What 54 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Lexus RX 350h

The contact owns a 2011 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH the front driver seat heater was activated and moments later smoke and flames were present coming from the center console of the vehicle. After stopping and exiting the vehicle the fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed and later towed away by the insurance company. No injuries were reported and no police or fire reports were taken. The cause of the fire was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted regarding the incident. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11613473

I was driving my 2011 Lexus RX 350 on July 7, 2023, to a swimming pool. I was pulling into a parking spot just rolling to a stop with my foot on the brake. The car suddenly accelerated with grate speed and ran on the curb of the sidewalk forward to a small rock wall, I immediately turned the vehicle to the right and pressed down on the brakes, but the vehicle kept moving about 45 feet and came to a stop after crushing another two vehicles in the parking lot. These two vehicles were destroyed and not repairable according to the insurance company. For my car the right front side was crushed and both airbags on the drive side deployed, and my chest and legs were injured by the airbags. The biggest injury was my mental injury which made me unable to return to normal life.

NHTSA ODI 11533038

On Saturday July 15, 2023, at between about 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. CDST the vehicle was parked overnight in a garage, spontaneously caught fire and burned and was a total loss. There was a smell I would associate with an electrical fire. People reported hearing a car alarm and a "popping sound" before the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire and had the car towed out of the garage of a condominium association. Fire damage to property (except the subject car) was minimal but there was extensive smoke. In my opinion based on this incident, electric/hybrid cars should not be parked indoors.

NHTSA ODI 11532457

12/7/2017 I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK AT 1 PM. I SLOWED DOWN I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, I WAS PUTTING IT INTO THE PARK POSITION WHEN THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND AND PUT A HOLE IN THE GARAGE DOOR AND KNOCKED IT OFF TRACK.I WAS STUNNED & SURPRISED.MY HUSBAND AND I COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS ACTION. ON 12/14/17 I PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AT FOY PARK IN BURBANK CA. I SLOWLY PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE ,MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AS I PUT THE CAR INTO THE PARK POSITION THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF OVER A CEMENT PARKING BLOCK AND OVER THE CURB, WENT THROUGH A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND LANDED IN THE BRUSH WITH 3 WHEELS OFF THE GROUND AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. ON 12/15/17 THE DAY AFTER I DROVE INTO MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT 2 PM. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE I PUT IT INTO PARK AND IT DID THE SAME [XXX] THING AND 5 FEET MY FRIEND [XXX] WITNESSED IT. THAT WAS IT FOR ME I HAD IT TOWED TO KEYES LEXUS TOYOTA AND NEVER DROVE IT AGAIN. KEYES SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND I KNOW FROM CHECKING ON LINE WITH MY FRIEND [XXX] THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE U.S. I AM DEEPLY WORRIED THAT THIS CAR WILL BE SOLD AGAIN AND SOMEONE WILL BE INJURED OR KILLED. THERE ARE 64437 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WHEN TRADED IN.PLEASE HELP !! I WAS THE ONLY PERSON INJURED, SUFFERING BACK AND NECK INJURES AND I AM STILL BEING TREATED I'M A LITTLE AFRAID OF DRIVING ANY CAR AT THIS POINT BUT I WILL WORK THROUGH IT.. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11078721