2006 Lexus RX Hybrid complaints

MY UNCLE BUMPED HIS LEG ON THE DOOR EDGE OF HIS 2006 LEXUS400H, CUTTING HIS LEG WHICH REQUIRED 5 STITCHES. THE EXTERIOR PANEL IS MUCH BIGGER THAT THE INTERIOR PANEL WHICH LEAVES A HUGE POINTED SECTION THAT STICKS OUT RATHER THAN TAPERING SAFELY IN: IF YOU LOOK STRAIGHT DOWN ON IT YOU CAN SEE HOW IT STICKS OUT. *TR

MY 2006 LEXUS RX 400H HAS EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION DURING ACCELERATION. IT SEEMS TO STALL THE ENGINE. BRING THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECKING. THE DEALER SAID MY VEHICLE USES INCORRECT GRADE OF GASOLINE OR NOT GOOD QUALITY GASOLINE AND RECOMMEND THAT I SHALL ALWAYS USE BETTER QUALITY GASOLINE, I.E. GASOLINE FROM SHELL. THE VIBRATION IS CAUSED BY THE MISFIRE. SUBSEQUENTLY USING THE GASOLINE FROM SHELL AND THE VIBRATION SEEMS TO BE REDUCED OR GO AWAY. LATER ON, TRY TO USE A DIFFERENT BRAND OF GASOLINE (SAME GRADE, PREMIUM) AND THE VIBRATION COMES BACK. IT SEEMS THE VIBRATION HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TIMING OF IGNITION WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY THE COMPUTER. IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT THE DESIGN OF COMPUTER SOFTWARE MODELING IS BASED ON CERTAIN BRAND OF GASOLINE OR THE DESIGN MARGIN IS SO TIGHT THAT THE IGNITION TIMING DOES NOT WORK WITH THE GASOLINE THAT IS SLIGHT DEVIATED FROM THE GASOLINE THAT LEXUS USES TO MAKE THE DESIGN. IF I DRIVE THE CAR LONG DISTANCE OR OUT OF TOWN AND CAN NOT FIND THE GAS STATION THAT SELL THE GASOLINE WHICH PRODUCE NO VIBRATION, THEN, I COULD RUN INTO A SERIOUS SITUATION THAT MY VEHICLE COULD BE STALLED OR BROKEN DOWN DUE TO SEVERE VIBRATION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF AT LEAST 40 MPH ON A BUMPY ROAD SURFACE, THE BRAKING SYSTEM BECOMES FAULTY CAUSING UNPREDICTABLE STOPPING DISTANCES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO THE FAULTY BRAKES. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

MOMENTARY ACCELERATION DURING NORMAL BRAKING. PROBLEM OCCURS REGULARLY (BUT NOT EVERY TIME) DURING NORMAL BRAKING. LEXUS DEALER SERVICE WRITER REPORTS THIS AS NORMAL AND EXPECTED PERFORMANCE. IT APPEARS THAT NORMAL BRAKING STARTS WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKES AND THEN TRANSITIONS TO FRICTION BRAKES. THERE IS A MOMENT DURING THE TRANSITION THAT BRAKING POWER IS LOST AND VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATES. TO MAINTAIN EVEN DECELERATION DURING EVERY BRAKING MANEUVER THE DRIVER MUST BE PARTICULARLY AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM AND BE PREPARED TO QUICKLY APPLY SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL DURING THE TRANSITION PHASE THEN IMMEDIATELY REMOVE THE ADDED PRESSURE TO PREVENT OVER-BRAKING.. *TR

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON BRAKES AND ALMOST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 1 YEAR AGO AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND NOW IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT. IT HAS BEEN A HAZARD TO DRIVE. THE COMPUTER WAS CHANGED AND STILL IT OCCURRED AND IS WITH SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR

AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPACE AT WORK THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS I WAS BRAKING. THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ACCELERATION CAUSED ME TO SLAM INTO THE WALL OF MY OFFICE BUILDING AND BOUNCED THE CAR BACK 3-4 FEET. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS IN TOTAL SHOCK AND HAD HIT MY LEG AGAINST THE PANEL DURING THE CRASH. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED I STARTED FEELING MORE AND MORE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT THROUGHOUT MY NECK, SHOULDERS AND CHEST AREA. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER FELT A SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED I HAVE REALIZED OCCASIONALLY WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR DOESN'T SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY. WHETHER THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE INCIDENT IS BEYOND ME. THE CAR WAS LATER TOWED TO LONGO LEXUS IN EL MONTE, CA FOR I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE. *TR

I HAVE A 2006, LEXUS, RX 400 H. A LEXUS CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEW TO ME LAST SUMMER. IT ACCELERATES SLIGHTLY WHEN I INITIATE BRAKING 2 OR 3 TIMES OUT OF 20 TIMES. I THOUGHT IT WAS "NORMAL" FOR A CAR WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING. IT STARTLES YOU WHEN IT HAPPENS BUT HARD PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE STOPS THE CAR. YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTTENTION EACH TIME YOU BRAKE. WHAT IS SCARY IS IT ACCELERATES A LOT IN ABOUT 1 OF 100 TIMES WHEN I BRAKE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WAS HITTING BOTH THE GAS AND THE ACCELERATOR ... BUT I AM SURE I AM NOT. THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE TWO CAR LENGTHS BEFORE YOU CAN BRAKE IT. I THOUGHT IT WAS DANGEROUS AND BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER LAST YEAR. WE WENT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR. THE DEALERSHIP RECORDED THE COMPLAINT AND TOLD ME TO KEEP AN EYE ON IT. THE 2 CAR LENGTH ACCELERATION PROBLEM WAS WORSE IN THE HOT MONTHS AND IT DID NOT SEEM TO OCCUR IN THE WINTER MONTHS. THE SLIGHT ACCELERATION PROBLEM HAS NOT CHANGED IN FREQUENCY. WITH ALL THIS TOYOTA BRAKE STUFF, I WONDER WHY I HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM IN LEXUS HYBRID CARS TOO?

LEXUS RX 400H ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK BUILDING. INCURRED $10,000 DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF UNEXPLAINED ACCELERATION. NEVER HAS HAPPENED AGAIN-TOOK TO LEXUS DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED AFTER DAMAGES REPAIRED AT BODY SHOP. THE CONSUMER AND HER DAUGHTER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. UPDATED 05/04/10

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO FLASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE INVERTER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $700 TO HAVE THE PART INSTALLED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILES WERE 140,000.

WE OWN A 2006 LEXUS RX 400H AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED THE CAR 'JUMPS' FORWARD. WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO REPORT THE ISSUE BUT THEY ALWAYS RETURN AND TELL US NOTHING IT WRONG WITH THE VEHICLES BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS EVENT DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME, WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IF WE ARE REQUIRED TO STOP SUDDENLY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, ETC. THAT OUR VEHICLE WILL JUMP AND WE WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

LEXUS RX400H, ACCELERATED WHILE BRAKES WERE APPLIED CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. ALSO THE VEHICLE'S BRAKES WERE SUCH THAT THE THERE WAS A SLIGHT DELAY THAT HAD TO COMPENSATED FOR OR YOU WOULD PASS INTERSECTIONS OR TURNS. THE VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATES AT TIMES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. *TR

S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING RE TOYOTA RECALL FOR PRIUS BRAKE ISSUE, OWNER OF A 2006 LEXUS 400H CONCERNED WITH BRAKING PROBLEM EXPERIENCE W/VEHICLE. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE INCIDENT WOULD OCCUR WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND THEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP. *JB

I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT INTERSECTION AT 50MPH. WHEN LIGHT CHANGED TO RED I TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES ABOUT 1,000FT FROM INTERSECTION. CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN AND BRAKES APPEARED NOT TO BE WORKING. I VEERED INTO MEDIAN TO AVOID STOPPED TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME AND THEN ENTERED INTERSECTION CLIPPING THE BACK OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. LEXUS DEALER REPORTED NO DEFECT WITH BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN STORED IN A FLORIDA GARAGE AND IT WAS THE 1ST TIME IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN IN SEVERAL MONTHS. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED AGAIN TO THIS VEHICLE TO MY KNOWLEDGE. *TR

FOLLOWING ARE THE SERIES OF EVENTS ON NOVEMBER 11, 2009: 1.I WAS LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE IN THE PARKING GARAGE OF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND. 2.I FOUND ONE OPEN SPACE ON MY LEFT. 3.I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SLOWED DOWN MY CAR TO ALMOST ZERO SPEED. 4.I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LEFT TOWARDS THE PARKING SPACE. 5.I SLOWLY RELEASED THE BRAKES TO LET THE CAR SLOWLY ROLL INTO THE PARKING SPACE. 6.SUDDENLY MY CAR EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. 7.I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. I TRIED MY BEST TO APPLY THE BRAKES. 8.BEFORE, I COULD REALIZE WHAT HAPPENED, THE CAR BANGED INTO THE PARKING GARAGE WALL AROUND 3 METERS AHEAD OF ME AND STOPPED AFTER THE IMPACT. 9.THE IMPACT WAS SO BAD THAT THE AIRBAGS POPPED OUT. 10.SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. 11.I SUFFERED SEVERE 'WHIPLASH' INJURY IN MY NECK. 12.NOT ONLY THIS, THE PLACE WHERE IT ALL HAPPENED WAS ALMOST 4 STORIES HIGH IN PARKING GARAGE. HAD THE WALL IN-FRONT OF ME GIVEN AWAY, I WOULD HAVE FALLEN ALMOST 4 STORIES DOWN WITH THE CAR. 13.I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SURVIVE THE CRASH WITHOUT ANY SEVERE INJURY. 14.FOR A FEW SECONDS, I WAS TOTALLY BLANK, THEN I TRIED OPENING THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR, BUT IT WAS STUCK. 15.I PUSHED IT HARD, AND DOOR OPENED SLIGHTLY. 16.I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, TOOK THE KEYS OUT. 17.I RUSHED OUT OF THE CAR AND CALLED MY INSURANCE COMPANY. 18.THE INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO) SENT SOMEONE TO TOW AWAY THE CAR. 19.THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY TO COLLISION CENTER. 20.AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN A MONTH AND AROUND USD 18,0

BRAKE SLIPPAGE ON 2006 LEXUS RX400H - I BOUGHT THIS NEW IN 2005 AND EVER SINCE THEN, WE'VE SEEN THE SAME KIND OF BRAKE SLIPPAGE THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN REPORTING. WHEN WE'RE BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY LUNGE AS IF THE BRAKES STOPPED GRABBING OR SLIPPED. THE CAR DOES COME TO A STOP WITH CONTINUED PRESSURE BUT THE SUDDEN FEELING OF ACCELERATION IS MOST DISCONCERTING. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AND EACH TIME I'M THERE, I MENTION THE BRAKING ISSUE. AND, EACH TIME, THEY TELL ME THAT ITS NORMAL FOR THE TYPES OF BRAKES USED IN THE HYBRID TECHNOLOGY. *TR

I OWN A 2006 LEXUS RX400H WHICH I BELIEVE HAS EXACTLY THE SAME FLAW AS RECENTLY REPORTED IN THE PRIUS. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY MY CAR LURCHING FORWARD DURING BREAKING WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE LEXUS OF WATERTOWN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I REPORTED THAT I THOUGHT THE ISSUE MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE TRANSITION BETWEEN THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE REGULAR BRAKE. IT SEEMED LIKE THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS TURNED OFF SLIGHTLY BEFORE THE REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM KICKED IN CAUSING A GAP IN THE BRAKING THAT WAS PERCEIVED BY ME TO BE A "LURCHING FORWARD". OF COURSE, WHAT IT WAS A DECREASE IN DECELERATION THAT APPEARED BE ACCELERATION. IN ANY EVENT, THE DEALER SAID HE CHECKED THE BRAKES AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I WOULD SAY FROM THAT TIME UNTIL NOW I HAD ABOUT ONE OR TWO INSTANCES OF THIS LURCHING PER MONTH. I AM VERY USED TO HYBRIDS AND CURRENTLY OWN A PRIUS AS WELL, SO I KNOW THE IDIOSYNCRATIC NATURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, AFTER THE RECENT CASCADE OF REPORTS ON PROBLEMS WITH THE PRIUS I CALLED MY DEALER AGAIN AND TOLD THEM, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE LEXUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY LEXUS HAVE THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTS OF PROBLEMS. I BELIEVE I WAS TOLD NO, HOWEVER, THE WORDING OF THE ANSWER WAS GUARDED. TODAY, I HAD ANOTHER LURCHING EVENT. APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, ON A SMOOTH, DRY ROAD I LURCHED FORWARD AT APPROXIMATEL

BRAKES SLIP ON MY LEXUS 400 HYBRID SUV, 2006 MODEL. THIS OCCASIONAL SLIPPAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THIS CAR SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERS ATTENTION AND THEY SAY THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE CONTINUED TO HAPPEN FROM 2006 PURCHASE DATE UNTIL THE PRESENT, 2010. *TR

I OWN 2 2006 LEXUS RX 400 H HYBRID SUV'S. FROM THE FIRST WEEK I COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ALWAYS ENGAGE WHEN YOU DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CAR WOULD LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE FOR 1 OR 2 SECONDS. THE LEXUS DEALER HAS DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT EACH TIME. NOW THERE APPEARS TO BE A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF TOYOTA HYBRIDS AND ONE LINE OF LEXUS HYBRIDS WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT JUST WITH THEIR NEW S50 LEXUS HYBRID. IT HAS EXISTED AT LEAST AS FAR BACK AS 2006 WITH MY CARS. *TR

RE: LEXUS RX400H NOT ON ANY RECALL LIST BY TOYOTA. HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF BRAKING/ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. TOYOTA WON'T DO ANYTHING EXCEPT SAY BRING IT IN FOR A TEST DRIVE. IT HAS ALREADY BEEN TEST DRIVEN SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM DOES NOT DUPLICATE. IT IS RARE, BUT IT IS DANGEROUS. TOYOTA JUST SHRUGS IT OFF. I KNOW WHAT THE CAR DOES, I'VE DRIVEN IT FOR NEARLY 3 YRS WITH APPROX. 12 INCIDENTS OF THE PROBLEM. CAN YOU HELP? *TR

MY LEXUS RX400 H HYBRID VEHICLE IS EXPERIECING SMILAR PROBLEM REGARDING THE BREAK LIKE TOYOTA PRIUS . WHEN BUMPY , DOWN HILL AND ICE ROAD, THE BRAKE WILL EXPERIENCE TEMPORARY DISABLE AND THE CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD.WHEN BRAKING ON UNEVEN OR SLIPPERY SURFACES, THE BRAKING SYSTEM GETS CONFUSED AND BRAKING POWER IS LOST MOMENTARILY.

I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP LAST MORNING OF FEB 3 2010 FOR MY REGULAR SERIVICE. I DIDN'T KNOW YET THAT TIME ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND THE BREAK TIME LAG OF PRIUS. BECAUSE THAT DAY I TOLD LEXUS TO TAKE A LOOK ON MY BRAKE AS I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PRIUS. MY CAR IS A RX400H 2006 MODEL. NOT ONLY I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM DURING SLOW MOVEMENT(APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT) BUT EVEN ON A HIGH SPEED(60-65). I COMPALAIN THE PROBLEM TO LEXUS 3 YEARS AGO AND THEY DID SOME ADJUSTMENT(I DON'Y KNOW WHAT EXACTLY IS) BUT STILL I ALWAYS HAVE THAT PROBLEM AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH. MYWIFE IS THE ONE WHO DRIVES THAT CAR A LOT, AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE NEVER HAVE THAT EPISODE ON A HIGH SPEED, BUT SHE SAID SHE ALWAYS HAVE THAT ON A 50MPH SPEED ON A LOCAL STRRET, WHICH IS EVEN WORST, AS THE CAR IN FRONT OF YOU ARE VERY CLOSE. ACTUALY LAST FEB 3 2010 THE LEXUS GAVE ME A LOANER CAR FOR THAT DAY AND IT IS A HS HYBRID CAR(450 MILES) AND IT'S ALMOST NEW, AND I WAS SURPRISED THAT IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN I'M APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. SO I TOLD MYSELF, IS THIS NORMAL TO A HYBRID? MY RX400H IS NOW 4 YEARS AND I CANNOT REMEMBER I'M HAVING THAT PROBLEM ON IT'S 1ST YEAR. I BELIEVE THE SLOW SPEED WAS STARTED A MONTH AGO.(MID JAN 2010) AND THE HIGH SPEED IS PROBABLY 3 YEARS NOW. THIS MESSAGE IS NOT A COMPLAIN, BUT RATHER THEM(TOYOTA) TO INVESTIGATE IF EVERYTHING IS STILL NORMAL. *CN

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE VEHICLE ACTUALLY ACCELERATES OR LUNGES FORWARD WHEN I STEP ON BRAKE AND AM BRAKING OVER UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD. *TR

I OWN A 2006 LEXUS RX-400H, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKING PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 1-2 YEARS THAT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE PROBLEM GENERALLY OCCURS AT SPEEDS BETWEEN ABOUT 25-45 MPH, AND INVOLVES A SUDDEN DECREASE IN BRAKING DECELERATION WITH CONSTANT BRAKE PRESSURE, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO QUICKLY APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP. FROM MY OWN OBSERVATIONS, AS WELL AS FROM TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM, WHICH SEEMS TO ABRUPTLY STOP REGENERATIVE BRAKING WITHOUT COMPENSATING WITH ADDITIONAL FRICTION BRAKING. AFTER FINALLY HAVING THIS PHENOMENON CONFIRMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AFTER OVER WELL OVER A YEAR OF EXPERIENCING IT, I AM BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT LEXUS ENGINEERS ARE CALLING THIS "NORMAL" AND "EXPECTED" BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT, WHILE IT MAY BE "NORMAL" OR "EXPECTED" TO LEXUS, IT PRESENTS A SERIOUS A DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO BRAKING IN A PREDICTABLE MANNER. I HAVE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BEEN STARTLED BY OCCURRENCES OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR CROSS WALK, AND CONSIDER MYSELF FORTUNATE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO REACT IN TIME TO AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, OR A PEDESTRIAN. THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME SEVERE ENOUGH THAT IT CAN BE FAIRLY EASILY REPRODUCED IN THE FIRST FEW MINUTES OF TEST DRIVING. *TR

I HAVE 2006 LEXUS RX 400H AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY BRAKE AS PRIUS HAS. WHEN I SLOW DOWN A CAR AND MY CAR HITS A ROUGH PATCH OF SURFACE, OR POTHOLE, THE BRAKE SEEMS TO RELEASE AND I EXPERIENCE 'BRAKE SURGING'. SEVERAL INSTANCE I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE THE CAR SURGED FORWARD AT AN INTERSECTION. I BROUGHT THE ISSUE TO THE LEXUS DEALER BUT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM DURING THEIR EXAMINATION. HELP! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAR SHUT DOWN TOTALLY. *TR

ONE ANOTHER VICTIM OF OE TIRES OF INFERIOR QUALITY + ALIGNMENT ISSUES OF LEXUS RX 400H. I AM FILING A FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST LEXUS COMPANY. RECENTLY, I DROVE THE SUV (@ 125 MILES AWAY FROM WHERE I LIVE) TO MY DEALER TO GET THE RECALL OF 'POWER STEERING LINK ASSEMBLY' FIXED. THE DEALER PHONED TO TELL ME THAT ALL 4 TIRES MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF BADLY WORN INSIDE TREAD AND STEEL BELT IS VISIBLE ' UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS SHOCKED! WHAT? AT 23,782 MILES? JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR I OWNED BEFORE, I EXPECTED TO REPLACE THEM AT 50-60K MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE OE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A 235/55VR18 TIRES USUALLY LAST ABOUT 20K MILES. HE ALSO SAID BECAUSE IT'S A HYBRID CAR!! SHOCKED AGAIN! I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THAT CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS. THE ONLY THING MENTIONED ON THE WINDOW STICKER WAS '235/55VR18 ALL-SEASON TIRES.' I SCANNED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT MANY OUT THERE SHARE THE SAME QUESTION AND CONFUSION. I WAS NEVER INFORMED BY ANYONE OF THE FACT THAT THE EARLIER 400HS HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES AND THE OE TIRES ON THESE EXPENSIVE 400H SUVS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ROUGHLY EVERY 20K. LEXUS SHOULD HAVE RECALLED ALL THE EARLIER 400HS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. ON THE AVERAGE, A CAR WITH AVERAGE QUALITY TIRES WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT ROUGHLY EVERY 50K-60K, WHICH SHOULD BE THE NORM. LEXUS CARS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LUXURIOUS AS WELL AS RELIABLE, WHY WOULD THE TIRES BE ABNORMALLY WORN JUST ON THE INSIDE EDGE AT JUST 20K MILES? I BELIEVE,I HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED BY LEXUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE

I HAVE A 2006RX 400H, WITH 60K MILES, AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I BROKE DOWN 2 WEEKS AGO ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY, WITHOUT BRAKES, LOUD WARNING SOUNDS, AND FAILURE LIGHTS ALL OVER THE DASH. MY CHOICES AT THAT TIME WERE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, CENTER DIVIDER DID NOT EXIST BUT INSTEAD WAS A CONCRETE BARRIER, AND RIGHT HAND SHOULDER EASED OFF TO THE RIVER. SINCE IT WAS NOT COMMUTE TIME, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OFF AT THE OLD MARE ISLAND BASE IN VALLEJO. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO FREEMAN LEXUS, SANTA ROSA, WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR AND HAVE HAD ALL SERVICING DONE. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD TAKE A WEEK OR SO TO GET. THE JOB WAS DONE ON WED. FEB 11. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO PICK IT UP AND WAS ON MY WAY TO SF TO TEACH A CLASS, WHEN LESS THAN 30 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP, ON HIGHWAY 101, IN THE MIDDLE OF COMMUTE TRAFFIC, FAILURE ALARMS AND LIGHTS SOUNDED AND BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS SHOCKED AND TRIED TO QUICKLY GET MY CAR OVER TO THE SLOW/RIGHT HAND LANE AND TRIED TO SLOW DOWN. I FINALLY, 2 MILES LATER, FOUND AN EXIT RAMP AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP AFTER A LONG APPROACH TO THE RAMP. I WAS STOPPED BETWEEN THE LANE AND THE SHOULDER. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN TO LET THEM KNOW OF THE FAILURE. THEY NOW HAVE THE CAR TOWED BACK AT FREEMAN LEXUS. IF THIS COMPUTER WAS REPLACED, HOW COULD THIS FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN. ADDITIONALLY, I HAD TO REACH OUT TO ALL MY STUDENTS TO CANCEL THE CLASS AT THE LAST MINUTE. THIS IS A CATASTR

EXCESSIVE AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR FOR STANDARD TIRES EQUIPPED ON THIS VEHICLE. AFTER 17K MILES AND TIRE ROTATIONS EVERY 5K MILES, I WAS TOLD THAT THE INNER EDGE OF ALL FOUR GOODYEAR TIRES WERE BALD OR CLOSE TO BALD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES AT A COST OF $1,297. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE GOODYEAR TIRES AS THEY WERE "TOO SOFT" FOR THE VEHICLE, A 2006 RX400H. I INSPECTED THE TIRES AND WAS SHOCKED AT THEIR CONDITION. THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THAT CAR KNOWING THEIR STATE. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE TIRES ON LEXUS VEHICLES NORMALLY NEED REPLACING BEFORE 20K MILES AND WAS THEREFORE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. ONLY AFTER EXPRESSING MY DISPLEASURE WITH THE SITUATION, I WAS OFFERED A FREE WHEEL ALIGNMENT AFTER PURCHASING NEW TIRES ELSEWHERE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING 2006 LEXUS 400H WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER STEERING BEGAN TO FADE. OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 21 DEGREES AND I TRAVELED ONLY 8 MILES. I WENT OUT ON THE ROAD A HALF HOUR LATER. I HAD TO USE TWO HANDS ON THE WHEEL HALF WAY TO THE STORE SINCE POWER STEERING HAD FADED GREATLY. WHEN I GOT INTO THE PARKING LOT, I TURNED INTO A SPACE AND ALMOST HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME BECAUSE THE STEERING JUST DIED. IN ANY EVENT, AFTER GRUNTING AND USING MUCH MUSCLE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. HOWEVER, WHEN I WAS MAKING A TURN AT INTERSECTIONS, THE WHEEL SEEMED TO PULSATE LIKE POWER WAS COMING ON. BECAUSE I WAS PUTTING MUCH STRENGTH ON THE WHEEL TRYING TO CONTROL THE TURN, I DRIFTED CLOSE TO THE OPPOSITE LANE TWICE AND CAME WITHIN INCHES OF A STOPPED CAR WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. I AM UNABLE TO EVEN STEER THE CAR NOW. THE STEERING AND FRONT WHEELS WILL MOVE SIDE TO SIDE SEVERAL INCHES JUST SITTING THERE. THE CAR HAS 35,154 MILES ON IT. I KNOW THE MANUAL SAYS THE ELECTRONIC POWER UNIT WILL SHUT DOWN IF IT OVERHEATS FROM OVERUSE BUT THAT DID NOT HAPPEN IN MY SITUATION. IT JUST PROGRESSIVELY SHUT DOWN. I FEAR THAT AN ELDERLY OR A PERSON WITHOUT MUCH ARM STRENGTH WOULD NOT HAVE FARED AS WELL AS I DID. *TR

THE REGENERATIVE BRAKES ON MY LEXUS RX 400H WILL STOP WORKING DURING NORMAL BRAKING OPERATION CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO HAVE TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO THE BREAK PEDAL TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LOSS OF REGENERATIVE BREAKING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE A BRAKING ADJUSTMENT. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN DECEMBER, 2007. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN APRIL, 2005. I DO NOT FEEL THAT AN OPERATOR OF A VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE SUDDEN ADJUSTMENTS IN THEIR BREAKING ACTION TO COMPENSATE FOR THE DISENGAGEMENT OF A PORTION OF THE BREAKING SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. I HAVE TAKEN THIS BACK TO THE LEXUS DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY TELL ME THAT THEY BELIEVE THE CAR IS WORKING NORMAL, EVEN WHEN THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. *TR

MAKING A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT, THE STEERING MECHANISM EXPERIENCED A FAILURE THAT LEAD TO AN NEAR INABILITY TO STEER. THE STEERING WAS SO STIFF WITH OCCASIONAL UNCOMMANDED INPUTS THAT IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO USE. IMAGINE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE DURING HIGHWAY SPEED DRIVING.....VERY UNSAFE! *TR

AS I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE ' HYBRID CARS ARE VERY QUIET AND THUS PRESENT A DANGER TO PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH PARKING LOTS. THE DANGER IS PARTICULARLY SERIOUS WHEN THOSE DRIVING THE HYBRIDS ARE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACES - NO MATTER HOW CAREFULLY THE DRIVERS ARE BACKING OUT! PEDESTRIANS DEPEND ON THEIR HEARING TO ALERT THEM TO CARS BACKING OUT, SO THEY SIMPLY WALK RIGHT BEHIND A CAR THAT IS ALREADY MOVING. I OWN A 2006 LEXUS 400H AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT BACK-UP LIGHTS THAT BEEP TO ALERT PEDESTRIANS, BUT NONE ARE AVAILABLE FROM ANY SOURCE. I URGE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION TO TAKE QUICK ACTION TO ENSURE THAT FUTURE MODELS INCLUDE EXTERNAL SOUND FOR HYBRIDS WHEN THEY ARE BACKING UP AND ALSO TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO PURCHASE REPLACEMENT BACK UP LIGHTS THAT PROVIDE THAT SAME CAPACITY FOR OLDER HYBRID MODELS. MARCIA GARB *TR

I OWN A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I WAS TRAVELING ON AN INTERSTATE HWY AT 60 MPH WHEN ONE OF MY TIRES "BLEW". I DID NOTICE THAT I HAD RUN OVER ANY ROAD DEBRIS BUT THE TIRE HAD A TWO INCH SLICE IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION, ORIGINAL LEXUS EQUIPMENT, A MICHELIN 235/55R18 . TODAY, MY DAUGHTER WHO OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID (BASICALLY THE SAME CAR AS MY LEXUS 400H) HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT WITH HER BABY IN THE CAR. SHE HIT A CURB WITH THE CAR HARDLY MOVING. THE TIRE "BLEW", AND LIKE MINE, WENT FLAT IMMEDIATELY. SHE HAD A SIMILAR TWO INCH GASH IN THE SIDEWALL. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL TOYOTA EQUIPPED. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A LONG TIME. I'VE NEVER SEEN SIDEWALL BLOWOUTS LIKE THIS (MINOR PROVOCATION) SINCE RADIAL TIRES WERE INTRODUCED. PLEASE CHECK OUT THESE TOYOTA PROVIDED TIRES. *TR

VEHICLE WAS NORMALLY MAINTAINED AND LIGHTLY DRIVEN. ONE YEAR OF AGE OF THE VEHICLE, WHEN DRIVEN ON LEVEL DRY SURFACES, THE BRAKING OF THE VEHICLE BECAME ERRATIC AND REMAINS ERRATIC. IN EVERYDAY USE THE VEHICLE WILL TEND TO OVERBRAKE OR UNDERBRAKE DEPENDING UPON THE MECHANICAL LOADING OF THE HYBRID DRIVE. THE ONBOARD FIRMWARE IS NOT PROPERLY ACCOUNTING FOR INTEGRATING THE STOPPING POWER OF THE BRAKES AND THE HYBRID DRIVE. THIS CAUSES DRIVER CONFUSION AND IN SOME CASES HAZARDOUS FAILURE TO BRAKE CONDITIONS WHEN THE HYBRID DRIVE UNEXPECTEDLY AND ERRATICALLY CEASES IT'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE BRAKING FORCE OF THE VEHICLE. I.E. IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY COMPENSATE, THE VEHICLE WILL LUNGE FORWARD AT LOW SPEED AND WITHIN A FEW FEET OF PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER STOPPED VEHICLES IN TRAFFIC. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE AND THAT ERRATIC/LOSS OF BRAKING IS NORMAL FOR THIS MODEL. THERE ARE NO RECALLS OR SBS POSTED TO UPGRADE THE FIRMWARE, BRAKING/HYBRID DRIVE SYSTEMS. LEXUS RX400H, 2006 MODEL. *TR

PRIOR TO HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED, THERE WERE NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS ON THE VERGE OF SLIPPING/SKIDDING OR LOSING GRIP OF THE ROAD. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO LATE IF THERE WERE INJURIES OR DEATHS DUE TO THE UNSAFE QUALITY OF THIS PRODUCT. ON NOV. 30, I TOOK MY 400H TO THE DEALER FOR THE 10K SERVICE. IT WAS THE SAME DEALERSHIP WHERE IT GETS SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES. THE DEALER PHONED TO TELL ME THAT ALL 4 TIRES MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF BADLY WORN INSIDE TREAD. I WAS SHOCKED! WHAT? AT 19,562 MILES? JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR I OWNED BEFORE, I EXPECTED TO REPLACE THEM AT 40K-60K MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE OE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A 235/55VR18 TIRES USUALLY LAST ABOUT 20K MILES. SHOCKED AGAIN! I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THAT CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS. THE ONLY THING MENTIONED ON THE WINDOW STICKER WAS '235/55VR18 ALL-SEASON TIRES.' WE SCANNED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT MANY OUT THERE SHARE THE SAME QUESTION AND CONFUSION. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED BY LEXUS THAT EARLIER 400HS HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED THAT THE OE TIRES ON THESE EXPENSIVE 400H SUVS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ROUGHLY EVERY 20K. ON THE AVERAGE, A CAR WITH AVERAGE QUALITY TIRES WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT ROUGHLY EVERY 40K-60K, WHICH SHOULD BE THE NORM. WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED BY LEXUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR LEXUS RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THESE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES ON SUCH LUXURIOUS CARS AND MAKE THE CONSUMERS PAY FOR THE INFERIOR QUALITY OR EVEN POTEN

AS OF THIS COMPLAINT, LEXUS SHOULD NOT BUT STILL IS USING THE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES AS OE TIRES. ON NOV. 30, I TOOK MY 400H TO THE DEALER FOR THE 10K SERVICE, THE SAME PLACE WHERE IT GETS SERVICED EVERY 5000 MILES. THE DEALER PHONED TO TELL ME THAT ALL 4 TIRES MUST BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF BADLY WORN INSIDE TREAD. I WAS SHOCKED! WHAT? AT 19,562 MILES? JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR I OWNED BEFORE, I EXPECTED TO REPLACE THEM AT 40K-60K MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE OE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A 235/55VR18 TIRES USUALLY LAST ABOUT 20K MILES. SHOCKED AGAIN! I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THAT CAR IF I HAD KNOWN THIS. THE ONLY THING MENTIONED ON THE WINDOW STICKER WAS '235/55VR18 ALL-SEASON TIRES.' WE SCANNED THE INTERNET AND LEARNED THAT MANY OUT THERE SHARE THE SAME QUESTION AND CONFUSION. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED BY LEXUS THAT EARLIER 400HS HAD ALIGNMENT ISSUES. LEXUS SHOULD RECALL ALL EARLIER 400HS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. WE WERE NEVER INFORMED THAT THE OE TIRES ON THESE EXPENSIVE 400H SUVS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED ROUGHLY EVERY 20K. ON THE AVERAGE, A CAR WITH AVERAGE QUALITY TIRES WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT ROUGHLY EVERY 40K-60K, WHICH SHOULD BE THE NORM. WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISINFORMED BY LEXUS AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR LEXUS RESPONSIBILITY OF PUTTING THESE GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES ON SUCH LUXURIOUS CARS AND MAKE THE CONSUMERS PAY FOR THE INFERIOR QUALITY. SINCE WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE TIRE PERFORMANCE WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE RUNNING A 'HYBRID' CAR, THEN IT

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE NYS THRUWAY. SHE PULLED OFF AT A REST AREA. SHE WAS FULLY STOPPED WAITING FOR A PARKING SPOT TO OPEN UP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY OUT OF CONTROL. THE FRONT WHEELS WERE OSCILLATING LEFT AND RIGHT IN SYNC WITH THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A MINUTE SHE ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN. IT STARTED NORMALLY. AS SOON AS SHE TOUCHED THE STEERING WHEEL, THE SHAKING RESUMED. SHE TURNED IT OFF. BY PUTTING THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, SOME PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO HELP HER WINCH THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A SPACE WHERE IT STAYED UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. SOME BYSTANDERS ?!@#$%. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LINK ASSEMBLY. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,327 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,516. UPDATED10/16/07. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 RX400H, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND MY HEEL WENT THROUGH TWO CARPETS AND THE FLOOR BOARD. MY HEEL WAS STUCK IN A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD. I CAN NOW PLACE MY FINGER INTO A HOLE AND FEEL WIRES AND EMPTY SPACE UNDER THE GAS AND BREAK PATH. LEXUS HAS AGREED TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A FEE. (50%) THE SALES MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FRONT FLOOR BOARD HAS RIPPLES. (LIKE PEAKS AND VALLEYS). THERE ARE TWO HOLES LINED UP DIRECTLY UNDER EACH PEDAL. THE CONSEQUENCE: HEELS AND RIPPLES UNDER A FLOOR BOARD DON'T MIX.... THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

BRAKES FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITHIN A WEEK. BRAKE FAILURE LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS AND THEN BRAKES RETURNED. DURING THAT TIME THE DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS LIT UP AND A LOUD BUZZER WENT OFF. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY. FORTUNATELY NEITHER INCIDENT REQUIRED AN EMERGENCY STOP. *AK

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AFTER RELEASE. INSTEAD THE SEAT BELTS FALL LOOSE OUT SIDE OF THE CAR AS DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE EXITING THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THE PEOPLE MAY GET THEIR LEGS TANGLED IN THE HANGING OUT THE DOOR UNRETRACTED SEAT BELTS. THIS MAY CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY. ALSO THE UNRETRACTED SEAT BELTS MAY CAUSE THE DOOR TO NOT CLOSE PROPERLY, CAUSING FAILURE HERE ALSO. THE SEAT BELT METAL PORTION MAY ALSO SCRAPE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING PAINT AND FINISH DAMAGE. *NM

VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. IT WAS 4-WHEEL ALIGNED FOLLOWING INITIAL DELIVERY & ALSO AT ~22K MILES BY THE DEALER. AT 22K MILES, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE WORN SEVERELY INBOARD AND THE REAR HAS SOME OF THE SAME INDICATIONS (THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY ROTATED FROM THE FRONT). ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED. *NM

2006 LEXUS RX400H REVVED AND RACED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. *TS THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO HAVE A REP INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT MENTIONED THAT IT WOULD TAKE SIX WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT COULD BE INSPECTED. NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET FOR 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED TO 72 MPH ON A DECLINE AND DECELERATE 55 MPH ON AN INCLINE. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN INFORMED. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - *NM