps and the bulbs are not replacable. maybe they are simply trying to sell you a whole tail lamp assy. recheck with them and if you have to take them out to the vehicle to show them exactly which bulb you are after

 

I had it checked by 2 different dealerships. They both said it required an LED panel, or something, and the cost was going to be around $300. The trun signal, and tail lights worked fine, but the brake light did not work. Pretty steep charge for a brake light. I had been thinking about trading the car anyway, so that combined with the 60,000 service coming up, sped up my decision.

Problem solved. Wish I had done it before the $286 brake job.

 

RX330 models also have an LED tail light. I am not sure about the price, but $300 does not sound too high.

 

Steve,

I hope they didn't ding you too bad for the Brake Lamp on the trade ????? What was the trade value you got. And, what your new ride.

 

I have a 04 330 with the driver's side break light out as well. The break light is in fact an LED and my problem is actually intermittent (99% out though, of course the 1% was when I took it to the dealer). What I find even more strange is that when I remove both rear light assemblies and plug the driver's side lights into the passenger side socket, the light does not work. This tells me that it is something wrong within the actual assembly. However, when I hook up 12V DC directly to the socket, it lights up like a Christmas tree (LEDs must be ok). Unless somebody out there can help me out, I'll probably drop the 300 bucks (probably more since I live in Germany) to replace the assembly. It just bugs me that I can't figure out what the actual problem is. Lexus has a recall on the BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, but if it controls both break lights, that couldn't be the problem since only one of mine is out. I love my Lexus and would buy another one in a heartbeat, but I have to say this problem drops its stock a little. Anyone have an idea what the problem could be?

 

The bulb is just plug in there maybe 3 dollar bulbs.