2010 Lexus RX Hybrid Owner Complaints

I WAS DRIVING LAST MONTH (APPROX 1,07000 MILES) AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY HAD LIGHTS AND FLASHING MESSAGES THAT SAID THERE WAS AN ABS BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I DROVE IT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (ROYAL PALM BEACH, FLORIDA) AND THEY GOT THE ERROR CODE C 1391 ABNORMAL LEAK IN ACCUMULATOR PUMP AND THEY WANT THE ABS ACTUATOR REPLACED. MY 100K TOYOTA/LEXUS EXTENDED WARRANTY IS EXPIRED AND I AM LEFT WITH NO OPTIONS. I SENT THE COMPLAINT TO LEXUS AND THEY REPLIED BACK AND ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSIS, AFTER SPENDING $350 FOR DIAGNOSIS IN TOYOTA AND LEXUS, ITS THE SAME ISSUE ABS ACTUATOR FAILED AND IT WILL COST ME $3720 TO FIX IT. ALSO, DURING ABS DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AT LEXUS DEALER @ WEST PALM BEACH, THE CAR FAILED TO START AND WAS IN THE DEALERS LOT FOR 2 DAYS BEFORE THEY FIXED THE ISSUE (REPLACED SOME COMPUTER). LEXUS OFFERED ME $1000 AS PARTIAL PAYMENT TO FIX THE ABS ISSUE, AND AS SOON AS I STARTED TALKING ABOUT FILING A COMPLAINT WITH NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) , THEY RESCINDED THE OFFER AND SENT ME A EMAIL STATING THAT I AM FREE TO REPORT TO NHTSA. I WAS WONDERING HOW MANY LEXUS OWNERS TOOK PARTIAL PAYMENT TO FIX ABS AND NOT REPORT IT? DID LEXUS REPORT ALL THOSE CASES TO NHTSA ? I DOUBT SO! I THINK THIS IS CUSTOMER SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) AND A RECALL ISSUED FOR LEXUS ABS. I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT A WELL ENGINEERED CAR LIKE THE LEXUS WOULD RISK CUSTOMER SAFETY.

NHTSA ID

11172383

Incident

Dec 9, 2018

Mileage

107,000 mi

VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAIN THAT TURNED INTO FREEZING RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR A WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN CALLED, LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FLATBED CARRIER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR AND UNLOADED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID LUCKILY ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAW THE SMOKE, LET HIM KNOW, AND HE DISCONNECTED THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HAD HE NOT DONE SO, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE COME FROM THE TOP REAR ROOF/BODY SEAM WHERE TWO PIECES OF BODY METAL JOIN. EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR LEAKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CORROSION AT THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR OR PROLONGED LEAKING. ONCE THE WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM GETTING TO THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND THEIR RELATED ELECTRONICS, THEREFORE ALLOWING WATER THAT GOT INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND CREATE THE FIRE RISK. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS NO REASON WATER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT BODY SEAMS THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY THAT ANY LIQUID THAT GETS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND CREATE THIS DAMAGE AND THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE AND FIRE.

NHTSA ID

11083871

Incident

Feb 21, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

OIL COOLER HOSE COMPLETE RUPTURE WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, NO OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LESS THAN A MINUTE LATER ALL OIL DRAINED OUT, BLUE FIRE BALL IGNITED OUT BACK OF CAR & ENGINE FROZE UP HAVING CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER WAS NOT INJURED ONLY STRANDED. HOWEVER CAR IS DEAD. 8 YEARS OF REGULARLY MAINTENANCE SERVICING AT THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP & BUYING A NEW LEXUS, NO ONE EVER MENTIONED THIS OIL COOLER HOSE DEFECT ISSUE

NHTSA ID

11079583

Incident

Mar 7, 2018

Mileage

168,022 mi

I HAVING BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS STARTING MY CAR THAT ARE BECOMING WORSE. THE PROBLEM STARTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, MID-2017. THE DEALERSHIP HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DEFINITIVELY DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM, BUT SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKE SENSOR. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR APPEARS TO START, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, AND APPEARS TO NOT BE ACTUALLY STARTED BUT IN AUXILIARY MODE WITH NO ACTIVE ENGINE ENGAGEMENT. IF THIS IS A BRAKE SENSOR PROBLEM, COULD IT TURN IN TO SOMETHING WORSE THAN BEING STUCK AWAY FROM HOME BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T START? THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED AND YOU TRY TO START IT.

NHTSA ID

11073121

Incident

Feb 6, 2018

Mileage

61,000 mi

IN OCTOBER MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM A 9.5 HOURS TRIP WITH 1 FUEL STOP APPROX 4 HOURS FROM HOME. EXITING I95 THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (VSC, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AWD SYSTEM AND OTHERS). SHE COASTED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ENGINE OR DRIVE POWER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWEDTO OUR HOME AND I TESTED THE BATTERY AND CHARGING VOLTAGE, THEN HAD THE BATTERY LOAD TESTED AND FOUND TO BE BAD. PURCHASED AN OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY AND ALL OTHER DASH WARNINGS CEASED. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP EXITING I95 THE CAR STALLED AND DISPLAYED ONLY THE CHECK HYBRID AND AWD LIGHTS. THIS TIME TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON AND HYBRID MOTOR FUNCTION RESUMED WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID LIGHT" STILL ILLUMINATED. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH NORMAL ENGINE AND HYBRID DRIVE FUNCTION. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT LEXUS IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP, EXITED I95 AND ONCE THE CAR WAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MPH CAR LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS "AWD" AND "CHECK HYBRID" ILLUMINATED AND CAR HAD ENTERED A "LIMP" TYPE OF MODE WITH SOME POWER WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND LIMITED SPEED. POWER DISTRIBUTION SCREEN SHOWED NO POWER MOVEMENT FROM THE ENGINE/BATTERY/WHEEL CHARGING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. PULLED TO A PARKING LOT TURNED OFF MOMENTARILY AND THEN BACK ON, RESUMING NORMAL FUNCTION. "AWD" WARNING WENT AWAY, BUT "CHECK HYBRID" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE APPT AT LEXUS THE CAR WAS USED WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED, STILL FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE LIGHTS, AT SOME POINT DURING THE DRIVE WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS AGAIN CANCELLED ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULE.

NHTSA ID

10947927

Incident

Jan 23, 2017

Mileage

45,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX 450 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

NHTSA ID

10650741

Incident

Sep 15, 2014

Mileage

46,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. AR APPROXIMATELY 6:10AM ON SATURDAY DEC. 10TH, IN CLEAR WEATHER, WHILE OPERATING HER VEHICLE, SHE ENTERED A PARKING AREA AND BACKED INTO A YELLOW BARRIER POST AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH. THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT THE VEHICLE AGAIN REVERSED. THE VEHICLE THEN MOVED FORWARD, APPROACHING THE STREET. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED IN A FORWARD MOTION WITH APPARENT ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE LEFT, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AGAIN, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITH FURTHER ACCELERATION. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPROX. 30 YARDS FROM THE PARKING AREA AND NOT BEING ABLE TO HALT OR SLOW THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT PROCEEDED THROUGH IT, TURNING RIGHT, ONTO A SERVICE ROAD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO ANOTHER GEAR, BUT NEITHER RESPONDED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE A SENSE OF ACCELERATION. AT A POINT APPROX. 140 YARDS FROM THE STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT MOVED FORWARD AT APPROX. 25-30 MPH. THE CONTACT'S RIGHT ELBOW, WRIST AND LEFT ARM HIT THE GROUND. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO FLAG DOWN PASSING MOTORIST, THE VEHICLE RAN UP AGAINST THE CURB AND FINALLY GROUND TO A HALT AGAINST THE GRANITE CURB. APPROX. 60 YARDS FROM THE CONTACT'S EXIT POINT. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ENGAGED IN DRIVE WHEN THE CONTACT APPROACHED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 01/06/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10440049

Incident

Dec 10, 2011

Mileage

18,000 mi

HYBRID VEHICLE + KELSEY IGNITION = DEADLY COMBINATION. WE ACCIDENTALLY LEFT OUR 2010 LEXUS RX450H IN THE GARAGE WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND TURNED IN FOR THE NIGHT. SINCE IT IS A HYBRID, IT MAKES NO SOUND - EVEN WHEN "RUNNING". SO WE WERE UNAWARE THE IGNITION WAS STILL ON. MUCH LATER IN THE EVENING, AFTER THE BATTERY HAD DEPLETED, THE GAS ENGINE CAME ON, FILLING OUR GARAGE WITH CARBON MONOXIDE. HAD I NOT GONE BACK OUT TO RETRIEVE SOMETHING FROM THE GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT BY THIS TIME THE CAR'S GAS ENGINE WAS RUNNING, I LIKELY WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS E-MAIL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW IN AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR. THE TINY RED VS. GREEN LED ON THE IGNITION BUTTON IS NOT ENOUGH INDICATION THAT THE CAR IS RUNNING. AN AUDIBLE ALARM OR SOME TYPE OF POSITIVE INTERLOCK IS NEEDED. ## VIN FAILED ## LEXUS RX 450H 2010 ## *KB

NHTSA ID

10437757

Incident

Nov 29, 2011