2011 Lexus RX Hybrid

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

ABS, BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL & YIELD LIGHTS ARE ON AND BEEPING SOUND. ALSO BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD!!!!!

NHTSA ID

11696697

Incident

Aug 26, 2025

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX450H. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The ABS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.

NHTSA ID

11519025

Incident

Apr 25, 2023

Mileage

121,000 mi

THE OIL COOLER PIPE BROKE ON MY 2011 LEXUS RX450H STARVING THE ENGINE OF OIL AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE PART IS CURRENTLY UNDER WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT BY LEXUS AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON MY MODEL YEAR OF VEHICLE. THE MALFUNCTION IS PARTICULARLY INSIDIOUS AS OIL ONLY LEAKS WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, HOWEVER WITH A HYBRID WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPS THE ENGINE STOPS AND SO DOES THE LEAK AT LEAST UNTIL YOU HAVE REACHED A HIGH ENOUGH SPEED FOR THE ENGINE TO KICK BACK ON AGAIN. IN MY SITUATION I RECEIVED NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS, OIL LIGHTS OR ANY OTHER INDICATION OTHER THEN SUDDENLY IT FELT LIKE MY ENGINE WAS RUNNING A LITTLE ROUGH. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER (I WAS JUST ON A CITY STREET) AND FOUND THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED IN OIL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHO IDENTIFIED THE ISSUE AS THE OIL COOLER PIPE AND LEXUS CORPORATE PAID FOR THE REPAIR UNDER THEIR WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT. WHEN I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT TWO MILES AWAY FROM THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE I STARTED GETTING ALL KINDS OF LIGHTS FLASHING ON MY DASH AND THE ONLY POWER I HAD TO MOVE THE VEHICLE WAS THE ELECTRIC HYBRID DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO LEXUS WHICH INFORMED ME A FEW DAYS LATER THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. I OPENED A NEW CASE WITH LEXUS CORPORATE CONCERNING THE ENGINE ISSUES SINCE MY ENGINE FAILURE WAS A RESULT OF THE WARRANTIED PART FAILING. LEXUS'S ULTIMATE ANSWER WAS SORRY, BUT WE ARE UNWILLING TO HELP YOU AS WELL AS THE ANSWER FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND IT HAS ONLY EVER BEEN SERVICED AT LEXUS DEALERSHIPS, AND NOT ONCE DID A SERVICE ADVISOR/MANAGER INFORM ME THAT THIS PART WAS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. FOR SUCH AN INTEGRAL PART THAT WAS POORLY MANUFACTURED AND CAN CAUSE SUCH EXPENSIVE AND CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE THE OIL COOLER PIPE NEEDS TO BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

11353208

Incident

Jul 28, 2020

Mileage

164,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. WHILE HER HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, THERE WAS BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE DRIVER COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LEXUS OF ALBUQUERQUE, 4821 PAN AMERICAN FWY, , ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87109, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL COOLER PIPE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AFTER THE REPAIR THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER CLOSED THE CASE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED OIL LEAKS WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD NO CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR OR OIL LIGHTS DURING THE INITIAL FAILURE.*JB

NHTSA ID

11350701

Incident

Jul 28, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

HIGH PRESSURE ENGINE OIL COOLER HOSE RUPTURED CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF ALL ENGINE OIL AND STRANDING MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE OUTBACK. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY IN THE COUNTRY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE RUPTURE OCCURRED. IT APPEARS THAT LEXUS IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT DID NOT CONTACT ME NOR APPLY THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR MY CASE. I FEEL A RECALL IS WARRANTED DUE TO THE ABRUPT FAILURE OF THE HOSE, ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED, AND THE LIKELY HOOD OF BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

NHTSA ID

11207422

Incident

Jan 24, 2018

Mileage

181,000 mi

THE COOLANT LEAKED IN MY GARAGE. ENGINE MAKING SOME NOISES WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY. DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A BAD WATER PUMP CAUSING A COOLANT LEAK.

NHTSA ID

11196835

Incident

Mar 27, 2019

Mileage

88,900 mi

SOMETHING IN THE DASHBOARD CONSOLE BY THE RADIO HAS OVERHEATED, MELTING THE AC VENT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. LITTLE FLECKS OF PLASTIC STARTED BLOWING OUT OF THE VENT, AND WHEN I LOOKED INSIDE THE VENT, I COULD SEE WHERE THE LOUVERED PIECES ARE MELTED.

NHTSA ID

11130908

Incident

Sep 22, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

I BOUGHT A 2011 LEXUS RX450H NEW AT THE DEALERSHIP FEBRUARY OF 2011. FAST FORWARD TO SUMMER OF 2014. DRIVING DOWN I-20 IN EAST TEXAS, MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, CAR SUDDENLY HAS NO POWER, I BARELY GET IT ON THE SHOULDER. MESSAGE ON DASH "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". TOW TRUCK TO DEALER. FAILED OR BROKEN FUEL PUMP. THREE YEAR OLD CAR WITH 34,336 MILES. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FAST FORWARD TO SPRING OF 2015. DRIVING ON I-55 NORTH. CAR DIES WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING. 41,452 MILES. OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT, LEXUS HAS 1 YEAR WARRANTY PARTS AND LABOR ON REPAIRS. LEXUS SAYS, OH, YOU HAD BAD GAS, DON'T HAVE TO HONOR REPAIR WARRANTY!! CHARGE WAS ABOUT $ 1,200. THEY ALLOWED $ 500 CREDIT. HAD TO PAY $655.89 OUT OF POCKET. TALKED TO KROGER FUEL, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED PREMIUM FUEL. NOT ONE COMPLAINT FROM ANYONE ELSE ABOUT FUEL FROM THAT STATION. SECOND BAD FUEL PUMP. FUEL PURCHASED BEFORE 1ST FUEL PUMP FAILED WAS FROM DALLAS STATION, NOT KROGER. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN CAR STOPS ON INTERSTATE. FLOORBOARDING GAS PEDAL, CAR GOING LESS THAN 10 MPH AND SLOWING, AND THEN REFUSED TO MOVE. WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER LEXUS. OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH FUEL PUMPS. ALSO, LEXUS DOES NOT HONOR 1 YEAR REPAIR WARRANTY. POOR BUSINESS PRACTICE.

NHTSA ID

10732033

Incident

Aug 21, 2014

Mileage

34,336 mi

Some 2005 – 2026 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

Some 2010 – 2026 model year Lexus vehicles may exhibit paint stains after the removal of Rapgard™. The paint stains may appear to be under the clear coat but are usually under wrinkles in the Rapgard™. The wrinkles may trap water and cause the paint to stain from the trapped moisture, especially on horizontal surfaces such as the hood, roof, and trunk.

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.

Some 2005 – 2024 Lexus vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty smell is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to all model and model year specific Repair Manuals and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines. This Service Bulletin is to provide a general overview and direction for the odor remediation process.