2015 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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE VEHICLE REMOTE. THE DOORS WOULD ALSO NOT LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ID

11233982

Incident

Jun 20, 2019

Mileage

52,000 mi

UPON ENTERING MY GARAGE, THE CAR SURGED FORWARD WHEN I SLIGHTLY APPLIED A LITTLE PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID A STRAIGHT ON COLLISION, BUT STILL SUSTAINED MUCH DAMAGE TO BOTH CAR AND HOME. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT SURGED, BUT WAS CERTAINLY THE MOST SEVERE SINCE THERE WAS NOWHERE TO GO. THE SURGE OCCURRED AFTER APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL AFTER A STOP IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IN THE PAST, THE SURGE HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED (WHEN IT DOES HAPPEN) AFTER A STOP IN TRYING TO PROCEED FORWARD. THE CAR WOULD 'JUMP'. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11022640

Incident

Sep 9, 2017

Mileage

28,000 mi

BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE CAR FAILED. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS, ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH 71 MILES, THE CAR WAS NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT, THE CAR HAD NOTHING INSTALLED TO IT, THE CAR WAS SERVICED BY LEXUS FOR 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE, AND THE CAR HAD 14693 MILES WHEN THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON AUGUST 7, 2017. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ON A SUNNY DAY ON DRY FLAT ASPHALT ROAD IN CHICAGO ILLINOIS. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED AT FOSTER AVENUE AND CALIFORNIA AVENUE. ONCE ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AS LISTED ABOVE, THE BRAKES IN THE CAR STARTED TO PUMP UP AND DOWN EVERY SECOND BY ITSELF. THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO STOP AS I FORCEFULLY STEPPED ON THE BRAKES. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO PUMP UP AND DOWN SO I HAD TO VEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE STREET WHILE PRESSING ON THE PARKING BRAKES OF THE CAR TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKES CONTINUE TO PUMP UP AND DOWN FOR 10 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO FORCEFULLY STEP ON THE BRAKES AGAIN TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO PARK TO TURN OFF THE CAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED ON AFTER 20 MINUTES THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM AND A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION MARK LIGHTS APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD OF THE CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT IF THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAD FAILED SINCE I WAS 2MILES FROM ENTERING THE HIGHWAY TO GO TO WORK. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS IDENTIFIED THAT A MAJOR INTERNAL BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE OCCURRED BETWEEN THE SKID CONTROL ECU AND CAR'S ENGINE. IF THE CAR DID NOT HAVE MANUAL PARKING BRAKES TO SLOWLY APPLY AND STOP THE CAR, I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS OR FATAL ACCIDENT ON FOSTER AVENUE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. IF THE BRAKING FAILURE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OF 55MILES, I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR IN A MULTICAR FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11021469

Incident

Aug 7, 2017

Mileage

14,693 mi

ABOUT 15 MILES INTO MY DRIVE TO WORK IN MY 2015 LEXUS RX 450H WITH ONLY 6,300 MILES, MY DASH PANEL INDICATED THE FOLLOWING ERRORS: CHECK ABS, CHECK BSM SYSTEM, CHECK HEADLIGHT LEVELING SYSTEM, BRAKE MALFUNCTION, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM, SPEEDOMETER AT 0 MPH AND EVERY POSSIBLE ERROR LIGHT POSSIBLE. AS I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN FROM 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE 5, I NOTICED I WAS EXPERIENCING COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE AND WERE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WITH AGGRESSIVE FORCE, I WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT NOTICED AN EXTREMELY LOUD METAL ON METAL SOUND WHEN DOING SO. IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP, I EXITED AT THE FIRST OFF-RAMP POSSIBLE, AND POPPED THE CURVE SO I COULD PARK THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF GLENDALE WHERE THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE ALL THE ERROR CODES BUT WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE SINCE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT. MY VEHICLE WAS BORROWED FOR 4 DAYS WITH THE TECHNICIAN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES BEFORE RETURNING THE VEHICLE BACK TO ME WITH NO REPAIRS MADE. I FEAR THIS IS AN SEVERE SAFETY RISK THAT CAN LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY FATAL OUTCOME. PLEASE NOTE, I ALSO HAVE A 18 SECOND VIDEO OF THE ERRORS OCCURRING WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN THE FIRST LANE PRIOR TO MY ATTEMPT TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11000255

Incident

Jun 2, 2017

Mileage

6,300 mi

OPERATING VEHICLE 50 MPH SLIGHT DOWNHILL ABS WARNING BRAKE WARNING HYBRID WARNING ALL CAME ON WITH AUDIBLE ALARM. VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10702336

Incident

Mar 27, 2015

Mileage

2,200 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.

The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.

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.