Lexus RX Complaints

1,341 consumer complaints on file.

#10306217February 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN
LEXUS RX400H BRAKE MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING EFFICIENCY. IN FREQUENTLY, AFTER LONG STEADY CONTROLLED BRAKING DOWN A HILL, THE BRAKES ON MY LEXUS WILL RELEASE WITHOUT INPUT FROM ME FOR A SECOND IN TIME. THE LOSS OF BRAKING CAUSES ME TO PRESS ON THE PEDDLE AND THE CAR'S BRAKING PERFORMANCE RETURNS TO NORMAL. HAVE EXPERIENCED AS I HAVE DECELERATED TO A STOP FOR A SIGNAL LIGHT/STOP SIGN. NOT RELATED TO ANY BUMP IN THE ROAD SURFACE OR THE LIKE. FREQUENCY IS WEEKLY/MONTHLY, BUT RANDOM IN TIMING CAN'T IDENTIFY BRAKES FROM THE SYSTEM FAILURE LIST. CHOSE POWERTRAIN OUT OF FRUSTRATION.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306241February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN A 2008 LEXUS 400H HYBRID PURCHASED AS NEW LAST YEAR. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY WE NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES WHEN STOPPING OVER BUMPY SURFACES -- IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE BRAKE DISENGAGED WHILE TRYING TO STOP. WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO ASSURED US EVERYTHING WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEY EVEN BROUGHT IN A NATIONAL EXPERT TO EVALUATE AND WE AGAIN WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS WORKING AS IT SHOULD. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT GONE AWAY -- IF ANYTHING IT IS WORSE -- AND IT APPEARS TO BE PRECISELY THE SAME PROBLEM NOW BEING REPORTED WITH THE PRIUS BRAKING SYSTEM. TOYOTA/LEXUS BASICALLY IGNORED US WHEN WE COMPLAINED AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. IT IS OF MAJOR CONCERN AND HAS BEEN SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. IT IS A REPLACEMENT FOR A PREVIOUS 400H THAT WAS TOTALED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE PREVIOUS CAR DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306314February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BRAKES. LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306446February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2007 LEXUS RX 440H WITH 22,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IMMEDIATELY (AND SEVERAL WEEKS PRIOR TO LEARNING OF POTENTIAL TOYOTA AND LEXUS ACCELERATION AND BRAKING ISSUES) I NOTED THAT WHEN BRAKING FROM A LOW SPEED, SAY 20 MPH AT A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKES WOULD INITIALLY TAKE HOLD IN A NORMAL MANNER AND THEN, FOR A VERY BRIEF TIME, IT FELT AS IF THE CAR WAS SLIDING, THEN THE BRAKES WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE HOLD AND BRING THE CAR TO A NORMAL STOP. TYPICALLY THIS HAS OCCURRED ON A SNOWY OR ICY SURFACE, BUT I HAVE NOT DETECTED THE ABS KICKING IN AT ANY TIME. THE ABS HAS OPERATED NORMALLY UNDER OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. AT FIRST I ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE HYBRID TECHNOLOGY AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, IT NOW SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE EXPERIENCE THOSE DRIVING PRIUS AND LEXUS 250H AUTOMOBILES HAVE DESCRIBED THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE MEDIA. THIS BRAKING ANOMALY OCCURS EXACTLY THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME IT OCCURS AND IT OCCURS FREQUENTLY. SO FAR I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN ONE MONTH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306736February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
MAY 2008: PURCHASED 2007 LEXUS 400H SUV. CAR GREAT EXCEPT BRAKES. SOMETHING WAS ODD. JUNE 2008: SENT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK BRAKES. THEY INSISTED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. MY DISCOMFORT WAS DUE TO MY INEXPERIENCE WITH THE 'REGENERATIVE' BRAKING SYSTEM. I TRIED TO GET USED TO IT. IT SEEMED TO GET WORSE OVER TIME. AT AROUND 10 MPH, THE BRAKING MOMENTUM CHANGES SUDDENLY. THE CAR FLOATS BRIEFLY THEN SURGES A LITTLE. IT WAS UNCLEAR IF IT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME, OR ONLY WITH GRADUAL BRAKING, OR ONLY WHEN STOPPING FROM A SLOW SPEED. JULY 22, 2009: ACCIDENT. BRAKES SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AS I TURNED THE CAR INTO A PARKING SPACE BEHIND ANOTHER CAR. I PANICKED WHEN THE CAR DIDN'T STOP AT THE EXPECTED POINT. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, MY FOOT SLIPPED AND I HIT THE ACCELERATOR. I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SENDING IT TOWARD THREE OTHER CARS. THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THE BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY. AUGUST 2009 -REPORTED ACCIDENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD TO TALK WITH LEXUS HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA. THEY ARRANGED FOR A FIELD AGENT TO GO TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 - CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR EVERYONE'S REVIEW. AFTERWARDS, TOLD BY PHONE THAT NO PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED AND THE CAR WAS SAFE. I WASN'T COMFORTABLE WITH THAT DECISION. ON NOVEMBER 27, 2009, I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN, INSISTING THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I DROVE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER. HE ADMITTED HE FELT THE FLOATING/SLIGHT SURGE. HE CLAIMED IT WAS THE MOMENT BETWEEN THE END OF THE "REGENERATIVE" BRAKING SYSTEM AND WHEN THE CONVENTIONAL BRAKING SYSTEM KICKED IN. NOT HAPPY WITH THE EXPLANATION. THE FLOATING/SURGE MEANS YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHEN YOU WILL STOP. ON JANUARY 6, 2010, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM LEXUS. THEIR FIELD TECHNICIAN INSPECTED MY CAR, FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND THE ACCIDENT COULD NOT BE RELATED. I DO NOT AGREE. NOW I HEAR ABOUT LEXUS HYBRID BRAKES PROBLEMS AND I ASSUME IT'S WHAT I'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL ALONG. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306764February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TIRES
LEXUS RX400H HAS A BRAKE ISSUE. INSTEAD OF STOPPING IT SOMETIME ACCELERATES AND CONTINUOUS BRAKING LEADS IT TO STOP. THE HYBRID TECHNOLOGY FORCES MANY OF US TO CHANGE ALL FOUR COMPANY FITTED ALL FOUR TIRES JUST IN 2 YEARS. VERY DISAPPOINTED BY PAYING PREMIUM FOR PREMIUM BRAND BUT NOT GETTING PREMIUM QUALITY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306790February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
2006 LEXUS RX 400 AT SLOW SPEEDS STEPS ON BRAKE AND NOTHING HAPPENS FOR ABOUT 2 - 3 SECONDS. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENTS AS I HAVE ALLOW ENOUGH SPACE FOR BRAKES TO RESPOND. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN WITH ANY PATTERN AND IS DIFFICULT TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306821February 5, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT OR WHEN EITHER THE TEMPERATURES ARE REALLY COLD (ON OCCASION) OR THE HYBRID BATTERY CHARGE IS CLOSE TO FULL, THE CAR'S REGENERATIVE BRAKING STOPS AND THERE IS A DELAY IN THE FRICTION BRAKES BEING APPLIED BY THE SYSTEM. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERK FORWARD FOR A SECOND. DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THIS BEHAVIOR HAS RECURRED OVER THE LAST 4 YEARS/60,000 MILES. NO FIX FROM LEXUS. HAD TO LEARN TO EXPECT THIS BEHAVIOR AND DRIVE ACCORDINGLY (ON OCCASION HAVING TO EMERGENCY BRAKE WITH ABS ACTIVATED). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305142February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN LATE 2005, MY 2006 LEXUS RX 400H HYBRID SUV WILL LOSE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. I HAVE PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAINTAIN BRAKING FORCE TO STOP THE CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU GO OVER A CERTAIN TYPE OF BUMP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. THERE IS NO LIGHT OR WARNING SOUND ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOSS OF BRAKING EFFORT. IF IT POSSIBLE TO SAFELY REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL OR A SECOND, AND THEN RE-APPLY THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES ARE RESTORED TO NORMAL OPERATION. VIGILANCE IS REQUIRED IN INCREASING BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE WHEN THIS HAPPENS TO AVOID A CRASH. I HAVE TO COMPLAINED TO SEVERAL LEXUS DEALERS AND TO LEXUS CENTRAL CUSTOMER SERVICE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I WAS TOLD THE COMPANY NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND/OR WAS NEVER ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM IN MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305451February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THE LACK OF ELECTRICITY IN THE BATTERY CAUSED THE CONTACT TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WITHIN MINUTES THE BRAKES BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY SINCE THE BATTERY RECHARGED BY PUMPING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND BOTH TIMES THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE FAILURE COULD IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM COULD CAUSE A CRASH TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305665February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE VEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON IT'S ON AND LUNGE FORWARD WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE OVER UNEVEN PAVEMENT AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE MALFUNCTION SHOULD OCCUR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SWITCHING FROM AN ELECTRICAL ENGINE TO A GASOLINE ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305878February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING OF THIS SAME PROBLEM (MY BRAKES FAIL ALSO WHEN GOING OVER ROUGH ROADS) SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THEY HAVE BEEN TELLING ME ITS NORMAL AND DENY ITS EVEN A PROBLEM. EB. 4: NHTSA TODAY ANNOUNCED IT IS OPENING A FORMAL INVESTIGATION OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID MODEL YEAR 2010 TO LOOK INTO ALLEGATIONS OF MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP. THE AGENCY RECEIVED 124 REPORTS FROM CONSUMERS, INCLUDING FOUR ALLEGING THAT CRASHES OCCURRED. INVESTIGATORS HAVE SPOKEN WITH CONSUMERS AND CONDUCTED PRE-INVESTIGATORY FIELD WORK. 'SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY,' SAID TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY RAY LAHOOD. 'THAT IS WHY IN RECENT WEEKS NHTSA HAS ALSO ISSUED A CONSUMER ADVISORY ON THE RECALL OF SEVERAL MODELS OF TOYOTA VEHICLES AND THE PONTIAC VIBE INVOLVING PEDAL ENTRAPMENT AND STICKY ACCELERATOR PEDALS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE ISSUES CLOSELY.' NEWS RELEASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306044February 4, 2010
SUSPENSION
PROBLEMS WITH CAR ALIGNMENT. PERSISTENT PROBLEM DESPITE GETTING IT CORRECTED. PROBLEM RIGHT FROM THE TIME I BOUGHT THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306030February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2007 LEXUS RX 400H WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS, AND CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I HAVE NOTICED AN IRREGULARITY IN MY BRAKING SYSTEM UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT I HEARD DESCRIBED THIS EVENING ON THE NEWS ABOUT PRUIS HYBRID VEHICLES. IT CAN SIMPLY BE DESCRIBED AS WHEN BRAKING, IF A POTHOLE OR BUMP IN THE ROAD IS HIT, OR SOME OTHER SMALL IRREGULARITY IN THE ROAD SURFACE, THE CAR SEEMINGLY JERKS FORWARD/ACCELERATES FOR A SPLIT SECOND. THE FEELING IS OF A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HAS HAPPENED WHILE SLOWLY APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR BRAKING/DECELERATING IN TRAFFIC, BUT NOT TYPICALLY WHEN SLOWING AT HIGHER RATES OF SPEED. I HAVE HAD THESE EXPERIENCES... WHERE I HAVE BEEN SLOWLY APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, BRAKING, WHEN I HAVE HIT A SMALL BUMP, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BEFORE THE STOP SIGN, AND IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC WHERE I LOST MOMENTARY CONTROL OVER THE CAR AS THE BRAKES "HICCUPPED" OVER A ROUGH SPOT ON THE ROAD AND LURCHED AT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALER, LEXUS OF AUSTIN (TEXAS) REGARDING MY CONCERN WHEN I SAW THIS EVENING'S NEWS. IT COMPELLED ME TO NOTIFY YOU. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THIS PROBLEM MAY BE MORE WIDESPREAD WITH ALL TOYOTA PRODUCTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306060February 4, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
WHEN BRAKING, ANY SMALL BUMP, PARTICULARLY ON WET SURFACES, CAUSES BRAKING TO CUT OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO, AND THE CAR DOES NOT DECELERATE AS FAST. ADDED PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO ENGAGE THE REGULAR BRAKES TO RESUME THE SAME STOPPING LEVEL. THIS NON-LINEAR STOPPING CHARACTERISTIC CAUSES INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES AND LOSS OF CONTROL IN BRAKING (AT LEAST FOR A SECOND OR TWO). THIS SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING CUTTING OUT WHEN THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES MOMENTARILY. *JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304141February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND JUMP THE CURB AND DESTROYED THE FENCE OF A HOTEL. THE CONTACT STATED AS HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. HE HAD TO PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THEY RAN INTO A FENCE AND DID $10,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, HOWEVER THERE WAS OVER 10,000 IN DAMAGES. UPDATED 05/20/10
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304395February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX 400H. WHENEVER THE CONTACT APPLIES THE BRAKES WHILE TRAVELING OVER A ROUGH SURFACE THE BRAKES WILL DISENGAGE ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE CONTACT HAS NOTICED THE FAILURE SINCE THE DAY SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304366February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BRAKING AND CAR ENCOUNTERS ROUGH ROAD OR A POTHOLE, CAR LURCHES FORWARD AND LOSES COMPLETE BRAKING POWER. HAVE TO DEPRESS BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO BRING TO A STOP. OCCURS CONSISTENTLY WITH ABOVE STATED ROAD CONDITIONS. DEALER SERVICE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM AND CLAIMED TO HAVE NEVER HAD SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304486February 3, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES OR LUNGES FORWARD WHEN I STEP ON BRAKE AND AM BRAKING OVER UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10304637February 3, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE ENGINE ACCELERATING ON THE 2007 LEXUS 400H WHILE COASTING TO STOP SIGNS. THIS OCCURRENCE STARTED ABOUT 3-4 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR AND DOES NOT OCCUR ALL OF THE TIME. THE GAS PEDAL SEEMS TO OVERRIDE THE ENGINE ACCELERATION PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO WHAT OTHERS HAVE SEEN IN OTHER CARS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE PAST BEFORE THE RECALLS WITHOUT ANY SATISFACTION. THIS MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, BUT I WANTED TO RAISE THE CONCERN AS IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OTHER VEHICLES AND MAY HELP TO INDICATE THAT THE TRUE ISSUE MAY NOT BE THE FLOOR MATS OR THE GAS PEDAL DESIGN. MY WIFE IS CONCERNED SINCE THE ENGINE IS ACCELERATING WITHOUT THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESSED. SINCE THE BRAKE IS OVERRIDING THE ACCELERATION, IT WOULD INDICATE TO ME THAT THE ISSUE IS NOT A STICKING GAS PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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