2010 Lexus RX Driver assistance Problems

unknown

NHTSA ID

11667070

Incident

Jun 16, 2025

The contact called on behalf of her son who owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that she had taken her son's vehicle to the car wash. The contact stated while at a complete stop, in the carwash drive-through, the vehicle accelerated independently and the driver's side of the vehicle crashed into the wall on the left side of the carwash bay. Heavy metal structures fell on the vehicle. As a result, the windshield was shattered and the ceiling of the vehicle was bent. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact sustained two large contusions below the knee of her left leg. The injured area later became swollen and bruised. The contact sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was then towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V305000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they would send a field inspector to retrieve the Event Date Recorder (EDR) in order to determine the cause of the failure. A case was opened; however, the manufacturer had not followed up with the contact. The failure mileage was approximately 250,000.

NHTSA ID

11497560

Incident

Nov 19, 2022

Mileage

250,000 mi

My AWD check system keeps going on and off every few days. I took it to Mavis who gave me codes and stated that there is a TSB found to the issues my vehicle read. I took it to lexus of Brooklyn who basically disregard the recommendations just so I javelin to pay them again to diagnosis whay was already diagnosed.

NHTSA ID

11463077

Incident

May 2, 2022

I WAS SLOWLY ENTERING FROM I15 TO H-78 WEST. SUDDENLY CAR BEGAN TO REV AND ACCELERATE AS IF I WAS FLOORING GAS PEDAL. I JABBED AT PEDAL A COUPLE TIMES AND HIT BRAKES...IT STOPPED WITHIN A FEW SECONDS....NOT SURE IF WHAT I DID HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT STOPPING. MY GAS PEDAL IS NOT STICKY AND SMOOTHLY ADJUSTS. MY VEHICLE IS IN PRISTINE CONDITION AND HAS HAD ALL MAINTENANCE. I WAS FORTUNATE I HAD SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS CLEAR. I AM 100% CERTAIN I DID NOT ACCIDENTALLY SLIP OR PUSH ON PEDAL. WHILE IT WAS ACCELERATING I EVEN LIFTED FOOT COMPLETELY OFF PEDAL AND IT STILL WAS GOING.

NHTSA ID

11307323

Incident

Feb 4, 2020

Mileage

127,000 mi

AS I WAS PULLING IN A BUSINESS CENTER TO PARK, I STEP ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUES AND CAUSED MY CAR TO RUN INTO A POWER BOX AT A BUSINESS. THIS CAUSED THE BUSINESS TO HAVE A POWER OUTAGE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. IT WAS 11:30AM. THERE WAS NO CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT MANY SPACES WERE EMPTIED. IM VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE CAR RAN INTO THE POWER BOX OTHERWISE THE CAR WOULD HAVE DRIVEN ITSELF INTO THE STREET! I'M A GREAT DRIVER FOR MORE THAN 20+ YEARS AND NO TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS. INSURANCE CARRIER HAD DECLARED AS TOTAL LOSS DUE FOR THE IMPACT. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ID

11245625

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX 450H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 70 MPH WHILE DRIVING UP AN EXTREMELY STEEP INCLINE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE RESPONSE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.

NHTSA ID

10420032

Incident

May 7, 2011

Mileage

7,000 mi

2010 LEXUS RX450H. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER NOTICED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS, THAT IT SOMETIMES SURGED FORWARD A FEW FEET WHILE BRAKING OR WHEN LETTING OFF THE BRAKE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS TYPICAL OF A HYBRID VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AGAIN AS SHE WAS BRAKING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10414279

Incident

Jul 1, 2011

SERVICE BRAKES, MARCH 13, 2011 - MANSFIELD MA I PURCHASED MY 2010 LEXUS RX 450H IN DECEMBER 2010. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD(!) MOMENTARILY BEFORE IT SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY. IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN IF I AM ONLY COASTING AND NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE INITIALLY. IT HAPPENS TO ME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. IT IS SOMEWHAT DISTURBING. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO MY LEXUS DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE DISMISSED MY CONCERNS BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT UP. HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS ISSUE? VIEW DETAILS

NHTSA ID

10391988

Incident

Feb 10, 2011

Mileage

4,367 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY NEW LEXUS 450H (2,000 MILES) IN A FRESH LIGHT SNOW (1.5 TO 2 INCHES) IN INCLINE VILLAGE NV AT 25 MILES PER HOUR ON A SLIGHT DECLINE WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN FOR A CURVE A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY. IT LOCKED THE WHEELS IMMEDIATELY AND AS A RESULT I HAD NO STEERING CONTROL. GIVEN THAT I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO GET MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE BEFORE HAVING TO MAKE TURN AHEAD, I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE (I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN SNOW MY WHOLE LIFE SINCE I WAS RAISED IN CANADA) AND IT HAD NO EFFECT -- THE WHEELS REMAINED LOCKED AS I GAINED NO CONTROL OF STEERING AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE UNTIL IT HIT THE GUARD RAIL ACROSS THE STREET AS I ENTERED THE TURN AT SOME 10 TO 15 MILES AN HOUR. I AM CONVINCED THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE 450H TRYING TO GENERATE POWER WHENEVER THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED -- THIS IS DIFFERENT THAN MY FORMER LEXUS 400H WHICH ONLY TRIED TO GENERATE POWER WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED (I KNOW ABOUT THE NEW LOGIC BECAUSE THE POWER GAUGE (THAT SHOWS WHETHER THE BATTERIES ARE CHARGING OR DISCHARGING) SHOWS CHARGING WHENEVER ONE'S FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE GAS PEDAL ON THE 450H, NOT ON THE 400H). NEEDLESS TO SAY, I IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND TRADED THE VEHICLE FOR AN RX350 THAT WILL DRIVE LIKE A NORMAL CAR. I AM ONLY INTERESTED IN HAVING PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN HILLY SNOW CONDITIONS AVOID BUYING THE RX450H AS THEY WILL NECESSARILY HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. I DO NOT HAVE VIN AT THIS TIME AS I AM AT MY SECOND HOME IN CALIFORNIA AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367888

Incident

Nov 20, 2010

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450 HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED. THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE DESPITE HER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 16,000.

NHTSA ID

10347260

Incident

Aug 3, 2010

Mileage

16,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2010 LEXUS RX 450H IN JULY OF 2009. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT IT, I HAVE NOTICED THAT FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR SEEMS TO SURGE FORWARD(!) MOMENTARILY BEFORE IT SLOWS DOWN. THIS HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. AND IT WILL HAPPEN EVEN IF I AM ONLY COASTING AND NOT TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE INITIALLY. IT HAPPENS TO ME AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. IT IS SOMEWHAT DISTURBING. I HAVE MENTIONED THIS TO MY LEXUS DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE DISMISSED MY CONCERNS BOTH TIMES I BROUGHT IT UP. I NOTICED THIS EVEN BEFORE I HAD HEARD OF THE TOYOTA RECALL ON HYBRID PRIUS BRAKES, BUT FROM WHAT I READ, THE ISSUE SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THE PRIUS HYBRID 2010 PROBLEMS. BUT THERE IS SO FAR NO RECALL ON LEXUS 2010 HYBRID BRAKES. HAS ANYONE ELSE NOTICED THIS ISSUE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10325528

Incident

Jul 28, 2009

Mileage

1,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING A 2010 LEXUS RX450H ON A HIGHWAY AT @60 MPH WHEN IT ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO @80 MPH WITHIN A FEW SECONDS. IT RESPONDED TO THE BRAKE AND I EXITED THE HIGHWAY. I HAD THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY CHECKED BY THE DEALER, RALLYE LEXUS IN GLEN COVE NY, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE DEALER AND FACTORY REP. CHECKED THE VEHICLE AFTER THE INCIDENT AND THEY AGAIN SAID THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE EVENT DID OCCUR AND NOW I WILL NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314181

Incident

Feb 12, 2010

Mileage

2,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX450H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH OVER A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. THERE WAS PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN WHICH THERE WAS A DELAY POWER RESPONSE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER ENCOUNTERING A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE. IN ADDITION, DURING ACCELERATION THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE WHICH OCCURRED INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETECT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900. UPDATED 03/15/10 *BF UPDATED 10/05/10

NHTSA ID

10312190

Incident

Nov 28, 2009

Mileage

900 mi

THE RX450H IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS. THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT SWITCH "ON DEMAND" AS THE ADVERTISING SAYS. I LIVE IN SNOWY MASSACHUSETTS AND DO NOT NEED PERMANENT 4 WHEEL DRIVE, BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL WHEN THE ROADS ARE FULL OF SNOW OR ICE. I WAS PUZZLED AT FIRST THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE ONLY ACTUATED UNDER 25 MPH. I TESTED IT ON SHARP CORNERS IN THE SNOW: THE BACK SLID OUT; AND ON FASTER, GRADUAL CORNERS: THE CAR SIDE SLIPPED. NEVER DID THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH ON AND CORRECT THE SLIDE. I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL FOR THE METHOD TO MANUALLY ACTIVATE 4 WHEEL DRIVE BUT COULDN'T FIND IT. I CONTACTED LEXUS. THEY SAID THAT I SHOULD USE THE SNOW SWITCH. THIS IS A MENU ITEM WHICH ANNOYINGLY MUST BE SWITCHED ON EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE. IT DIDN'T WORK AS IT ONLY CHANGES THE GEAR AND ACCELERATION CHARACTERISTICS LIKE ANY OTHER WINTER/SUMMER SWITCH. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IT SHOULD WORK AT HIGH SPEEDS WHEN MORE POWER IS NEEDED. I TRIED THAT AND FOUND THAT AT 60 MPH IF I ABSOLUTELY FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR ON A STEEP HILL THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WOULD SWITCH ON BRIEFLY. THAT'S HYBRID TECHNOLOGY BEING USED TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION?! I WENT BACK TO MY DEALER: WHAT WAS I DOING WRONG? AFTER TWO MONTHS OF PHONE TAG WITH THE DEALER AND LEXUS, THE DEALER PROMISED TO PICK UP THE CAR AND TEST IT. AFTER A WEEK OF TELEPHONE CALLS THEY SAID THERE WAS NO POINT IN TESTING THE CAR AS IT WAS WORKING "AS DESIGNED". HOWEVER IT WASN'T WORKING AS ADVERTISED WHICH IS THAT THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE WILL COME ON "AS NEEDED". I'D SAY THAT A BROAD SKID IN SNOW IS "AS NEEDED". LEXUS DOES NOT INTEND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS COMPLAINT. THEY PUT ME ONTO A "BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT" SPECIALIST WHO TRIED TO UPSELL ME ON A NON-HYBRID 4X4 WHICH HE SAID HAD "A NON SLIP DIFFERENTIAL" AND WOULD THEREFORE HAVE BETTER HANDLING. I CONSIDER IT VERY DANGEROUS THAT A DRIVER THINKS THEY WILL HAVE CONTROL BECAUSE OF LEXUS ADVERTISING AND SALESMAN CLAIMS BUT WILL LIKELY LOOSE CONTROL IN SNOW OR ICE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311506

Incident

Dec 10, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

I LIVE IN ALDIE, VA AND HAVE A NEW LEXUS 2010 RX 450H HYBRID. I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 01/30/2010 AROUND 11AM. WHAT HAPPENED WAS... I WAS DRIVING AROUND 5 TO 10 MILES SPEED AND TURNED THE VEHICLE TO 90 DEGREES SLOWLY TO GO TO THE SCHOOL. BUT THE VEHICLE WENT 45 DEGREES AND HIT A WOODEN STOP SIGN. I WAS REALLY DRIVING SLOW. I APPLIED THE BRAKE, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY PICKED SOME SPEED AND HIT THE STOP SIGN. ITS UNUSUAL. THERE MAY BE SOME DEFECT IN THE BRAKES/GAS PEDALS OR WITH THE ABS SYSTEM OR THE ELECTRONICS AROUND IT. I CALLED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE SENDING IT TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS AROUND $5,550 AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE AUTOBODY SHOP FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ID

10307520

Incident

Jan 30, 2010

Mileage

4,400 mi