What 85 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Lexus Rx350l

“low braking power” message

NHTSA ODI 11431656

On April 29 while travelling on I185 toward Columbus, GA I heard a loud noise followed by the sound of crumbled glass. When I could find a safe place to pull over, I looked and discovered that my moonroof had shattered. Had the curtain under the moonroof had not been drawn, I would have been hit with the shattered glass, probably resulting in my loss of control over the vehicle at interstate speed, resulting in a serious accident or death. I returned immediately to my dealership, Hennessy Lexus in Duluth, Georgia. They contacted the Lexus regional manager, who denied Lexus' responsibility for the failure. I did, (and needed to) have the moonroof repaired by the dealership. I also contacted Lexus Corporate office by phone, and sent them by email a copy of photos of the broken moonroof and the invoice for the repair. They passed my inquiry down to the regional manager (again) who again denied Lexus responsibility for the failure. The failure occurred in fair weather on a highway with very little traffic, trees or overpasses, and there was no reason to believe that any outside forces caused the failure. I feel that this potentially dangerous failure is a result of poor manufacture or design.

NHTSA ODI 11419107

KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AT ~50K MILES. TOOK IT TO A LEXUS SERVICE CENTER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOUND WAS FROM A FAILING BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. IF NOT ADDRESSED, THE FAILING PUMP COULD MAKE BRAKING THE VEHICLE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE 2017 RX350S HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NOTHING FOR THE 2016 RX350S. DISAPPOINTED THAT A VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DILIGENTLY MAINTAINED WITH ONLY ~50K MILES IS ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WITH FAILING PARTS THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11406705

I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. I WAS VERY SHAKEN UP. IT WAS A SCARY EXPERIENCE. I WAS TRAVELING 220 CROSS LAKE BRIDGE AND AT TIME COULD NOT PULL OVER. I KEPT HEARING CRUNCHING NOISE ABOVE ME. I OPENED SUNROOF INSIDE COVER AND THAT'S WHEN I NOTICED THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED AND IT WAS WHAT HAD EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI 11404010

KELLY EDGE A/S TIRES WENT BALD AFTER 6100 MILES OF LIGHT CITY DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11397341

RODENT DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS OF MY 2016 LEXUS RX 350 CAUSED BY LEXUS USING A SOY BASE COVERING ON THE WIRES THAT ATTRACT RODENTS. LEXUS TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR THAT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BASE ON ALL THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUITS AND SHOULD LED TO A RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11389298

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED

NHTSA ODI 11376944

THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING AND SPUTTERING AFTER DRIVING LESS THAN 0.1 MILE ON A CITY STREET. AFTER CONTACTING THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP REGARDING THE ISSUE, WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP. AFTER RUNNING A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK, THEY DETERMINED THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS 51,701 MILES ON IT. THE TOWING CHARGE WAS $101, AND THE REPAIRS WERE $808.96. APPROXIMATELY A MONTH LATER, I SAW THAT TOYOTA AND LEXUS WERE RECALLING VARIOUS MODELS AND YEARS WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE THAT WE EXPERIENCED. ALTHOUGH THE 2016 RX350 IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED, I CONTACTED LEXUS BECAUSE THE COINCIDENCE WAS TOO MUCH TO IGNORE. LEXUS ADVISED THAT OUR VEHICLE IS NOT CURRENTLY INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA 20V012000.

NHTSA ODI 11373770

I REPORTED THE SPEEDOMETER ISSUE TO LEXUS CHANTILLY, VA WHEN I DROVE ON HIGHWAY FROM VA TO IN, THE LEXUS SPEEDOMETER SHOWS 83, AND MY WAZE SHOWS 75. ITS 8 MPH DIFFERENCE. I ALSO HAVE NOTICED OF THE MPH DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 6 TO 8 MPH. LEXUS SAID, I REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, WHEN THIS SPEEDOMETER IS DEFECTED BY LEXUS DESIGN. IT HAS DO NOTHING WITH PERSONAL WEAR, ETC. I DROVE OTHER HONDA PILOT, AND THE SPEEDOMETER SHOWED CORRECTLY AGAINST THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, AND WAZE APP, BUT THE 2016 LEXUS DOESNT SHOW THE CORRECT BASED ON TRAFFIC FLOW, AND WAZE APP. THE TRAVEL FROM LEESBURG, VA TO INDIAOPOLIS, IN SHOULD BE 547, BUT ENDED AT 601 MILES. IM OK IF ITS JUST FEW MILES DIFFERENCES, BUT 50 MILES PER EVERY 500 MILES IS HUGE, 5% ERROR. I THINK ITS BECAUSE OF SPEEDOMETER AND IMPACT ERROR ACTUAL MILES. I WENT TO LEXUS CHANTILLY, VA TO PERFORM RECALL FOR OTHER THING, DOOR HANDLE, BUT THEY SAID, WONT LOOK AT SPEEDOMETER ISSUE, UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. THEN I CALLED LEXUS CORPORATION TO OPEN THE CASE, AND THE LEXUS CASE MANAGER WONT HONOR OR FIX MY ISSUE. THIS IS SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY LEXUS DUE TO THEIR DEFECTIVE ISSUE. I HAVE 4 PHOTOS TO ATTACH.. CAN YOU ASSIST ME TO CONTACT LEXUS TO FIX BASED ON PHOTOS. THANK YOU... I CAN BE REACHED VIA [XXX] - [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11360842

A BROADSIDE COLLISION CAUSING DAMAGE TO FRONT LEFT OF THE CAR, INJURY TO THE DRIVER WITH FORCE OF THE COLLISION, AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11341947

SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45MPH ON MY WAY TO WORK DURING A RAINSTORM AROUND 6:30AM ON APRIL 23 2020, WHEN I SUDDENLY HEARD A VERY LOUD BANG. I LOOKED UP TO SEE THAT MY SUNROOF HAD BURST AND THERE WERE GLASS FRAGMENTS RAINING ON MY HEAD. I CLOSED THE VISOR TO PREVENT MORE GLASS AND PRECIPITATION FROM FALLING INTO THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED UNDER AN AWNING TO ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THE GLASS HAD BURST OUTWARD (PICTURES ATTACHED), AND THERE WERE NO DENTS OR CHIPS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE INDICATING THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY SOMETHING. OTHER THAN THE SHATTERED GLASS, THERE WAS NO DEBRIS ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, AT THE TIME THE GLASS BURST, MY VEHICLE WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD WITHIN SEVERAL HUNDRED METERS, SO THIS COULD NOT HAVE RESULTED FROM ANY SORT OF ROAD DEBRIS KICKED UP BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SUFFERED MINOR CUTS TO MY ARMS AND HEAD, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY MAJOR INJURIES. MY RX350 HAD FEWER THAN 24K MILES ON IT AND WAS 3 YEARS OLD, SO IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER BASIC WARRANTY. LEXUS ULTIMATELY DENIED ANY SORT OF MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AND DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP FOR $1,465.

NHTSA ODI 11340199

AUTO BRIGHT HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM DEACTIVATES/REACTIVATES INDISCRIMINATELY, MOST FREQUENTLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING IN THE MORNING (STILL DARK). LACK OF PROPER BRIGHT LIGHT CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT GREATLY REDUCES VISIBILITY MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEO EVIDENCE TO LEXUS DEALER DEMONSTRATING THE PROBLEM WHO CONSULTED WITH CORPORATE LEXUS; LEXUS CLAIMS THAT THEY FOUND MY VEHICLE TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS AND HAS REFUSED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE NOR REPAIR. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE INTERNET BY NUMEROUS LEXUS RX-350 OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM - ONE SUGGESTING THAT PROPER CLEANING OF THE CAMERA LENS FIXED THE PROBLEM; I PROVIDED THE EVIDENCE TO LEXUS AND LEXUS REFUSED TO ATTEMPT THIS SOLUTION. FOLLOWING IS LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER RESPONSE; DEAR MR.: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER. THE ENTIRE LEXUS ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEXUS CUSTOMERS WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE. IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION, WE ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING IN THE RESOLUTION PROCESS. AS YOU REQUESTED, WE ARE RESPONDING IN WRITING. YOUR 2016 RX 350, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER XX, WAS INSPECTED BY LEXUS OF XX, AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS. WE APOLOGIZE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT LEXUS HAS DOCUMENTED YOUR DISSATISFACTION FOR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY, XX CASE MANAGER, EASTERN AREA LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER THIS IS MY THIRD LEXUS AND MAY BE MY LAST!

NHTSA ODI 11325590

THE CAR SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES WHEN BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11319210

ACCELERATION FROM STOP IS BUMPY AND SOMETIMES CUTS OUT WHILE TURNING ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11318810

I HAVE ALMOST BEEN T-BONED FOUR TIMES IN 2 MONTHS SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE DUE TO IT RANDOMLY STALLING BRIEFLY WHILE TURNING. OCCASIONALLY I LOSE POWER WHILE GOING UPHILL, AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES OF MY VEHICLE 'JUMPING' OR SURGING. IT HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING, BUT THE MAJORITY IF THE TIME I HAVE NOTICED IT, IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM TURNING OR ACCELERATING. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD COME ON, BUT I HAVE HAS THIS ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE OF BUYING THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I SAW THE RECALL THAT WAS EXPANDED TODAY ON TOYOTA AND LEXUS VEHICLES FOR A FAULTY FUEL PUMP, I STARTED READING ABOUT IT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE EXACTLY WHAT MY ISSUE IS. THE RECALL COVERS 2017-2019 AND MY CAR IS A 2016, BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11316239

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 3:30 PM CST, MY VEHICLE SUNROOF JUST EXPLODED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN THE FRONT FOR AT LEAST 150 METERS.I WAS ON MY WAY TO THE AIRPORT. THE WIND NOISE WAS LOUD AND ALSO I HAD BOOKED THE PARKING OUTSIDE (NON-COVERED) SO I HAD TO GO BACK HOME AND TAKE MY WIFE'S CAR. IN THIS PROCESS, I ALMOST MISSED THE FLIGHT. AS PER THE WEATHER REPORT IT WAS GOING TO RAIN THE NEXT 3 DAYS SO I KNEW I COULDN'T PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE WITH THE BROKEN SUNROOF WHICH WOULD CAUSE FURTHER DAMAGE. FORTUNATELY, THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED SO WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED IT DIDN'T COME INSIDE AND DIDN'T HURT ME. I AM NOT SURE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT WAS OPEN?

NHTSA ODI 11309736

AFTER REPLACING BATTERY, THE GPS, AUDIO SYSTEM, HEAT CONTROLS, (ENTIRE DISPLAY IS BLANK) THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS ON-LINE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE..

NHTSA ODI 11286702

PASSENGER WIPER WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND AND HITTING THE HOOD. LEARNED THAT THE ARM WAS BENT, CAUSING THE WIPER TO HIT THE INTERIOR OF THE HOOD AND HAS CAUSED PAINT TO RUB OFF ON THE HOOD.

NHTSA ODI 11286508

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE A CAT SCAN WAS COMPLETED, WHICH SHOWED A LARGE HEMATOMA ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT HE TOOK BLOOD THINNER MEDICATION AND LATER HIS ENTIRE FACE TURNED BLACK AND BLUE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V085000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000. *TT *AS

NHTSA ODI 11257368

WHEN I TRY TO START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY, I STEP ON AND BREAK AND PRESS THE IGNITION BUTTON, THE CAR WON'T START AND WOULD GIVE ME A LOW BREAK POWER LIGHT MESSAGE. IT WILL EVENTUALLY START AFTER ABOUT 5 OR 6 TRIES. I ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE NOVEMBER 2018 AND IT ALREADY HAPPENED TO ME LIKE 8 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11228543

WE TOOK A CAR FOR LEASE FROM LEXUS. THE FIRST WEEK, WE REALIZED THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING WELL. WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THEN, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING. LAST WEEK, AFTER 2 YEARS, I WAS DRIVING AND SO WAS MY DAUGHTER ( TWO DIFFERENT TIMES ) AND WE COULDN'T BREAK THE CAR. THE CAR DROVE RIGHT PAST THE INTERSECTION ON A RED LIGHT. THANK GOD THERE WAS NO PEDESTRIANS OR VEHICLES AT THAT SECOND. WE BROUGHT IT TO ALEXUS AND THEY TESTED THE BRAKES AND SAW A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. THE PRESSURE WAS LOW AND THE METAL WAS SCRAPING. THEY ASKED FOR A LARGE SUM AND SAID WE NEVER COMPLAINED BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 11182678

POOR BRAKING, DANGEROUSLY AT TIMES. ALSO HAS TO HOLD GAS NOZZLE ALMOST ALL THE TIME WHILE FILLING UP OR THE GAS WILL SHUT OFF EVEN THE TANK IS NOT FULL

NHTSA ODI 11154099

I WAS ON MY WAY IN CAR FROM HOME (BRIDGEWATER NJ) WITH MY DAUGHTER TO DROP HER FOR VOLLEYBALL PRACTICE IN HILLSBOROUGH NJ. ABOUT IN 7-10 MINS DRIVE, MY DAUGHTER AND I SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE AC VENT AND ALSO NOTICED SMOKE FROM THE FRONT HOOD. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ALERT INDICATION ON THE DASHBOARD. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE CAR, I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE FRONT HOOD AND SAW THE FIRE BETWEEN RADIATOR AND ENGINE CYLINDER BLOCK. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. MY DAUGHTER CALLED HER MOM SAYING OUR CAR IS ON FIRE. MY WIFE SUGGESTED MY DAUGHTER TO VIDEO TAPE THIS. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS VIDEO TAPPING THIS EVENT, THE 911 RESPONDER SUGGESTED WE GET IN A SAFE DISTANCE FROM THE CAR AND THAT THE FIRE RESPONDERS ARE ON THEIR WAY TO THIS INCIDENT. WE IMMEDIATELY GOT TO A SAFE DISTANCE. WITHIN 5 MINUTES FROM THE CALL, THE FIRE CHIEF ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC. BY THIS TIME, THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AREA. WE HEARD THE AIRBAGS AND TIRES EXPLODING. THE FIRE TRUCKS CAME AND THE FIRE FIGHTERS STARTED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER & FOAM. THE CAR HAD COMPLETELY BURNED TO TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE NOTE MY DAUGHTER, 14 YEAR OLD AND I ARE IN COMPLETE SHOCK AND TRAUMATIZED WITH THIS HORRIFIC INCIDENT. MY DAUGHTER IS HAVING NIGHTMARES FROM THIS AND WE ARE SCARED WITH THIS EVENT.

NHTSA ODI 11139567

THIS CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE BEING PUT INTO PARK. THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CENTER POSTS OF THE TWO CAR GARAGE AND ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUGHT ON THE SUPPORTS IN THE FOUNDATION. WE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE OWN THE CAR WHEN WE WERE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WE DID REPORT IT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A SERVICE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SLASH TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FOOT WAS GOING ON TO THE BREAK AND THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR INTO THE CENTER POST OF A 2 CAR GARAGE. I LUCKILY WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT. IT TOOK DOWN BOTH GARAGE DOORS AND THE CENTER PILLAR ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REBUILT AND REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11114970

TAKATA RECALL. AIRBAGS ON PASSENGER SIDE ALL DEPLOYED WITH ZERO IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. A TRUCK WAS DRIVING 5 MPH NEXT TO ME WHEN HE HAD A BLOWOUT AND THE LOUD NOISE CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI 11104009