2015 Lexus RX Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Lexus RX Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes325.0%
- Electrical325.0%
- Driver assistance216.7%
- Engine216.7%
- Airbags18.3%
- Interior & seats18.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .