2008 Lexus RX Hybrid

Defect. Toyota is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid vehicles manufactured February 16, 2005, through July 29, 2010; and model year 2006-2008 Lexus RX400h vehicles manufactured February 23, 2005, through December 2, 2008. The Intelligent Power Module (IPM) inside the inverter module may contain transistors that have higher operating temperatures than the solder can support and the transistors may be heat damaged by the solder. If this occurs, various warning lamps, including the malfunction indicator lamp, slip indicator light, brake system warning light, and master warning light, will be illuminated on the instrument panel.

Risk. The vehicle may enter a fail-safe/limp-home mode that limits the drivability of the vehicle. It is possible that the hybrid system will shut down while the vehicle is being driven, causing the vehicle to stall unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the IPM free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331. Vehicles that had their IPM replaced under recall 11V-342 are not affected by this campaign.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound with the VSC message displayed and the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle made the same abnormal sound for 15 minutes after the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS accumulator pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,140. Consumer stated extended warranty program for the defective part but that program expired in 2018. When the ABS actuator pump fails, it stops regulating and maintaining hydraulic pressure in the brake lines which can lead to brake failure. No recall was ever issued despite the fact that a failure of the braking system.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and the check engine and the Hybrid system maintenance warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and where the vehicle was being serviced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,320.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the ABS warning light would illuminate, and a grinding noise was present while depressing the brake pedal. On multiple occasions while driving at very slow speeds the vehicle abruptly stopped. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the ABS actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 75,000.

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while reversing out a parking space at a low rate of speed, the vehicle stalled as the hybrid system warning message illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to walk to an automotive parts store and purchased a new battery which he replaced in his vehicle. The contact was able to drive to a gas station and soon after leaving the gas station, the vehicle stalled again as the same warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle after multiple attempts and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The mechanic linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V396000 (Hybrid Propulsion System) and referred him to a local dealer. The contact called a dealer and was informed that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 268,000

STARTED NOTICING "BURPING" NOISE WHEN I PRESSED ON BRAKES FROM ENGINE BAY, THEN LATER I NOTICED CONTINUOUS CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER ENGINE BAY AFTER I WOULD TURN OFF ENGINE COMPLETELY. AS LATER TIME WENT BY THE CLICKING SOUND WOULD GET LONGER AND CONSISTENT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD "LUNGE" FORWARD WHEN I WOULD START THE ENGINE AND INITIALLY SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE POSITION AND HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COMPLETELY STOP. THATS WHEN UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE I FOUND A "WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT" FROM TOYOTA REGARDING BRAKE ACTUATOR BEING REPLACED. BUT TOYOTA PUT A 10-YEAR EXPIRATION ON THE WARRANTY SO MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY BY 6 MONTHS! TOYOTA NEVER MADE AWARE OR REACHED OUT TO THEIR REGISTERED CLIENTS OF THIS DANGEROUS RECALL THAT IS $3,000.00 TO REPLACE. I WAS INFORMED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE ACTUATOR COMPLETELY GOES BAD THAT STOPPING THE CAR WILL BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP FOR THE AVERAGE DRIVER AS THE BRAKE ACTUATOR APPLIES NEEDED BRAKE FLUID PRESSURE TO ALL FOUR BRAKE CALIPERS TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT FELT AN ABNORMAL VIBRATION IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND ADDITIONAL DISTANCE WAS NEEDED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK TOYOTA SANDY SPRINGS (LOCATED AT 6475 ROSWELL RD, ATLANTA, GA 30328, (404) 476-3921) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE ABS, BUT IT EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ABS, BRAKE SYSTEM, AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARMAX (3100 SPUR 482, IRVING, TX 75062, (972) 721-0500) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO IGNORE THE FAILURE AND TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,068.

MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND FAILED TO PROPERLY BREAK WHICH THEREFORE ENDED HITTING AN OLDER MODEL BMW AT APPROX 45MPH. THE AIRBAGS INFLATED SENDING SOME TYPE OF METAL SHARDS TO MY RIGHT LOWER ABDOMEN THAT RESULTED IN MASSIVE BLEEDING. *TT *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT FAILED TO FULLY DEPRESS. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,995.

WHILE DRIVING I GOT A MESSAGE TO CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM - THEN THE CAR DIED

CONDENSATION BUILDUP IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CONSTANTLY.

RUBBER COVER ON REAR DOOR LATCH HAS DISINTEGRATED/MELTED.

IT WAS FRIDAY MORNING ABOUT 10AM. I HAD A PULLED SLOWLY INTO QUEST DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY PARKING SPACE. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS STOPPED I WAS PUTTING THE CAR INTO THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AT THE HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE CAR WENT OVER THE CEMENT BLOCK AND PAVEMENT AND THRU THE DOUBLE DOORS AND INSIDE THE BUILDING FINALLY STOPPING WHEN I HIT THE RECEPTIONIST COUNTER.

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPACE, ACCELERATOR STUCK IN DOWN POSITION, BRAKES LOCKED UP, ENGINE ACCELERATED TO VERY FAST RATE, STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND RESULTING IN MY CAR SLAMMING INTO FRONT END OF CAR PARKED BEHIND ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. MY CAR THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD CONTINUING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED ACROSS PARKING LOT AND HITTING ANOTHER CAR BROADSIDE WHICH FINALLY STOPPED MY CAR. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS AS DEEMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY.

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, I LOST POWER STEERING COMPLETELY. P/S AND BRAKE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH "SERVICE HYBRID SYSTEM" AND "SERVICE AWD SYSTEM". AFTER A FEW MORE MILES THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE PROPULSION POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED FINE WITH NO POWER STEERING. I MADE THE NEXT MILE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE ECU THAT HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO A BAD STEERING RACK. I AM NOT SURE WHY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING MECHANISM WOULD CAUSE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER FROM THE ENGINE/HYBRID SYSTEM?

THE SPARE TIRE CAME LOOSE, DRAGGED AND ULTIMATELY DISENGAGED FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING ON A FOUR-LANE HWY. THANKFULLY, IT DID NOT KILL ANYONE. ALSO, THANK GOODNESS IT DIDN'T GET CAUGHT UNDER MY REAR TIRE CAUSING ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT.

I HAVE NOTICED THIS ISSUE A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE 7 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR (SINCE IT WAS NEW), MOST RECENTLY YESTERDAY: WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT MEDIUM SPEEDS, SAY 30-45 MPH, AND I HIT A BUMP IT FEELS LIKE I GET A LITTLE "PUSH IN THE BUTT". SORT OF LIKE A FORWARD SKID. SO THEN I APPLY THE BRAKES A BIT. DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO DESCRIBE THIS. MY HUSBAND SAYS THAT HE CAN'T FEEL IT WHEN HE IS A PASSENGER.

ONE OF THE 2 HYBRID MODULES FAILED. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE SAME ONE RECALLED IN 2013. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. ALL DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ALONG WITH CHECK HYBRID ENGINE AND CHECK VCS ( I THINK WERE THE INITIALS, FOR VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM). HAD THE CAR BEEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I BELIEVE A FATAL CRASH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. AS IT WAS, LUCKILY, WE WERE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. HAD CAR TOWED OFF HIGHWAY BUT TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME HE DROVE IT UP ON THE FLATBED. I HAD TRIED STARTING IT SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY SUCCESS. ONCE OFF ROAD, I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, WHO IS OPEN SATURDAYS UNTIL 3 PM AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM. I WAS TOLD THAT IF ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE CAR STARTED THAT I COULD DRIVE IT HOME. THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THAT MONDAY WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE DEALER SO THAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE CHECKED OUT. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS MODULE, WHEN HEATED UP TO HIGH TEMPERATURE, CAN FAIL BY THE SOLDERING CONTACTS OPENING AND THE POWER THEREBY FAILING. THIS IS THE PROBLEM THAT THE 2013 RECALL WAS SUPPOSED TO CORRECT. HOW DO I KNOW THAT THIS NEW MODULE WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING? LEXUS ABSORBED THE LABOR ON THE MODULE REPLACEMENT BUT CLAIMED THE PART (WHICH WAS THE RECALL PART INSTALLED TO CURE THE RECALL PROBLEM IN 2013) WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD NOT ABSORB THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THIS MODULE SINCE THE 2013 RECA

POWER STEERING CAN HARDLY MOVE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO TREES AND BUSHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.