What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The exhaust in my 2022 RX350 causes droning and vibrations at 1500rpm while driving at 25-30mph and 55-60mph. Most of the vivrations can be felt at the catalytic converter exhaust assembly. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vibrations and droning causes a sensory “shock” as the vehicle approaches 1500rpm at 25-30 and 55-60mph. This has caused me to be caught off guard while I am focused on driving on busy streets and on the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I have brought my vehicle in several times to 3 different Lexus dealerships. I have sat with 2 shop foreman’s and driven with them in which they have said that such vibrations are “normal”. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has not been inspected by any of the above. It has been only brought to Lexus dealerships for inspection (I am not counting dealerships as the manufacturer). Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the first droning/vibration. The first sign of the droning was the same night I had purchased my car and drove it home. I immediately emailed my dealer about this issue as it felt abnormal compared to the RX350 I had test driven earlier that week.
NHTSA complaint #11526488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the AWD and oil pressure warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over and discovered oil leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the oil cooler line was leaking. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred her to an authorized Lexus dealer for assistance. The contact expressed concerns that the failure could have resulted in loss of vehicle control due to traction, as well as a potential for the vehicle to catch on fire due to the oil leak. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.
NHTSA complaint #11472746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2010 LEXUS RX350. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, she saw light white smoke floating through the air which she initially assumed came from the vehicle ahead of her. As she exited the highway and came to a stop, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated with an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and called her brother for assistance. Upon inspection, the contact's brother discovered that there was no oil in the vehicle, even though the vehicle had received an oil change five days prior. The contact called the local dealer who offered to tow the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. The contact declined the tow, and instead had the vehicle towed to Lexus of Pleasanton (4345 Rosewood Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588) where the mechanic discovered that the engine oil cooler pipe was fractured. The contact discovered an unknown recall on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #11422808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION: OIL COOLER
The contact owns a 2010 LEXUS RX350. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, she saw light white smoke floating through the air which she initially assumed came from the vehicle ahead of her. As she exited the highway and came to a stop, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated with an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and called her brother for assistance. Upon inspection, the contact's brother discovered that there was no oil in the vehicle, even though the vehicle had received an oil change five days prior. The contact called the local dealer who offered to tow the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. The contact declined the tow, and instead had the vehicle towed to Lexus of Pleasanton (4345 Rosewood Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588) where the mechanic discovered that the engine oil cooler pipe was fractured. The contact discovered an unknown recall on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.
NHTSA complaint #11422808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #11405765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE ABRUPTLY STOPS AND I HAVE A 3 SECOND STALL, THEN THE CAR RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION. COULD BE A REAL SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAPPENED IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR PULLING OUT ONTO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #11398045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I TRIED ACCELERATING ON THE HIGHWAY (PCH IN SANTA MONICA, CA) WHILE TRAVELING FORWARD AT ABOUT 45-50 MPH, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THIS IS THE FORTH TIME THERE HAS BEEN A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION SINCE OWNING THE CAR, BUT THIS TIME THERE WAS A MESSAGE ON MY DASH. THE MESSAGE STATED THAT THERE WAS "AN OBSTRUCTION WITH THE PEDAL AND ACCELERATION WAS RETARDED." I LATER LOOKED DOWN AT THE PEDALS FELT AROUND THE THEM, BUT FOUND NOTHING OBSTRUCTING. AT THE TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN A QUARTER TANK OF GAS BUT NOT LOW ENOUGH FOR THE LOW FUEL WARNING TO COME ON. AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 15 MORE MILES - THE LOW FUEL WARNING CAME ON. I HAVE ALWAYS PUT PREMIUM FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE DOESN'T PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. A RECALL WAS RECENTLY PERFORMED PERTAINING TO THE FUEL PUMP AT THE DEALER - PERTAINING TO LOW
NHTSA complaint #11377504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT'S WIFE STATED THAT UPON ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING A ROUNDABOUT, DUST BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT THEN REFILLED THE OIL BUT BY THE NEXT DAY, THE OIL HAD COMPLETELY LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LEXUS OF MAPLEWOOD (3000 US-61, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109) WHERE THEY INITIALLY DISCOVERED METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL LINE. THE OIL LINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CAM GEARS IN UPPER ENGINE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A CALLBACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.
NHTSA complaint #11352812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CFEI (CERTIFIED FIRE & EXPLOSION INVESTIGATOR) FIRE LIEUTENANT/INVESTIGATOR WITH THE CITY OF FT. LAUDERDALE'S FIRE DEPT, WHO ALSO RESPONDED TO MY 911 CALL, HAD POINTED OUT AND EXPLAINED TO ME THE INTENSITY OF FLAME, HEAT AND BURN PATTERN IN THE ENGINE AND STATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A MECHANICAL ENGINE MALFUNCTION. WHAT HAPPENED: I HAD JUST DRIVEN MY 2012 LEXUS RX350 A SHORT DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I PULLED INTO A 7-11 PARKING LOT NOT FAR FROM THE GAS PUMPS AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. WITH THE ENGINE STILL RUNNING, I OPENED MY DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW TO TALK TO A FRIEND WHEN I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. I FILED A REPORT WITH LEXUS THE VERY NEXT DAY AND RECEIVED A LETTER 3 WEEKS LATER. THEIR LAST PARAGRAPH SAYS "WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU REPORTED THIS TO GEICO AS WELL. IF THEIR INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED ANY EVIDENCE OF PRODUCT LIABILITY, WE WILL GLADLY REVIEW THAT INFORMATION." I CALLED OUT TO HIM AS HE WAS WALKING FROM HIS VEHICLE TOWARDS MY CAR AND YELLED OUT TO HIM THAT SOMETHING SMELLED LIKE IT WAS BURNING. HE THEN TOLD ME TO RELEASE THE HOOD BECAUSE HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE SLIGHTLY RAISED THE HOOD, SAW A FLAME, SLAMMED THE HOOD SHUT, THEN HE YELLED OUT TO ME "GET OUT OF THE CAR NOW YOUR ENGINE IS ON FIRE". I JUMPED OUT, CALLED 911, THEN STARTED TAKING PHOTOS WITH MY PHONE WHILE WATCHING AS MY VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND SMOKE. FIRST I HEARD THE TIRES BLOW OUT THEN I HEARD THE WINDSHIELD BLOW OUT. MY FRIEND SAW THE FLAMES WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD AND SAID HE OBSERVED THAT THE FIRE WAS BURNING IN THE CENTER OF THE MOTOR AT THE FUEL MANIFOLD. THE FIRE DEPT ARRIVED ABOUT 5-7 MINUTES LATER AND PROCEEDED TO TRY TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS!
NHTSA complaint #11337569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WAS PDI AND DELIVERED ON 06/14/20 WITH AN OPEN RECALL 20LA01 THAT WAS LIKELY TO BE A LIFE-THREATENING ISSUE. EVEN AFTER PDI WAS PERFORMED, THE BREAKS WERE DISFUNCTIONAL, SO HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE ON 06/19/20. LEXUS FOUND THAT ROTORS REQUIRED RESURFACING TO FIX THE BREAKS AND AT THE SAME TIME COMPLETED THE OPEN RECALL 20LA01. HOWEVER ON 07/03/20, THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY TRAFFIC PUTTING THE PAX THRU A LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION. CAR HAS BEEN FINALLY TOWED TO THE SERVICE AND I AM VERBALLY PROMISED THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN FIXED TO NOT PRESENT ANY LIFE THREATENING ISSUES. SINCE IT IS JUST 15 DAYS OF PURCHASE AND VEHICLE BEEN INTO THE SERVICE REVIEW FOR 3 TIMES WITH SOME LIFE-THREATENING OPEN ISSUES, I AM REQUESTING LEXUS TO EITHER REFUND OR PROVIDE ME A REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #11337473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED KEYES LEXUS (5905 VAN NUYS BLVD, VAN NUYS, CA 91401, (818) 538-2990) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO START THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING UPHILL THERE WAS RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE WAS 21,500. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11325557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35-40 MPH, THERE WAS ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V012000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11324366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PAST TWO YEARS...MY CAR HAVE TOO MANY TIME PROBLEM ABOUT ENGINE....AFTER FEULING GAS ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE CAR RUNNING...OR ENGINE SHUTDOWN WHEN WATTING TRAFFIC LIGHTS...
NHTSA complaint #11317947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE PUSH-BUTTON (KEYLESS ENTRY) IGNITION DID NOT KILL THE MOTOR. MY CAR ENGINE RAN FROM APPROXIMATELY 6 P.M. IN AN ENCLOSED GARAGE DIRECTLY BELOW MY BEDROOM. AT 4:30 A.M. I WAS AWAKENED BY MY CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR. THE ENTIRE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH TOXIC FUMES. FIRST RESPONDERS TO MY 911 CALL SAID THE DETECTOR DEFINITELY SAVED MY LIFE. I WAS A LITTLE DIZZY AND HAD A HEADACHE BUT WAS OK AFTER AWHILE. IT TOOK NEARLY 3 HOURS FOR THE FIRST RESPONDERS' CO2 MONITOR TO SHOW SAFE AIR THROUGHOUT MY HOUSE. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED OR SUFFERED BRAIN DAMAGE UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY EXPERIENCED SIMILAR FAILURES TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. FORTUNATELY, THEIR CARS WERE NOT IN GARAGES WHEN IT HAPPENED TO THEM.
NHTSA complaint #11302550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2013 LEXUS RX350. ON AUGUST 14, 2019 AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND ROLLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, WITH MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. THE CAR HIT A CURB AND GAVE ME THE TIME TO REACT AND APPLIED ENOUGH BRAKE PRESSURE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT WENT INTO THE STREET INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE NEXT DAY I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO MY LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD THE CAR FOR THE ENTIRE DAY AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. ON AUGUST 17, 2019, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED AS I WAS AGAIN ROLLING INTO A PARKING SPOT. AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ONLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. THIS TIME I WAS NOT ABLE TO REACT QUICK ENOUGH AS THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE POLE AT THE FRONT OF THE PARKING SPOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. OVER THE NEXT 30-45 DAYS AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER REMOVED THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR)FROM THE CAR AND SENT IT TO TOYOTA FOR ANALYSIS. ON OCT 3, 2019 TOYOTA RESPONDED THAT BASED ON THEIR FINDINGS OF THE EDR THE VEHICLE IS NOT DEFECTIVE. IN MY OWN SEARCH OF THE INTERNET, I FOUND NUMEROUS INCIDENTS ON UNINTENDED ACCELERATION FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AS MY CAR. I HAVE SENT LETTERS TO THE CEO OF TOYOTA AND LEXUS BUT AS OF THIS DATE, OCT 15, 2019 NEITHER TOYOTA NOR LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED OR ADMITTED THAT ANYTHING IS DEFECTIVE WITH THE VEHICLE. *JS *JS
NHTSA complaint #11268446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND SET AT 72 MPH, THE DRIVER REDUCED THE SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WHEN SWITCHING LANES. AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST THE SET CRUISE CONTROL SPEED OF 72 MPH AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TO APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH. AFTER DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE RPMS INCREASED BEFORE THE SPEED EVENTUALLY WAS REDUCED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. LEXUS ESCONDIDO (1205 AUTO PARK WAY, ESCONDIDO, CA) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE ACCELERATING AND WAS SERVICED. THE SAME LEXUS DEALER REPROGRAMMED/FLASHED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURES CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,800.
NHTSA complaint #11252457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON ARRIVING HOME AND PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY, A TRAIL OF OIL LINED MY PATH. AS SOON AS IT WAS IN PARK, OIL BEGAN GUSHING OUT INTO A PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, IT WAS FOUND THAT LEXUS HAD ISSUES WITH THE OIL COOLER HOSE USED DURING MANUFACTURING, BEING RUBBER AND LEAKING OR BURSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE NEAREST AUTHORIZED LEXUS DEALER. UPON CONTACTING LEXUS CORPORATE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE, THEY STATED THAT THEY HAD ISSUED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM, THAT EXPIRED IN DECEMBER OF 2018. SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURRED AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE. MY CONCERN IS, THAT THIS IS AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, WHICH I COMMONLY DO, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, ENGINE FAILURE, AND WORSE, A FIRE. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY A MATTER OF SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #11234748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 LEXUS RX350. WHILE AT A FUEL STATION, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED BY ANOTHER PERSON THAT THERE WAS OIL LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD AAA TOW THE VEHICLE BACK HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE (700 SUNRISE HWY, ROCKVILLE CENTRE, NY 11570, (516) 665-0166) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A HOSE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
NHTSA complaint #11217547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.