2018 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.

IT STARTED HAPPENING A FEW MONTH'S AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I DIDN'T THINK OF IT MUCH BECAUSE IT WAS VERY FAINT AND NOT LOUD AT ALL. THE NOISE WAS GETTING LOUDER INCREASINGLY BUT SLOWLY. THE BRAKES WORKED FINE SO I LET IT GO. LATER ON, IT STARTED BOTHERING ME EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SQUAWKY NOISE BECAME REALLY ANNOYING SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEIR SERVICE PERSON DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A PROBLEM AND DIDN'T WANT TO TRY TO INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. A FEW WEEKS/MONTHS (NOT SURE HOW LONG) LATER, I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY CONTACTED LEXUS AND DECIDED TO FIX IT. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP, THE NOISE WAS GONE AND I WAS HAPPY FOR A WHILE. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, THE SQUAWKY NOISE STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WAS VERY NOT LOUD, SO I REALLY HOPED THAT IT WOULDN'T GET ANY LOUDER THAN THAT. THIS TIME, THE PROGRESSION OF THE NOISE WAS SLOWER THAN THE FIRST TIME. I WAITED SOME TIME TO TAKE THE CAR FOR A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER WHO FIXED IT. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A LOUD NOISE THAT IS CONSISTENT, WHICH THEY DIDN'T HEAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMEWHAT NORMAL FOR A HYBRID CAR, SO THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING SINCE THERE'S NO SAFETY ISSUE. YES, THE BRAKES WORKED FINE, BUT THE BRAKE HAD BEEN MAKING THE SQUAWKY NOISE NOT SOON AFTER I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR! LEXUS ADVERTISES LIKE THIS: LEXUS EXPERIENCE AMAZING. THE SQUAWKY NOISE IS NOTHING CLOSE TO AMAZING WHEN YOU DRIVE A CAR THAT MAKES A NOISE LIKE MY 2018 LEXUS RX450H. ANYWAY, I WAITED ONE MORE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THIS TIME, I COMPLAINED THAT THE NOISE IS GETTING LOUD AND I CAN'T STAND IT. THIS TIME THEY CONTACTED LEXUS AGAIN, BUT LEXUS TOLD THEM THEY DON'T HAVE TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. SO BASICALLY I'M STUCK WITH A CAR THAT SQUAWKS ALMOST EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT IS THE EXACTLY MY PROBLEM AND I NEED HELP.

NHTSA ID

11397659

Incident

Feb 24, 2021

Mileage

600 mi

HAD AN ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THE 2018 RX450H ON MAY 4TH WHERE THE CAR LIGHTS CAME ON....ENGINE LIGHT, AWD, ABS, ETC AND THE CAR STALLED COMPLETELY. HAD TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS 'FIXED'. 4 WEEKS LATER WHILE TRAVELING AT 70+ MPH ON MAJOR INTERSTATE, CAR STALLED AGAIN THE SAME WAY....LIGHTS ON, ETC.. WAS LUCKILY IN THE RIGHT LANE OF 4 WIDE TRAFFIC AS CAR WENT TO A STOP QUICKLY. WAS STRANDED IN A HEAVY TRAFFIC LANE, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO PUSH OUT OF TRAFFIC. WAS 2 HOURS FROM HOME, HAD ANOTHER LEXUS DEALERSHIP TOW THE CAR AND THEY CAME BACK WITHIN A FEW HOURS AND SAID IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL TILL THEN AND THIS 18' 450H WAS NOT ON THE CURRENT LIST WHICH ONLY PROVES THAT THIS ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS HURT IN THESE 2 OCCURRENCES BUT WE ARE NOT DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328150

Incident

Jun 2, 2020

Mileage

16,500 mi

ON FEBRUARY 13, 2020 MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING FROM FORT MYERS, FL TO SARASOTA, FL ON I-75. AT ABOUT PORT CHARLOTTE EXIT THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WE WERE IN THE LEFT LANE GOING BETWEEN 75 TO 80 MILES PER HOUR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR INTO THE MEDIAN. AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME HAD TO SUDDENLY BREAK TO AVOID HITTING US. THE LEXUS 2018 RX 450HL HAS THE SAME GASOLINE

NHTSA ID

11311165

Incident

Feb 13, 2020

Mileage

8,422 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.