What 91 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Lexus RX 350h

NHTSA Safety Complaint – Seat Heater Defect Vehicle: 2017 Lexus RX 350 Mileage at purchase: 45,430 Purchase date: Feb. 17, 2025 Dealer: Lexus of Tacoma at Fife, WA Description of Problem: The driver’s seat heater does not function properly. It is slow to activate (5–6 minutes), then overheats uncontrollably even when set to “LOW.” On multiple occasions, the seat became hot enough to cause burns through clothing. Defect Confirmed by Dealership Service Staff: Dealership staff confirmed that the driver and passenger seats heat at different rates. This matches a known defect identified in Lexus Technical Service Information Bulletin L-SB-0038-18 (Oct 10, 2018). Additionally, they confirmed that the drivers' seat spikes to uncontrolled high temperatures, even on the "LOW" setting. Despite this, the dealership refused to repair the issue without an extended warranty and suggested using a sheepskin seat cover to prevent further burns, which is prohibited in the vehicle manual. Safety Hazard: •The defect caused burns to the driver. •The driver's elderly mother, who has peripheral neuropathy in her legs, did not feel when the passenger heater was accidentally turned on, highlighting the risk of undetected burns should the heater defect remain unrepaired. •Risk of fire is also present given the uncontrolled heat and inherent electrical issue. Attempts to Resolve: Reported to dealership on 3/28/25. Dealer disclaimed responsibility. Reported again to dealership on 6/25/25. No response. Reported to Lexus Corporate Customer Service on 8/28/25. Summary: The seat heater malfunction is a confirmed manufacturing defect, already documented by Lexus in a TSIB. Not mentioned in the TSIB is the additional problem of uncontrolled heat spikes, which poses significant risk of burns or fire. Request NHTSA investigation and corrective action.

NHTSA ODI 11683711

3 months before the accident the power steering light came on twice and went off. The day of the accident the brake light came on when I started the car that day. It disappeared when I was put in drive. I was entering onto the highway to merge with the traffic. Another car waiting for the light to turn green so he could enter also. My car didn’t stop because my brakes failed and the collision avoidance system didn’t work either. No sounds nor warnings. I have photos of the message that was displayed on the dashboard. Tried sending photos but it didn’t work.

NHTSA ODI 11675681

The contact owned a 2017 Lexus RX 350. The contact stated while making a left turn exiting a car wash, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated independently and crashed into the commercial building where it came to a stop. The brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle was in full throttle and failed to stop. The air bags did not deploy. No warnings light illuminated. No Medical Attention was needed. During the failure, the contact was the only occupant seated in the vehicle. The contact sustained injuries to the head, black and blue marks on the left side of her leg and shoulder as well as her left knee sustained swelling the right of her bottom was also bruised. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to impound lot by the insurance company and then towed to a salvage lot. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11650124

I WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES BEHIND A FATALITY ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY THEY HAD CLOSED WHILE OCCASIONALLY REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE TO INCH FORWARD A FEW FEET A BEST AND THEN STOP AGAIN NEVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I REALIZED AT ONE POINT TRAFFIC BESIDE ME WAS MOVING, I THOUGHT, IT WAS MY RX 350 WHILE PRESSING BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF IT WAS SLOW ME DOWN AS AN UPCOMING CRASH WAS UNAVOIDABLE. NO BRAKE ASSIST, PRECOLLISON WARNING OR ASSIST, NO EMERGENCY BRAKING, NO RESISTANCE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND ***NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE BACK OF A STOPPED SEMI TRUCK** and during the entire incident the speedometer remained at zero or moved a tiny bit off of zero as if it was pulsing somehow and the accelerator was never touched while car felt like I was being pushed from behind, randomly accelerating on its own before impact.

NHTSA ODI 11543106

Rear ended vehicle automatic braking did not activate

NHTSA ODI 11469282

I was driving up a hill, turning on to a dirt road. I had my foot on the brake as I was going down hill, I bounce from the crevice on the dirt road. My car started going faster, I kept my foot on the brake trying to stop, but it did not STOP. I avoided hitting a parked car and slammed in to a K-rail. My car would not STOP.

NHTSA ODI 11466093

The contact owned a 2017 Lexus RX350. The contact stated while driving 45-50 MPH on the highway, another vehicle that lost control and crashed into the contact's front and side of the vehicle. The driver's front air bag did not deploy. The contact suffered minor injuries to the face from the glass front windshield, a cut and burn from the seatbelt, and a bruise to the arm. Medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was deemed and destroyed by the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 30,000 The contact stated that of all the airbags, none of them deployed at the time of the accident. As a result, the vehicle was totaled.

NHTSA ODI 11464059

I was involved in a side collision accident and my car was determined to be total loss by the At-Fault's insurance company. I was lucky that my son and I came out with bruises and a few scratches but the main problem here is the airbags. It DID NOT deploy at all when it was hit. The force hit us from lane 1 all the way to lane 3 and damages to the structure near cabin was found by one of the vertified accident body shop. So yes, no airbags were deployed.

NHTSA ODI 11441571

THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO RECALL EITHER. I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS AN ISSUE OR NOT BUT I WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE GET HURT BECAUSE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY SEE PHOTO OF DAMAGE. HAVE PICTURES BUT SIZE PROBLEM DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REDUCE SIZE

NHTSA ODI 11387570

I WAS INVOLVED IN THE INTERSECTION MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. WHEN I WAS T-BONED BY OTHER VEHICLE (MY VEHICLE WAS GOING 30-45 MILES/HOUR, AND MOVING) AND THE OTHER VEHICLE (WHO CAUSED AN ACCIDENT) WAS ALSO GOING 30-45 MILES/ HOUR. WHEN THERE WAS AN IMPACT TO MY RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS NOT DEPLOYED. DAMAGES DONE TO THE CAR IS MY RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER SIDE (FRONT AND REAR) WAS DAMAGED AND UNABLE TO OPEN OR CLOSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11337133

MY CAR (INSURED) REAR ENDED ANOTHER PARTY AT LESS THAN 10 MILES PER HOUR. THE PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM THAT IS PART OF MY CAR NEVER BECAME ACTIVE IN MY CAR AND SO I REAR ENDED THE CAR. LEXUS INSPECTED MY RX-350 AND HAVE AN UNACCEPTABLE REASON THAT IT WILL NOT WORK, UNLESS THERE IS A NOTICEABLE SPEED DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY CAR AND THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. THE CAR WAS THE PROBLEM AND IT DID NOT WORK AND SO I REAR ENDED THE PREVIOUS CAR. MY LIGHTS WERE ALSO BROKEN AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING REWORK WAS ALSO DONE.

NHTSA ODI 11302388

VEHICLE ROLL OVER DRIVER AFTER BEING PLACED IN PARK AT THE RESIDENCE CAUSING FATAL INJURIES. DRIVER REVERSED OUT OF GARAGE AND EXITED VEHICLE. INSPECTION AT THE SCENE BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE REVEALED THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK BACKED AGAINST SOME TREES. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND A AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER CAN BE PLACED BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE AND NOT MOVE. IF THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED SLOWLY FROM DRIVE TO PARK OR REVERSE TO PARK THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE THIS CONDITION IS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11290280

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 LEXUS RX350. -THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. -THE VEHICLE STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. -NO APPARENT REASON WHY THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN A PARKING LOT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL. ALL THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED (INCLUDING CURTAIN AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL, TWO FRACTURED RIBS AND 2 FINGERS, TREATED AND RELEASED. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND REPORT NUMBER: 20192380195 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,700. *DT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11252874

PULLED INTO HOTEL PARKING LOT AT 11:05AM (PERFECT WEATHER - PARKING LOT EMPTY) AND ,AFTER TURNING INTO THE PARKING SPOT AT A SLOW SPEED, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT THE SIDE OF THE HOTEL. THE BUILDING WASN'T DAMAGED, BUT THE CAR HAD SERIOUS FRONTAL DAMAGE. THE HOTEL MANAGER DIDN'T CALL THE POLICE SO THERE ISN'T A POLICE REPORT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. I FEEL THERE WERE SEVERAL POSSIBLE LEXUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS INCIDENT: THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS OVER $17,000 IN REPAIRS (EVEN THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED),; THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM DIDN'T ENGAGE; AND THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE CAR FROM A SLOW ENTRY INTO THE PARKING SPACE. CURRENTLY THE CAR IS AT A LEXUS DEALER WAITING FOR THE LEXUS HIRED INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE IT. WE HAVE PICTURES AND A COMPLETE LIST OF REPAIRS IF REQUESTED. W E DO NOT HAVE A REPORT YET FROM THE LEXUS INSPECTION BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN INSPECTED YET. ...*BF..*JB

NHTSA ODI 11194305

THE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AND IT REDUCED SPEED WHEN VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AHEAD OF ME BUT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO MY BRAKING. MY VEHICLE SLID INTO OTHER VEHICLE AT 6.8 MPH (SEE ATTACHED REPORT). I TRIED TO APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO MY BRAKE PRESSUREI WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT ON CITY ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11162098

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM BECAME INOPERATIVE AND THE CONTACT REAR ENDED A TRUCK. THE CONTACT APPLIED SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPOUND LOT IN CONYERS, GEORGIA. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND REQUESTED THE CONTACT'S APPROVAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE ASSESSED FOR DAMAGES BY A LEXUS DEALER. IT WAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1811210065. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11153331

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING 140 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE PRE-COLLISION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO WESTSIDE LEXUS SALES (12000 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 558-3030) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A FAILURE AND THE CRASH WAS HIS FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 11120438

VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL VIOLENTLY SURGE FORWARD WHEN TAKING OFF. THE RESPONSE OF THE ACCELERATOR IS VERY INCONSISTENT. SOMETIMES, YOU CAN HARDLY GET THE VEHICLE TO GO, AND OTHER TIMES IT WILL JUST EXPLODE FORWARD WITH JUST THE SMALLEST AMOUNT OF PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE PEDAL.THIS CAUSED ME TO RUN INTO THE DITCH. VERY UNSAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11100367

PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM FAILED. VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. NO WARNINGS. NO AUTO BRAKING. FULL UNRESTRAINED IMPACT. COLLISION OCCURRED ON FREEWAY OFF RAMP. I HAVE PHOTOS OF CRASH SITE AND A COPY OF THE DATA FROM THE "BLACK BOX" WHICH LEXUS DOWNLOADED. THE ALLSTATE CLAIM NUMBER #0453405540. THE CHP OFFICE AT 619-401-2000 HAS INCIDENT NCIC#9680, BY OFFICER ID 18801. THE LEXUS WAS TOTALED AND ALLSTATE PAID OUT. I PURCHASED THE LEXUS PRIMARILY FOR ITS SAFETY FEATURES. I'M CONCERNED THAT FURTHER FAULTS COULD CAUSE GREAT HARM OR DEATH.

NHTSA ODI 10994051

WHILE DRIVING HOME, I STOPPED THE CAR AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE DRIVE WAY AT THE MAIL BOX BY APPLYING BRAKE .THE CAR CAME TO A FULL STOP. I SHIFTED THE GEAR ( AUTOMATIC ) TO PARK TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PICK THE MAIL. AS SOON AS THE GEAR WAS IN PARK, THE CAR ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, INSPITE OF HARD BREAKING. I COULD FEEL THE ABS SYSTEM BEING ACTIVATED BY THE WAY IT FEELS ON THE BREAK PEDAL. THE CAR HIT THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND STOPPED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BUILT IN PRE COLLISION SYSTEM. AFTER NOTIFYING THE INSURANCE COMPANY THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT IS BEING WORKED ON.

NHTSA ODI 10957869