33 of the
474 complaints filed about the Lexus RX Hybrid
are about the body and structure —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 5/1/19 WHERE A WOMAN HIT ME FROM THE SIDE AT 20-30 MPH FROM THE SIDE. THE IMPACT WAS PRETTY SQUARE ON THE FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I HAVE A WHIPLASH INJURY. WHEN I SAW THE RECALL ON SOME 2016 LEXUS RX450H FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE, I THOUGHT I'D RAISE THE CONCERN AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF ANY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I'VE INCLUDED THE ACCIDENT REPORT (POOR QUALITY SCAN BUT STILL READABLE), AND PHOTOS. THE ACCIDENT REPORT SAYS THAT MY CAR WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BY THE TIME SHE HIT ME. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT $22K DAMAGE AND CLIMBING. WITH THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER THE AIR-BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT FACING PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL DID NOT POP BACK OUT AND RETAINED THE SHAPE OF THE IMPACT. THIS SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW FAR THE IMPACT SHOVED THINGS IN. THE WHEEL WAS HIT TOO, WHICH DAMAGED SUSPENSION AND STEERING. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN?
NHTSA complaint #11206925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I - 5 IN PORTLAND, OREGON, AVERAGE SPEED OF 60 MILES PER HOUR WHEN MY BACK REAR TRUNK GLASS SHATTERED AND CONTINUE TO BREAK IN LITTLE PIECES. BECAUSE I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY , II RULED OUT ANY MALICIOUS ACT, JUST THE WINDOW SHATTERING FOR KNOW REASON.
NHTSA complaint #11163711 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT DURING A HEAVY RAIN THAT TURNED INTO FREEZING RAIN. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR A WARNING CAME ON TO CHECK THE HYBRID SYSTEM. WHEN CALLED, LEXUS SAID THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY FLATBED CARRIER TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION/REPAIR AND UNLOADED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID LUCKILY ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES SAW THE SMOKE, LET HIM KNOW, AND HE DISCONNECTED THE HYBRID ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND HAD HE NOT DONE SO, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE WATER PENETRATION WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE COME FROM THE TOP REAR ROOF/BODY SEAM WHERE TWO PIECES OF BODY METAL JOIN. EXACTLY THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CAR LEAKED. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE OR CORROSION AT THE LOCATION OF THE LEAKS AND NO EVIDENCE OF PRIOR OR PROLONGED LEAKING. ONCE THE WATER GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS NOTHING TO PREVENT IT FROM GETTING TO THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND THEIR RELATED ELECTRONICS, THEREFORE ALLOWING WATER THAT GOT INTO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM AND CREATE THE FIRE RISK. THIS VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THERE IS NO REASON WATER SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TWO DIFFERENT BODY SEAMS THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THERE SHOULD BE NO WAY THAT ANY LIQUID THAT GETS INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO REACH THE HYBRID BATTERIES AND CREATE THIS DAMAGE AND THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE AND FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11083871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE DASH HAS DEVELOPED PREMATURE CRACKS, AND IS SHINING AND STICKY. LEXUS CLAIMS THIS IS ONLY A COSMETIC ISSUE HOWEVER THE DASH IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE VEHICLE AND WITH THE DASH DETERIORATING THE FOAM PADDING IS HARDING CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE IN EVENT OF CRASH. LEXUS HAS ADMITTED TO THE ISSUE HOWEVER HAS ONLY OFFER REPAIRS TO A LIMITED ARBITRUARY NUMBER OF OWNERS WHILE ARBITRUARILY EXCLUDING OTHER OWNERS. THERE SHOULD BE A MANATORY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11075015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1 YEAR OLD (LESS THAN 9800 MILES) VEHICLE AC DRAIN LINE CLOG - SERVICE CENTER DIAGNOSIS CAUSE "SPIDER WEB" , BUT NO VISUAL PROOF. IT SUSPECTED LIKE 2013 TOYOTA RECALL 13V-442 (ATTACHED). DRAIN LINE CLOG CAUSE ALL INTERIOR CARPET/LINING/SOUND PROOF MATERIAL DAMAGE WITH BLACK MOLD. LX DO NOT WANT TO COVER THIS FOR WARRANTY. I FILED MY OWN INSURANCE TO PROCEED TO FIX. REQUESTED MANUFACTURING TEST METHOD BEFORE/AFTER DRAIN LINE INSTALL AND CAR MANUFACTURING. LX DO NOT WANT TO PRESENT THE RELATED TEST RESULT. THE REPAIR QUOTE IS OVER $9K AND ESTIMATED OVER 4-6 WEEKS DURATION. OWNER SUSPECT THAT LX IS PUSHING RELIABILITY ISSUE (RARE CASES LIKE TOYOTA RECALL ABOVE) TO CUSTOMER SIDE SO THAT THEIR REPORT IS SHINING. DRAIN LINE UNCLOG METHOD BY LX PROFESSIONAL WAS JUST USING COMPRESSED AIR TO CLEAN OUT THE CLOG. (THEY KEPT CHANGING THE METHOD SUCH LIKE USED NEGATIVE PRESSURE ONE END OF LINE, ETC.) - CLOG FIX IS DONE ON 1 YEAR COMPLEMENTARY SERVICE (TOOK ABOUT 6-7 HRS. THEIR REGULAR PROMISE FOR ROUTINE CHECK UP IS LESS THAN 3 HRS). FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEM OWNERS COMPLAINT FROM LEXUS FORUM. (ABOUT ~60 POSTING EXCLUDING MY CASE): HTTPS://WWW.CLUBLEXUS.COM/FORUMS/RX-4TH-GEN-2016-PRESENT/869775-WATER-INSIDE-CAR-DRAIN-CLOGGED-MERGED-THREADS-4.HTML
NHTSA complaint #11074358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN 2017 AND AM TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL. CONTACTED LEXUS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAS ENDED. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF RECALL. LEXUS IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11061579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE REAR BUMPER HAS A PLASTIC COVER AND THE PAINT BUBBLED AND BEGAN TO PEEL FROM UNDER THIS PLASTIC MOLDING AS IF WATER WAS BEHIND IT. THE REAR BUMPER NOW HAS PEELING PAINT.
NHTSA complaint #11058386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BRAKES DID NOT APPLY AS EXPECTED, EXPERIENCING A SIGNIFICANT "PUSH" WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEED. IT WAS SO OBVIOUS THAT I HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE CAR FROM RUNNING OUT INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. THIS ONE TIME I CRASHED INTO FRONT CAR. I TOOK IT TO DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKES, AND HE IS SAYING THEY ARE HYBRID AND THATS HOW THEY WORK. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE BRAKES ARE MEANT TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT. THIS IS NOT HAPPENING WITH MY RX 400H, I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN SEP 2014 AND WITHIN 2 MONTHS I MET WITH ACCIDENT. I NEVER HAD HISTORY OF ACCIDENT WITH OTHER CARS.
NHTSA complaint #10671862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS BEING PULLED INTO SPACE IN RESTAURANT PARKING LOT -- SPACE WAS ON GRASS UP A SLIGHT INCLINE (APPROXIMATELY 12 INCHES) -- AS CAR WAS MOVING UP THE INCLINE A SMALL BUMP WAS FELT UNDER THE CAR AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE -- BRAKES WERE APPLIED IMMEDIATELY BUT WERE UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR -- THE CAR SWERVED AND HIT A TREE APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM THE PARKING SPOT -- BELIEVE THE "BUMP" FELT UNDER THE CAR CAUSED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION -- ABOVE ACCOUNT CAN BE VERIFIED BY THE OTHER PERSON IN THE CAR WHO HAD THE SAME DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS.
NHTSA complaint #10641292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MULTIPLE CRACKS AND MELTING DASHBOARD. THE DASH IS VERY STICKY AND IS FALLING OFF IN PIECES. I'M CONCERNED IF THE AIRBAGS EVER DEPLOY THIS DEFECTIVE DASH WILL BECOME AN IED!
NHTSA complaint #10617401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY DASHBOARD DEVELOPED VERTICLE CRACKS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD. BECAUSE THIS DASHBOARD HAS THE AIRBAG INSIDE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE I WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE IN A CAR THAT HAD A CRACKED DASH, ANYTHING THAT WOULD MAKE AN AIRBAG GO OFF TOO SOON OR GO OFF TOO LATE CAN OR WOULD BE VERY SERIOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10605627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BLACK MOLDING ON PART# 84840G 8484021010 - SWITCH ASSEMBLY BACK DOOR OPENER IS EXTREMELY SOFT AND STICKY. EVERY TIME WE PUT OUR HANDS ON IT TO MANUALLY OPEN THE REAR LIFT, BLACK STICKY SUBSTANCES GET ON THE FINGERS, WHICH ARE USED TO OPEN IT. THAT PART IS SHIELDED SOMEWHAT BY THE BODY. IT WAS STICKY EVEN DURING COLD MONTHS HERE IN KANSAS AND IS STICKY AS WELL DURING THIS SPRING AND BEGINNING OF SUMMER. MY CONCERN IS SOMETHING IS GETTING HOT FROM THAT ELECTRICAL PIECE THAT MAY CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE AND HOPEFULLY NOT, BUT POSSIBLE FIRE. THANKING IN ADVANCE.
NHTSA complaint #10605174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE SLOWLY PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE CEMENT BLOCK WALL IN FRONT OF ME. SINCE THE DISTANCE FROM HALF-WAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE TO THE WALL WAS SMALL (PROBABLY THREE TO FOUR FEET), I HAD NO TIME TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES BEFORE IMPACT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LEXUS DEALER. I WAS IMMEDIATELY REFERRED TO THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT WHO HANDLED ALL TRANSACTIONS AFTER THAT. AN INDEPENDENT EVALUATOR INSPECTED THE CAR, RETRIEVED THE CRASH DATA RETRIEVAL RECORDER AND ISSUED A REPORT. THE CDR INDICATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT PUSHED UNTIL AFTER THE CRASH, AND THAT THE SPEED IN THE FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE CRASH WENT FROM 3.7 TO 60.9 MPH. LEXUS REFUSED TO ADMIT THERE WAS A PROBLEM, STATING ONLY THAT THE BRAKES, ACCELERATOR AND FLOOR MATS SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. I REFUSED TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN OR HAVE ONLY THE BODY FIXED AND SOLD TO AN UNSUSPECTING THIRD PARTY. IT WAS EVENTUALLY DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. THERE WAS NO HELP OR ADMISSION OF A PROBLEM FROM LEXUS, EXCEPT TO TRY TO CHARGE US FOR CAR STORAGE AT THE DEALERSHIP DURING THE PROCESS.
NHTSA complaint #10596551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H (HYBRID). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED VERTICAL CRACKS NEAR THE AIR BAG HOUSING AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
NHTSA complaint #10596574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 VEHICLE COULD HAVE SUDDENLY QUIT. LEXUS KNEW ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM BUT DID NOT ADVISE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO WATCH FOR ANY SIGNS OF MOISTURE. THE REPAIR TO THE POPPED SEAM COULD HAVE BEEN DONE BY ANY BODY SHOP OR, I'M TOLD, THE USE OF A GOOD QUALITY SILICONE. THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM 3/10/2009 THAT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM: TSB-L-SB0019-09 REV 1.
NHTSA complaint #10586442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10586038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.