2006 Lexus RX Hybrid complaints

HAVING ENJOYED OWNING A LEXUS RX300, I MADE A HUGE "INVESTMENT" AND PURCHASED THE 2006 RX400H. IN APRIL OF 2014, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I ATTEMPTED TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AS SUGGESTED BY THE LEXUS DEALER. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I DISCOVERED THE CARPET INSIDE THE CABIN AREA WAS SOAKING WET! THE CAR HAD BEEN OUTSIDE IN THE RAIN WITH THE WINDOWS, SUNROOF AND DOORS CLOSED. ALSO, I TAKE THE CAR TO AN AUTOMATIC CAR WASH ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHILE LOADING THE CAR ON TO THE JERR-DAN TOW TRUCK, A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER POURED OUT OF THE REAR TRUNK AREA. THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR WAS AMAZED AT THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT WAS POURING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LEXUS DEALER. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS, A LEAK IN THE REAR HATCH AREA WAS FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE WATER. THERE APPARENTLY IS A METAL SEAM WHERE THE WELDS DO NOT HOLD UP OR WERE NOT WELDED PROPERLY. WATER COLLECTED IN THE HYBRID BATTERY AREA CAUSING OVER $7000 DAMAGE. OF COURSE, LUCKILY FOR LEXUS, THE VEHICLE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE ONLY RECOURSE I HAD WAS TO MAKE A CLAIM TO MY INSURANCE, WHICH ONLY COVERED THE DAMAGES BUT NOT THE CAUSE. MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES ARE APPROXIMATELY $3000. WATER LEAKING FROM THE OUTSIDE INTO THE CABIN OF A VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY ONE OF THIS PRICE, IS UNACCEPTABLE. AND TO HAVE WATER COLLECT INTO THE "HEART" OF THE VEHICLE AND RENDER THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE IS FRIGHTENING. I COULD HAVE BEEN ON AN ISOLATED ROAD OR A BUSY HIGHWAY AND THE VEHIC

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. WE WERE TOLD THIS COULD BE A SAFETY RISK RELATED TO FUNCTION OF THE AIRBAG. LEXUS OFFERED TO PROVIDE A NEW DASHBOARD IF WE PAID THE LABOR CHARGE OF $800. EVENTUALLY THE DEALER SPLIT THE LABOR CHARGE WITH US AND WE REPLACED THE DASHBOARD. *TR

THE CAR IS A HYBRID. IT WOULD NOT START (THE READY LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON), THEREFORE IT WAS INOPERABLE. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS PARKED AND DID NOT DIE WHILE DRIVING. IF IT WOULD HAVE DIED WHILE DRIVING, MANY DANGEROUS POSSIBILITIES COULD HAVE INCURRED. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER IN COLUMBUS, THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS WATER IN THE HYBRID BATTERY AREA. AFTER LENGTHY DISCUSSION WITH LEXUS SERVICE PERSONNEL, THEY CONCLUDED THAT "WELDS" NEAR THE HATCH HINGES HAD COME APART, WHICH ALLOWED WATER TO SEEP INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR TO THE HYBRID ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. LEXUS SERVICE HAD EXPERIENCE THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE, AND HAD GUESSED AT A VARIETY OF REASONS (SUCH AS EXCESSIVE OPENING AND CLOSING OF THE HATCH, WIND CATCHING THE HATCH WHILE IT WAS OPEN, AND OTHER LAME REASONS). THERE IS NO TICKER ON THE HATCH TO COUNT HOW MANY TIMES IT WAS OPENED NOR WHAT THERE ANY GUST OF WIND THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSE THE WELDS, TWO WELDS, TO BREAK ALLOWING WATER TO SEEP INTO THE CAR. MY CONCLUSION IS THAT SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BEFORE, THAT THERE IS EITHER A MANUFACTURING ISSUE, AN ENGINEERING ISSUE, OR BOTH. I AM NEITHER AN EXPERT IN THESE AREAS, BUT DO HAVE SOME COMMON SENSE. LEXUS CORPORATE OR THE DEALER WOULD NOT CONFESS TO THE WRONGDOING AND THEREFORE I HAD TO SHELL OUT OVER $1600 IN REPAIRS. THEY WANTED ANOTHER $1100 TO RE-WELD THE 3 INCH GAP ON BOTH SIDES WITH PAINTING INCLUDED. DUE TO THE EXPENSE, I HAD TO OPT FOR USING SILICONE TO SEAL THE GAPS AND AM FO

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FRESH POND ROAD AND MYRTLE AVENUE, MY LEXUS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD WAS "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED DEC 2012. ACCORDING TO LEXUS THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WAS THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE LEXUS DEALER YET BUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I GOT LUCKY WITHOUT SERIOUSLY INJURING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

PARKED, AND WHEN I TURNED ON CAR BOTH HIGHBEAMS WENT DIM. WENT TO REPLACE BULBS AND THE NEW BULBS ARE STILL DIM AND BEGINNING TO BUBBLE. *TR

SLOWING THE VEHICLE AT A STOP SIGN FROM ABOUT 20MPH. CONSTANTLY APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE. AT ABOUT 15MPH THE BRAKE PRESSURE INVOLUNTARILY RELEASED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS NEVER ON THE ACCELERATOR AND CONTINUED TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE THROUGHOUT THE ACCELERATION. APPROX. 1/4 SECOND AFTER THE ACCELERATION, THE BRAKE CAME BACK ON AND CONTINUED TO APPLY AT THE SAME CONSTANT PRESSURE. THE ENTIRE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS LASTED ABOUT 1/2 A SECOND BUT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LURCH FORWARD WHILE BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT ONCE A WEEK. *TR

LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR DISCOVERED AND IN LESS THAN 50 MILES AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT LIT, INDICATING FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE SYSTEM , NAMELY THE HYBRID INVERTER. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THE RADIATOR AND INVERTER WERE REPLACED. *TR

AS I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I STARTED TO BRAKE. MY BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE EVEN WHEN I PUMPED. I SWUNG MY CARE TO THE LEFT SO I WOULD NOT REAR END THE CAR IN FRONT. I HIT THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER REAR CORNER (ON MY LEFT) AND TOTALED MY LEXUS. MY BRAKES WERE FINE UP TO THAT MOMENT AND ALTHOUGH I COULD NOT DRIVE THE CAR AWAY FROM THE SCENE THEY SEEMED TO BE WORKING AGAIN WHEN I PRESSED ON THEM (ALTHOUGH I CANNOT BE SURE AS THE CAR WAS STILL). IT WAS HORRIBLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON RT 2 IN MASSACHUSETTES THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND BLEW OUT. AT THIS INSTANT THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILED MAKING IT EXTRA DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. I LATER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO LEXUS OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE I PURCHASED IT AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE ECU HAD FAILED BY SWAPPING IT OUT WITH A KNOWN GOOD ONE FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT THIS WOULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE CONTROL FORCE THAT A FLAT TIRE PUTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

THE BLACK PLASTIC FINISH TRIM ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TRIANGULAR WINDOW BLEW OFF ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. APPARENTLY THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE, SINCE NOW THAT I AM AWARE OF IT...I HAVE NOTICED THAT OTHER LEXUS SUV'S OF THE SAME OR SIMILAR MODELS HAVE THAT PIECE MISSING! I SAW 3 OTHERS JUST YESTERDAY! I AM THINKING THAT WHATEVER IS SUPPOSE TO HOLD THAT PIECE ON IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO DO SO! *TR

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND P0AA6 WARNING ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE WENT COMPLETELY DEAD, COULD NOT START UP. THERE WERE CRACKED BODY SEAMS ABOVE THE REAR DOOR STRUT MOUNTS ALLOWING WATER INTRUSION TO FLOOD THE ENTIRE BOTTOM WELL UNDER THE FLOOR BOARDS WHICH SHORTED OUT THE ENTIRE HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF WATER INTRUSION INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WAS WET. APPARENTLY, LEXUS HAS TWO TSB'S ON THIS ISSUE, L-SB-0019-09 & L-SB-0045-09, ON HOW TO REPAIR THE SEAMS SINCE OVER TIME THERE APPEARS TO BE A STRUCTURAL FLAW ALLOWING THE SEAMS TO SEPARATE. THE WATER INTRUSION HAPPENS SILENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNING AND PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU GET WATER INTO AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND PARTS BEGIN SHORTING OUT WITHOUT ADVANCED WARNING. IMAGINE TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED AND THE HYBRID BATTERY SHORTS AND THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STOPS! OR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT STARTS A FIRE! LEXUS IS AWARE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND HOW COSTLY THE DAMAGE IS AND THE SAFETY RISKS ASSOCIATED AS A RESULT AND HAS CHOSEN NOT TO ISSUE A RECALL OR LIMITED CAMPAIGN TO ALLOW FOR A SIMPLE REPAIR OF THE SEAMS TO PREVENT MAJOR DAMAGE FROM OCCURRING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE WITH THE BRAKES BEING DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD, ACCELERATED, JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IN OPERATION, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, CRASHING INTO A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE DOOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS TO THE BODY DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 6/4/13 *CN

AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE ON THE 4TH LEVEL OF A 6 STORY PARKING BUILDING, I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS COMING TO A STOP, SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED (LOUNGED) FORWARD. THERE WERE STEEL CABLES (RAIL GUARDS) THAT STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM GOING OVER AND NOSE DIVING ONTO THE STREET BELOW. THE FRONT BUMPER AND THE HOOD WERE DAMAGED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALER AND HAD THEM CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR ANY DEFECTS. AFTER DOING A "HEALTH CHECK" ON THE VEHICLE THE LEXUS REP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I ALSO FILLED A REPORT WITH LEXUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME, A TECHNICAL INSPECTOR WILL GO TO THE DEALERSHIP AND CHECK THE VEHICLE OUT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING THE HYBRID INVERTER BATTERY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTS OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

I OWN A LEXUS RX400H 2006. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS LURCHED FORWARD (I.E. ACCELERATED) BEFORE STOPPING WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. I WENT TO THE WILKIE LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN HAVERFORD, PA ON JANUARY 31, 2013. A TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A TEST ON THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED NORMAL BRAKING PERFORMANCE. I HAVE FOUND SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA. BASED ON THESE SIMILAR REPORTS, I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. I WILL ALSO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH LEXUS. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO NOT HIT A PEDESTRIAN OR VEHICLE, HOWEVER, IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. OTHERS WITH SIMILAR INCIDENCES HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE LEXUS RX400H WITHIN THE CITY AND TRIED TO BRAKE SUDDENLY TO AVOID A FAILED CAR IN MY LANE. I PUSHED REALLY HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CONTINUED TO STEP HARD ON THE BRAKE. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION WHATSOEVER. IT APPEARED AS IF PRESSING VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE JUST DISABLED THE BRAKE. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE LIKE IT WAS ON A CRUISE CONTROL AND THE INCIDENT RESULTED IN REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT. *TR

THIS IS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION/UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT. I TURNED OFF OF A MAJOR ROAD INTO A SMALL, CROWDED PARKING LOT. AS I SLOWLY PULLED INTO AN AVAILABLE SPACE (WITH A CAR PARKED ON EACH SIDE OF ME), THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. ALTHOUGH I KEPT JAMMING ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, THEY DID NOT STOP THE CAR--IT KEPT GOING FORWARD. THE CAR WENT OVER THE WOODEN RAILROAD TIE AT THE END OF THE PARKING SPOT AND CRASHED THROUGH A WOOD FENCE. THE ONLY REASON THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED IS DUE TO THE RAILROAD TIE, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR AT THE REAR AXLE AS THE FRONT OF THE CAR HUNG IN THE AIR. *TR

TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 75-80 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT-OFF. LOST ALL POWER AND "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS CAME ON. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE INVERTER ON THIS CAR WAS RECALLED IN JUNE 2011 AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND THEY DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SALINE KIRKLAND AT LEXUS OF MOBILE (SERVICE MANAGER) SAID SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM ONE WEEK AGO. *TR

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE STALLING. THE CONTACT ADDED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING TO CHECK ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING 4WD AND HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

1A. AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN TO KEY HOLE, IF YOUR START THE CAR RIGHT AWAY, IT WILL GIVE YOU A FAILURE "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" OR"SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE STARTING" EVEN IT WAS ALREADY PARKED. 1B. POWER DRAINED IF RADIO WAS ON FOR 10-20 MIN AND CAR WILL NOT START 2. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COOLED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BEFORE TURNING START TO GET IT START. 2 YEARS AFTER HAVING THE CAR, THE STARTER BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH THE SIMILAR SITUATION DESCRIBED ABOVE. DEALER NOW CLAIMS THAT BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN. 3. REPLACING STARTER BATTER WAS DONE THE FIRST TIME. I REALLY DOUBT THAT BATTERY DIED OUT SO QUICKLY, SO I'VE DONE A BIT RESEARCH (PROVIDED LINK BELOW) AND FOUND QUITE A FEW TALKED ABOUT INVERTER FAILURE CAUSING SIMILAR ISSUES, AND IT NOT ONLY RESULT IN HIGH COST TO REPLACE THE INVERTER, POSSIBLY LIFE BECAUSE VEHICLE BROUGHT TO STOP WHEN IN MOTION. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F136279/0 PLEASE KINDLY INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *TR

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR; MY VEHICLE HAS 37,000 MILES, BUT HAS WORN THROUGH ITS 3RD SET FRONT TIRES. THE FIRST SET I BELIEVE WAS GOODYEAR (TIRES ON CAR AT PURCHASE), SECOND SET KUMHO, AND THIRD MICHELIN ENERGIES. LEXUS CLAIMS IT IS BAD LUCK AND WON'T FURTHER INVESTIGATE TO DATE. BACK TIRES WEAR MUCH SLOWER. *TR

THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM INVOLVES HYBRID INVERTERS IN LEXUS HYBRID VEHICLES. THIS PARTICULAR CASE INVOLVES A 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLE WITH ABOUT 109,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAD RECEIVED ALL RECOMMENDED, SCHEDULED, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, ALL POWER TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY AND ABRUPTLY VANISHED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CONCOMITANTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND SKID CONTROL AS EVIDENCED BY NOTICES ON THE DASH. FORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE, MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND MANUALLY PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. LATER IT WAS TOWED A GREAT DISTANCE TO THE DEALER, AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, THE DEALER BEING THE ONLY PLACE CAPABLE OF THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. THE DEALER FOUND THE HYBRID INVERTER FAULTY. NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE COULD BE PROVIDED. THE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIED THEREFORE THE COST OF REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS AN ASTONISHING $9,000.00 ! TOYOTA EVENTUALLY AGREED TO PAY THE DEALER FOR THE PART, BUT NOT ITS INSTALLATION. THE FAULTY PART WAS NOT RETURNED. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT NOT PROVE ISOLATED, SUCH ABRUPT AND UNCONTROLLED POWER LOSS RENDERS ALL THESE VEHICLES UNTRUSTWORTHY AT MINIMUM, AND RAISES POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC SAFETY CONCERNS DEPENDENT ON CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE WHERE AND WHEN HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE AND COMPLETE POWER LOSS SUDDENLY OCCURS. *TR

THE CAR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS TRAVELING 70+MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LEFT ONLY WITH BRAKES. MY PASSENGER NOTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED STRANGE, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATORS ON THE DASH. CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHICH STATED THAT THE INVERTER WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND QUOTED $9,000 FOR PART AND $500 FOR LABOR. CAR HAD BEEN FULLY SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT SAME DEALERSHIP JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD NEW INVERTERS COME FROM JAPAN AND USED ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND. *TR

UNEXPECTED VEHICLE ACCELERATION - LACK OF ADEQUATE BRAKING DURING DISENGAGEMENT OF HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

ON FRIDAY EVENING APRIL 29 2011 , I WAS DRIVING ON THE NY THROUGHWAY SOUTH BOUND TO NY CITY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I LOST ALL POWER AND I HAVE TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND I CANNOT RESTART THE CAR THEN I TURNED ON THE BLINKERS BUT IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES ALL POWER WERE GONE IT WAS DARK AND VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO HAVE THE EMERGENCY FLASHING LIGHTS ON. I CALLED THE AAA THEY TOLD ME TO SIT IN THE CAR WHILE THEY ASK FOR A STATE TROOPER TO LOCATE ME AND STATE POLICE HAD TO PARK BEHIND ME WITH HIS FLASHING LIGHTS TO PROTECT ME UNTIL THE TOWING TRUCK ARRIVE THE DEALER CHARGING ME 248.00 JUST TO DO THE DIAGNOSES THEY TOLD ME IT IS THE HYBRID INVERTER ($10,000.00) AND THE HYBRID BATTERY ($6,000.00) THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED, LABOR NOT INCLUDED, I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURER, AS I READ OTHER CONSUMER THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM PLEASE HELP PROTECT ALL THE CONSUMERS IN THESE DEFECTIVE INVERTERS AND THE BATTERY FROM LEXUS. *TR

1. NONE, LUCKILY I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A DEAD STOP WHEN THE PART SEEMED TO POP OUT OF GEAR. THE CAR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING NOT QUITE AS SMOOTH 2 WEEKS PRIOR SO I HAD IT CHECKED @ THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IF THIS PART WERE TO MALFUNCTION @ HIGH SPEED I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ISSUE THIS COMPLAINT. 2. ONCE, I WILL REQUEST OLD PART IF DESIRED BUT EXPECT LEXUS TO TRY TO KEEP THE PART. WILL NHTSA HAVE IT PICKED UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP? 3. CAR IS IN REPAIR SHOP NOW. NOTHING DONE YET. HYBRID INVERTER W/ CONVERTER QUOTED TO BE REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT PART #G92A0-48090, INDICATING TO ME THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THAT THE ORIGINAL PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

DRIVING OFF A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST DIED. CHECK AWD - CVT - HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON . TOWED TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND THEY CALLED TO SAY LUCKY IT IS UNDER WARRANTY ( I HAVE 64000 MILES , WARRANTY IS 70 K ) AND IT NEEDS A NEW INVERTER. I HAVE NOT SEEN BILL BUT HERE IT IS $ 7 TO $ 9000 YIKES ! THIS IS A PROBLEM AS IT SHAKES MY FAITH IN LEXUS BOUGHT FROM USA TO BRING TO CANADA AND RELIED ON TOYOTA - LEXUS BRAND --- THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THE TOYOTA LEXUS HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDS A LONGER WARRANTY !!!! I BELIEVE IT IS A FAULTY CURRENT INVERTER MADE OF PLASTIC, THEY REPLACE WITH NEWER METAL ONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND PROCEEDING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING THE HYBRID INVERTER BATTERY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,300.

COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR SUMMARY: AT A STEADY RATE OF SPEED ON THE HWY, THE CAR SURGES AND PULLS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A SMOOTH RIDE. WHEN BRAKING EXPERIENCE SHORT BURSTS OF ACCELERATION. I AM CONCERNED AS THIS SEEMS TO BE LEADING TO AN INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

NO FAILURE, YET. BUT VEHICLE (LEXUS RX400H - 2006) IS A HYBRID. THERE IS A SEPARATE COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE HYBRID COMPONENTS (INVERTER, AND ELECTRIC MOTORS IN TRANSAXLE). COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSAXLE. IF ALL COOLANT LEAKS OUT, THE INVERTER WILL FAIL. WITHOUT THE INVERTER, THERE IS NO POWER - NO ELECTRIC STEERING, NO ELECTRIC BRAKES, AND NO MOTIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COOLANT MAY LEAK SOMEWHERE OR ONTO SOMETHING THAT MAY SHORT OUT OR CAUSE A FIRE. THIS IS NOT A LEAK FROM A WORN OUT COOLANT HOSE, BUT DIRECTLY FROM THE TRANSAXLE. BEING A HYBRID, THE AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRIC POWER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF INVERTERS FAILING (JUST CHECK THE LEXUS. TOYOTA AND OTHER HYBRID FORUMS) ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED, LEADING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS FRIGHTENING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER SYSTEM SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITH NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

2006 LEXUS RX400H (AND OTHER TOYOTA/LEXUS MODELS). ANTI BACTERIAL / MOLD COATING ON A/C EVAPORATOR BEGINS SHEDDING WITH AGE/TIME AND BLOWS WHITE POWDER/DUST THROUGH VEHICLE. LEXUS SAYS IT'S ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE, AND IT'S PERFECTLY SAFE. HOW CAN IT BE SAFE TO INHALE / INGEST A FOREIGN SUBSTANCE? HAS LEXUS / TOYOTA DONE ANY STUDIES REGARDING ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE. IF IT'S SAFE, WHY DOES LEXUS / TOYOTA NOW OFFER (AND INSTALL IN NEW VEHICLES) AN A/C EVAPORATOR WITHOUT THE COATING? *TR

THE 2006 LEXUS RX400H HAS CONTINUOUSLY DEMONSTRATED EXTREMELY EXCESSIVE INSIDE FRONT TIRE WEAR. THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES WERE REPORTED AS WORN OUT AT A 10K MILE DEALER INSPECTION, AND THAT IS AFTER AN INSPECTION AT 5K MILES BROUGHT NO PROBLEMS TO MY ATTENTION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 50K MILES, ON THE THIRD SET OF TIRES, WITH REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO ALIGN THE FRONT END AND RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE ISSUE APPEARS TO REMAIN. THIS VEHICLE DESTROYS FRONT TIRES AT A RATE THAT WILL TAKE CONSUMERS BY EXTREME SURPRISE AND COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS TRAFFIC INCIDENTS DUE TO FRONT TIRE FAILURE. TIRES WITH A LOWER SPEED RATING DO SEEM TO IMPROVE LIFE, AS I HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST SET OF TIRES (EACH SET TRIED HAS BEEN DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER WITH HIGHER LIFE RATINGS); HOWEVER IT DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE SINCE THE LIFE OF THE TIRES IS STILL BEING DEMONSTRATED TO BE WELL LESS THAN HALF THAT EXPECTED. *TR

DEAD STARTER BATTERY - 1. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW (WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS) THE STARTER BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR 4 OR MORE DAYS (OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE WHERE IT WOULD SIT WITHOUT A CHARGER NEARBY LIKE TO AN AIRPORT). LEXUS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES BUT JUST 1 MONTH AGO REPLACED IT AGAIN AND NOW AFTER A 1 WEEK TRIP TO CANCUN BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. LEXUS PRETENDS TO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM BUT MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT IS OFTEN MUCH WORSE WHERE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME SERIES OF PROBLEMS ULTIMATELY NEED TO HAVE THE INVERTER REPLACED WHICH IS A $9K PLUS PART (SO FAR IT SEEMS WHEN ITS PROVED TO LEXUS THEY DO THIS AT NO CHARGE -- BUT MINE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY). 2. PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS IF THE CAR SITS WITHOUT BEING STARTED FOR MORE THAN 4 DAYS. 3. THEY HAVE REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. WE ARE AFRAID THAT OUR PROBLEM WILL ESCALATE AND MY WIFE WILL BE DRIVING WITH OUR 8 & 10 YEAR OLD CHILDREN AND THE BATTERY SYSTEM WILL FAIL CAUSING THE ENTIRE CAR TO SHUT DOWN AND SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER TO SAFETY WHEN BRAKE AND STEERING ARE NOT WORKING. IT IS UNFAIR FOR US TO POTENTIALLY HAVE TO SELL THE VEHICLE AT A HUGE LOSS TO AVOID THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE (AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE THE PROBLEM). *TR

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. STOP AT A STOP SIGN ON A VERY STEEP HILL. START TO PULL OUT ON TO A VERY BUSY ROAD. WHILE GIVING THE CAR GAS TO GO IT COMPLETELY GOES DEAD. NOTHING WILL WORK. PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BACKED IT DOWN THE STEEP HILL TO A FLAT SURFACE. WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. *TR

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND CAR SHUDDERED AND LOST POWER AND ALL THE "CHECK" LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALER DIAGNOSED INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED BUT HE WAS ABLE TO COAST IT TO A STOP ON AN EXIT RAMP. THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 70,000.

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY STOPS RUNNING WHILE DRIVING - ENDED UP BEING A FAILED INVERTER. *TR

DRIVING AT 40 MPH, VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED,SHUT DOWN, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES LOST POWER ASSIST. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A 2006 LEXUS 400H THE ENGINE, POWER STEERING, LIGHTS, EVERYTHING! JUST QUIT AND THE CAR HAD TO BE MANEUVERED OFF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER WHAT SO EVER. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. THE CAR'S INVERTER HAD FAILED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AND SERVICED BY THE DEALER FOR ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS HAD NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE NEW INVERTER COSTS $8300! WE WILL PROBABLY SELL THE CAR FOR SALVAGE AS ITS WAY TOO MUCH MONEY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL GO OUT NEXT! APPARENTLY THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN OTHER HYBRIDS BY LEXUS AND TOYOTA. ITS A MIRACLE THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ENGINE FAILED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE COMPUTER AND ENGINE TO FAIL. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/15/10 BF UPDATED 10/19/10

I READ ON THE EDMUNDS SITE FOR LEXUS 400H, MANY OWNERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE ELECTRIC INVERTER ON THE MODEL YEAR 2006. I OWN THIS CAR AND I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM. I BELIEVE YOUR AGENCY SHOULD BE LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION AS IT APPEARS THAT OWNERS ARE REPORTING THAT LEXUS IS NOT ADMITTING TO THIS SITUATION. ONE OWNER REPORTS THAT LEXUS KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM IN 2006 AND CHANGED TO A DIFFERENT INVERTER STARTING WITH VIN #'S GREATER THAN 60036526. MY CAR'S VI # FALLS BELOW THAT CUTOFF AND I AM VERY WORRIED. WHEN THE INVERTER FAILS, ALL POWER TO THE VEHICLE FAILS AND THE DRIVER IS IN SERIOUS TROUBLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY WHILE DRIVING. *TR UPDATED 06/02/11

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA LEXUS RX400H HYBRID. WHILE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE WERE ILLUMINATED. AN ALARM WARNING LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SKID CONTROL WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL DUE TO THE COMPUTER WHICH WAS ALSO REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND IT COST HER A TOTAL OF $2,106.19. NOTHING WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,560.

LEXUS RX-400H TIRES WEAR OUT SOONER THAN THEY SHOULD. *TR

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EXACT BRAKING PROBLEM IN MY 2006 LEXUS RX400H AS DESCRIBED IN RECENT "CAR GUYS" COLUMN. WHILE COASTING TO A STOP WITH FOOT LIGHTLY ON BRAKE PEDAL, IF I SUDDENLY STEP HARDER ON BRAKE, IT SEEMS TO DISENGAGE FOR A SECOND BEFORE THE BRAKE TAKES HOLD AGAIN. MY GUESS, SAME AS THE CAR GUYS, IS THAT THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY IN SWITCHING FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO REGULAR FRICTION BRAKING. IT IS DISCONCERTING, BUT SOMETHING I CAN LIVE WITH AS I AM A CAUTIOUS DRIVER -- LEAVE PLENTY OF FOLLOWING DISTANCE, ETC. THIS HAS HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY, AT VARIOUS TIMES, SO "INCIDENT DATE" IS FICTITIOUS JUST TO GET THROUGH THIS FORM. *TR

LEXUS RX400H 2006 - ABS - WHEN APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, IF THE CAR IS ON A BUMPY ROAD, THE BRAKES SEEM TO GIVE OUT AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN AS CAR SWITCHES FROM REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO REGULAR BRAKES. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIND ANY PROBLEM. *TR