2008 Lexus RX Hybrid Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound with the VSC message displayed and the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle made the same abnormal sound for 15 minutes after the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS accumulator pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,140. Consumer stated extended warranty program for the defective part but that program expired in 2018. When the ABS actuator pump fails, it stops regulating and maintaining hydraulic pressure in the brake lines which can lead to brake failure. No recall was ever issued despite the fact that a failure of the braking system.

NHTSA ID

11468955

Incident

Jun 13, 2022

Mileage

138,140 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the check engine and the Hybrid system maintenance warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and where the vehicle was being serviced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,320.

NHTSA ID

11455880

Incident

Feb 28, 2022

Mileage

89,320 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS warning light would illuminate, and a grinding noise was present while depressing the brake pedal. On multiple occasions while driving at very slow speeds the vehicle abruptly stopped. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ID

11439047

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

Mileage

75,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while reversing out a parking space at a low rate of speed, the vehicle stalled as the hybrid system warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to walk to an automotive parts store and purchased a new battery which he replaced in his vehicle. The contact was able to drive to a gas station and soon after leaving the gas station, the vehicle stalled again as the same warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after multiple attempts and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V396000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) and referred him to a local dealer. The contact called a dealer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 268,000

NHTSA ID

11430096

Incident

Aug 19, 2021

Mileage

268,000 mi

STARTED NOTICING "BURPING" NOISE WHEN I PRESSED ON BRAKES FROM ENGINE BAY, THEN LATER I NOTICED CONTINUOUS CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER ENGINE BAY AFTER I WOULD TURN OFF ENGINE COMPLETELY. AS LATER TIME WENT BY THE CLICKING SOUND WOULD GET LONGER AND CONSISTENT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "LUNGE" FORWARD WHEN I WOULD START THE ENGINE AND INITIALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE POSITION AND HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COMPLETELY STOP. THATS WHEN UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" FROM TOYOTA REGARDING BRAKE ACTUATOR BEING REPLACED. BUT TOYOTA PUT A 10-YEAR EXPIRATION ON THE WARRANTY SO MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY BY 6 MONTHS! TOYOTA NEVER MADE AWARE OR REACHED OUT TO THEIR REGISTERED CLIENTS OF THIS DANGEROUS RECALL THAT IS $3,000.00 TO REPLACE. I WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE ACTUATOR COMPLETELY GOES BAD THAT STOPPING THE CAR WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER AS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR APPLIES NEEDED BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE TO ALL FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11209029

Incident

May 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT FELT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND ADDITIONAL DISTANCE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK TOYOTA SANDY SPRINGS (LOCATED AT 6475 ROSWELL RD, ATLANTA, GA 30328, (404) 476-3921) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE ABS, BUT IT EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

11197208

Incident

Apr 10, 2019

Mileage

111,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ABS, BRAKE SYSTEM, AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX (3100 SPUR 482, IRVING, TX 75062, (972) 721-0500) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO IGNORE THE FAILURE AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,068.

NHTSA ID

11133120

Incident

Oct 3, 2018

Mileage

78,068 mi

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND FAILED TO PROPERLY BREAK WHICH THEREFORE ENDED HITTING AN OLDER MODEL BMW AT APPROX 45MPH. THE AIRBAGS INFLATED SENDING SOME TYPE OF METAL SHARDS TO MY RIGHT LOWER ABDOMEN THAT RESULTED IN MASSIVE BLEEDING. *TT *JS

NHTSA ID

11082305

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO FULLY DEPRESS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,995.

NHTSA ID

11067251

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

239,995 mi

WHILE DRIVING I GOT A MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM - THEN THE CAR DIED

NHTSA ID

10992307

Incident

May 25, 2017

CONDENSATION BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSTANTLY.

NHTSA ID

10982958

Incident

Apr 24, 2017

Mileage

127,000 mi

RUBBER COVER ON REAR DOOR LATCH HAS DISINTEGRATED/MELTED.

NHTSA ID

10910821

Incident

Feb 1, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

IT WAS FRIDAY MORNING ABOUT 10AM. I HAD A PULLED SLOWLY INTO QUEST DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS STOPPED I WAS PUTTING THE CAR INTO THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT THE HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CAR WENT OVER THE CEMENT BLOCK AND PAVEMENT AND THRU THE DOUBLE DOORS AND INSIDE THE BUILDING FINALLY STOPPING WHEN I HIT THE RECEPTIONIST COUNTER.

NHTSA ID

10840420

Incident

Jan 22, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE, ACCELERATOR STUCK IN DOWN POSITION, BRAKES LOCKED UP, ENGINE ACCELERATED TO VERY FAST RATE, STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND RESULTING IN MY CAR SLAMMING INTO FRONT END OF CAR PARKED BEHIND ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY CAR THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD CONTINUING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED ACROSS PARKING LOT AND HITTING ANOTHER CAR BROADSIDE WHICH FINALLY STOPPED MY CAR. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS DEEMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

NHTSA ID

10825201

Incident

Feb 3, 2016

Mileage

56,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I LOST POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. P/S AND BRAKE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH "SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE AWD SYSTEM". AFTER A FEW MORE MILES THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE PROPULSION POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED FINE WITH NO POWER STEERING. I MADE THE NEXT MILE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE ECU THAT HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO A BAD STEERING RACK. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM WOULD CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE/HYBRID SYSTEM?

NHTSA ID

10808077

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

90,650 mi

THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE, DRAGGED AND ULTIMATELY DISENGAGED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE HWY. THANKFULLY, IT DID NOT KILL ANYONE. ALSO, THANK GOODNESS IT DIDN'T GET CAUGHT UNDER MY REAR TIRE CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10788801

Incident

Nov 5, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE 7 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR (SINCE IT WAS NEW), MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY: WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT MEDIUM SPEEDS, SAY 30-45 MPH, AND I HIT A BUMP IT FEELS LIKE I GET A LITTLE "PUSH IN THE BUTT". SORT OF LIKE A FORWARD SKID. SO THEN I APPLY THE BRAKES A BIT. DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE THIS. MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT HE CAN'T FEEL IT WHEN HE IS A PASSENGER.

NHTSA ID

10788154

Incident

Nov 2, 2015

Mileage

87,160 mi

ONE OF THE 2 HYBRID MODULES FAILED. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME ONE RECALLED IN 2013. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH CHECK HYBRID ENGINE AND CHECK VCS ( I THINK WERE THE INITIALS, FOR VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM). HAD THE CAR BEEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I BELIEVE A FATAL CRASH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. AS IT WAS, LUCKILY, WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. HAD CAR TOWED OFF HIGHWAY BUT TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME HE DROVE IT UP ON THE FLATBED. I HAD TRIED STARTING IT SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. ONCE OFF ROAD, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO IS OPEN SATURDAYS UNTIL 3 PM AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM. I WAS TOLD THAT IF ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE CAR STARTED THAT I COULD DRIVE IT HOME. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT MONDAY WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE DEALER SO THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CHECKED OUT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS MODULE, WHEN HEATED UP TO HIGH TEMPERATURE, CAN FAIL BY THE SOLDERING CONTACTS OPENING AND THE POWER THEREBY FAILING. THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT THE 2013 RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT. HOW DO I KNOW THAT THIS NEW MODULE WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING? LEXUS ABSORBED THE LABOR ON THE MODULE REPLACEMENT BUT CLAIMED THE PART (WHICH WAS THE RECALL PART INSTALLED TO CURE THE RECALL PROBLEM IN 2013) WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ABSORB THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS MODULE SINCE THE 2013 RECALL OR IF OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AND MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER RECALL. I WOULD ALSO LIKE THE FULL COST REIMBURSED AND TO HAVE SOME SOLID REASSURANCE THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10767579

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

221,400 mi

POWER STEERING CAN HARDLY MOVE

NHTSA ID

10759295

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO TREES AND BUSHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10749750

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UP TO 16 MPH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 04/14/15*LJ UPDATED 6/29/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10668650

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM A ROAD TRIP I NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH. I SLOWED DOWN AND TRIED TO PULL OVER BUT BEFORE I COULD DO SO, MY FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL (THE ENTIRE RIM AND TIRE) BROKE OFF OF THE CAR. LUCKILY I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER SAFELY TO THE GRASSY SHOULDER. I PURCHASED MY CAR USED BACK IN 2012 AND IT ONLY HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP (BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS AND BY MYSELF SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW ANYTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED. LUCKILY NO ONE IN MY VEHICLE WAS INJURED AND THAT THE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD WERE ABLE TO MANEUVER AROUND MY CAR AND THE TIRE THAT FLEW ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS DRIVING ON. THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WAS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667044

Incident

Nov 16, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A ROCK WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10661091

Incident

Sep 9, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A FENCE. DAMAGING THE FENCE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/9/2015 *JS

NHTSA ID

10660438

Incident

Oct 29, 2014

Mileage

79,000 mi

CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO SPACE IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT -- SPACE WAS ON GRASS UP A SLIGHT INCLINE (APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES) -- AS CAR WAS MOVING UP THE INCLINE A SMALL BUMP WAS FELT UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE -- BRAKES WERE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR -- THE CAR SWERVED AND HIT A TREE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM THE PARKING SPOT -- BELIEVE THE "BUMP" FELT UNDER THE CAR CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION -- ABOVE ACCOUNT CAN BE VERIFIED BY THE OTHER PERSON IN THE CAR WHO HAD THE SAME DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10641292

Incident

Oct 3, 2014

Mileage

65,000 mi