2017 Lexus RX350 Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2017 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that upon a cold start, an abnormal knocking sound was coming from the right side of the engine without warning. The contact stated that the knocking noise became louder upon shifting gear but would cease once the engine was warmed up. The contact also noted that the brake pedal was firm while depressing the brake pedal. There was an unknown brake warning message displayed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V211000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) which he linked to the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed him that the vehicle was not under recall. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 25,800.

NHTSA ID

11513038

Incident

Mar 14, 2023

Mileage

25,800 mi

The contact owns a 2017 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal, without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the vacuum pump was defective and needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V211000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulics) which she linked to the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was given a case manager. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. The contact stated that the vacuum pump was replaced at their expense and is requesting a reimbursement. The vehicle always had issues with the vacuum pump ever since the contact purchased it in 2021. The contact claims that they were told that the vacuum pump issue was normal. The 65k warranty of the vehicle had expired before the problem was dealt with.

NHTSA ID

11493410

Incident

Jun 1, 2021

Mileage

24,000 mi

PULLED INTO HOTEL PARKING LOT AT 11:05AM (PERFECT WEATHER - PARKING LOT EMPTY) AND ,AFTER TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT A SLOW SPEED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE HOTEL. THE BUILDING WASN'T DAMAGED, BUT THE CAR HAD SERIOUS FRONTAL DAMAGE. THE HOTEL MANAGER DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE SO THERE ISN'T A POLICE REPORT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I FEEL THERE WERE SEVERAL POSSIBLE LEXUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS INCIDENT: THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OVER $17,000 IN REPAIRS (EVEN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED),; THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T ENGAGE; AND THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR FROM A SLOW ENTRY INTO THE PARKING SPACE. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS AT A LEXUS DEALER WAITING FOR THE LEXUS HIRED INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE IT. WE HAVE PICTURES AND A COMPLETE LIST OF REPAIRS IF REQUESTED. W E DO NOT HAVE A REPORT YET FROM THE LEXUS INSPECTION BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN INSPECTED YET. ...*BF..*JB

NHTSA ID

11194305

Incident

Feb 15, 2019

Mileage

13,000 mi

SOMETIMES WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS, I GET A MESSAGE THAT SAYS “BRAKE POWER LOW”, AND THE CAR WON’T START. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2017 RXS FOR AN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED BRAKE BOOSTER, BUT IT DOESN’T COVER THIS VIN. FROM READING ABOUT SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RX OWNERS THAT ARE ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER, I THINK THAT IS THE PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THAT, I THINK THE RECALL DOES NOT COVER ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED AND SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

NHTSA ID

11175210

Incident

Feb 5, 2019

Mileage

9,500 mi

THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND IT REDUCED SPEED WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AHEAD OF ME BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MY BRAKING. MY VEHICLE SLID INTO OTHER VEHICLE AT 6.8 MPH (SEE ATTACHED REPORT). I TRIED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO MY BRAKE PRESSUREI WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT ON CITY ROAD

NHTSA ID

11162098

Incident

Sep 26, 2018

Mileage

6,847 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED A TRUCK. THE CONTACT APPLIED SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPOUND LOT IN CONYERS, GEORGIA. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND REQUESTED THE CONTACT'S APPROVAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE ASSESSED FOR DAMAGES BY A LEXUS DEALER. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1811210065. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11153331

Incident

Nov 20, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 140 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE PRE-COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO WESTSIDE LEXUS SALES (12000 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 558-3030) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE AND THE CRASH WAS HIS FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

11120438

Incident

Apr 28, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE IS BAD! THE DEALER KEEPS SAYING IT'S NORMAL IN THE LEARNING PHASE, BUT THERE IS NO WAY ALL OF THIS SPUTTERING AND HESITATION IS NORMAL FOR ANY VEHICLE, LET ALONE A LUXURY ONE. THE TACHOMETER JUMPS, JERKS AND SPUTTERS AS WELL IF YOU WATCH IT. THE PRE-COLLISION BREAK SYSTEM IS ALSO SEVERELY FLAWED. IT HAS BRAKED SO HARD THAT IT SCREETCHED AND NO ONE WAS EVEN AROUND ME!!!!! THIS CLEARLY ALMOST GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK THREE TIMES NOW. IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE WHEN SLOWLY BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, AND ONE TIME WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT A NORMAL RATE OF SPEED AND NO ONE WAS AROUND ME AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11110843

Incident

May 17, 2018

Mileage

3,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE NEW CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2017. ON NOVEMBER 17, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 1,500 MILES, AFTER THE CAR WAS SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR 2 DAYS, IT WOULD NOT START--THE MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE STATED "BRAKE POWER LOW STOP IN A SAFE PLACE." THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE POWER BOOSTER WAS REPLACED. ON FEBRUARY 3, 2018, AT APPROXIMATELY, 2,893 MILES THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED AFTER THE CAR SAT IN THE GARAGE FOR TWO DAYS AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THE SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED "THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH PRESSURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM". THE SERVICE CONSULTANT STATED LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT A FIX HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. THE CONSULTANT STATED THE WORKAROUND IS TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS YOU CAN, WAIT FOR THE IGNITION KEY SYMBOL TO SHOW ON THE CONSOLE AND THEN PRESS THE IGNITION KEY. ON FEBRUARY 16, 2018, I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE OUT FOR THE LOW BRAKE PRESSURE. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER. ON 2/21/2018, I RECEIVED A TEXT FROM THE DEALER STATING THE CAR IS READY FOR PICKUP. THE WORKORDER SIMPLY STATED "TECHNICIAN PERFORMED TSB# L-SB-0004-18". THE SERVICE CONSULTANT WOULD NOT EXPLAIN WHAT THE TSB WAS FIXING OR HOW IT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THE TSB UPGRADED THE METER CONTROL LOGIC UNIT. ONGOING PROBLEM: IF THE CAR SITS FOR MORE THAN 1 DAY, THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED WITH MUCH FORCE BEFORE THE CAR IS ABLE TO START. THIS INDICATES THE BRAKE BOOSTER IS STILL LOSING PRESSURE. CONCERN: IF THE BRAKE BOOSTER LOSES PRESSURE WHILE SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR MORE THAN A DAY, WILL IT FAIL ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING. LOSING BRAKE PRESSURE IS NOT A GOOD THING UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED ON A "LUXURY" SUV. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS LEXUS BRAKE POWER ISSUE. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11099107

Incident

Nov 17, 2017

Mileage

1,561 mi

IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, THE BRAKE MUST BE PRESSED. HOWEVER, IF THE CAR SITS WITHOUT USE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE PRESSED DOWN AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. A WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT "BRAKE POWER IS LOW, STOP IN A SAFE PLACE". ATTACHED IS A PICTURE OF THE WARNING LIGHT. THE CAR CAN GENERALLY BE SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED BY EITHER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES OR EXERTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS. I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH LEXUS SERVICE AND LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY'VE SAID THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH "EVERY 2016-2018 RX 350" AND IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR. THEY'VE ALSO SAID THIS CONDITION CANNOT BE REPAIRED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. LEXUS CONFIRMED THAT DESPITE THE FACT THE CONDITION OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IT IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE AND LIKELY OCCURS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE LOST IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH I QUESTION LEXUS' STATEMENTS THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH EVERY CAR, IT IS DISCONCERTING THAT THEY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX A CONDITION THAT MAY BE DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING, AS INDICATED BY THE CAR'S WARNING LIGHT. THIS CONDITION OCCURS REGULARLY.

NHTSA ID

11057986

Incident

Sep 24, 2017

Mileage

2,000 mi

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYS THAT BRAKING POWER IS LOW. IT STATES STOP IN A SAFE PLACE. DEALER HAS ADVISED THIS CONDITION IS "NORMAL" AND NO REPAIRS RECOMMENDED. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND CAN NOT BE STARTED.

NHTSA ID

11005200

Incident

Jun 16, 2017

Mileage

4,300 mi