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

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

1. Engine timing cover leaking 2. Oil could leak out emptying which could cause the engine to stop working at any given time 3. Problem has been confirmed by Hennessy Lexus dealership in Duluth, GA but they will not fix it. 4. Vehicle has been inspected by the dealership 5. No signs, I found out from the dealership after taking it in for an oil change

NHTSA ODI 11646648

My car has an oil leak from the timing chain cover gasket that was discovered by an independent mechanic at 37,465 miles. The dealer confirmed the leak on June 14, 2024 during a recall replacement of the fuel pump. The repair is very expensive and the car is no longer under warranty. This is the second occurrence of this same issue. The first occurred in April 2021 at 24,192 miles and was repaired by the dealer under warranty. There were no warning lamps or messages of the problem but there was oil on the ground where I park. The car is available for inspection. An internet search confirms that this is a known and common problem with the Lexus RX350 (and specifically the 2017 model) for many owners with some occurring more than once as in my case.

NHTSA ODI 11613316

On [XXX], my wife, [XXX] , was driving our Lexus RX 350 when she noticed engine smoke without any prior notifications from the vehicle. Concerned for her safety, she pulled over and contacted Geico for assistance. Geico arranged for the vehicle to be towed to Motor City Lexus, a trusted Lexus dealership in Bakersfield. Once we the dealership performed a diagnosis they advised that the issue involved coolant being leaked into the engine that caused the smoke with in result caused the engine blow head gasket. After doing some research I saw an article from consumer reports about some Lexus and Toyota SUVs doing the exact same thing which made me decide to wrote about this incident. I am including the link regarding the report [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11600269

During a routine maintenance at the Lexus dealer where vehicle was purchased, we were told that there was a potential oil leak from ("potentially") the engine where the block, cylinder head, and timing cover components meet. The quote we got for the repair is $18,781.52 as a good portion of the car needs to be disassembled to access the motor. This issue was only brought up after the warranty expired. The Toyota 2GR-FKS 3.5L V-6 engine in this vehicle is known to leak in this area due to the gasket mating surfaces in the area mentioned above not sealing completely requiring silicone RTV caulk to be installed during engine assembly. If this is not done correctly leaks occur. Lexus refuses to make good on this saying the car is out of warranty. Ironically, after receiving the quote from the dealer for the repair, we received an offer to extend the warranty - available only after this $18k repair was completed.

NHTSA ODI 11568526

I just picked My Car up from Bakersfield Motor Ciry Lexus . My engine was replaced with a engine at this location with 65k . I have now notice my car jerk during acceleration from a stop position or uphill possibly from the transmission . I respectfully requesting a claim be opened on this issue as I didn't have the issue until engine replacement. I am also requesting a courtesy evaluation and stress test on the transmission at my home dealership Newport Beach Lexus. Ever since engine replacement the car has been bucking during acceleration 0 to 45.

NHTSA ODI 11493983

The Dealer Northtown Lexus in Amherst, New York replaced the vacuum pump per a factory recall. As a result, the vacuum pump continues to function improperly. The dealership, whom repaired the vehicle without my authorization, refuses to complete the vehicle repair.

NHTSA ODI 11493306

On 5/8/2020, Northtown Lexus replaced or repaired the vacuum pump. Northtown Lexus required the vehicle to be returned for repair twice, following the initial repair on 5/8/2020. After three attempts, the vehicle's vacuum pump (per a factory recall) is not functioning properly. Northtown Lexus refuses to further diagnosis this defective vacuum pump and continued to decline any and all requests for repair. The vehicle operates abnormally ever since this factory recall was originally addressed by Northtown Lexus on 5/8/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11486423

The car stalls while I'm driving, and it almost caused a traffic. Accident, I have been trying to contact my local lexus dealer and they keep hanging up the phone when I try to call and make appointments

NHTSA ODI 11436026

Engine hesitation. sometimes the engine suddenly slows down or like lossing it’s power while running on the freeway or making a turn or going uphill . This is a very scarry situation everytime it does .

NHTSA ODI 11425869

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START UNTIL AFTER THE FOURTH ATTEMPT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY THREE OTHER TIMES. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR TWO OR MORE DAYS. IN ADDITION, THE 'CONTACT YOUR DEALER SOON' MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LEXUS OF BIRMINGHAM, 1001 TOM WILLIAMS WAY, IRONDALE, ALABAMA 35210), BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER INQUIRED IF THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN THE START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI 11114558

CAR IS UNSAFE AS YOU NEVER KNOW HOW IT WILL REACT WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. OFTEN TIMES YOU PRESS IT TO ACCELERATE A LITTLE AND IT'S LIKE YOU LET OFF THE GAS ENTIRELY. YOU THEN HAVE TO AGGRESSIVELY PRESS THE PEDAL DOWN TO WHICH IT REACTS WILDLY. SOMETIMES YOU BARELY TOUCH THE PEDAL AND IT TAKES OFF BUT MOST TIMES YOU GET LITTLE TO NO RESPONSE. ACCELERATION DOES NOT REACT LINEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GAS PEDAL. THIS ISSUE ONLY EXISTS AS THE CAR LEARNS YOUR DRIVING. CAR DRIVES FINE WHEN THIS LEARNING IS CLEARED FROM COMPUTER MEMORY. LEXUS SAYS THIS IS NORMAL BUT HOW CAN ROLLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AND WAITING TO GET HIT BE NORMAL? THEY WON'T RELEASE OR UPDATE THE PROGRAMMING BECAUSE THIS WOULD THEN AFFECT THE MPG NUMBER THEY ARE CLAIMING. TO BE CLEAR, GENTLY START TO PULL OUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, PRESS GAS PEDAL TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF CARS COMING AT YOU AND NO REACTION FROM CAR. BIG DEAD SPOT IN THE PEDAL RANGE . NOW CARS ARE CLOSING IN SO YOU HAVE TO STOMP THE GAS TO SAVE YOURSELF. HAPPENS CONTINUOUS ONCE CAR LEARNS YOUR DRIVING. THIS IS ALL IN THE NORMAL MODE DEFAULT SETTINGS FOR POWERTRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11066648

AT 1800 MILES, VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP, VEHICLE IS HESITATING AND STUDDERING VERY BADLY. THIS IS AFFECTING ACCELERATING AND CAUSING A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VEHICLE CONSTANTLY IS LUNGING HESITATING WHEN TRYING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED 3 ACCIDENTS AS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, WHEN PRESSING ON GAS TO ACCELERATE, CAR IS SHUDDERING AND NOT FINDING RIGHT GEAR. DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN CAR. FEELS LIKE CAR IS GOING TO STALL OUT !!

NHTSA ODI 11061630

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER (BELL LEXUS NORTH SCOTTSDALE, 18555 N. SCOTTSDALE, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85255) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED AS A LEMON LAW VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CONFIRMED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4,500.

NHTSA ODI 11058545

IN ORDER TO START THE CAR, THE BRAKE MUST BE PRESSED. HOWEVER, IF THE CAR SITS WITHOUT USE FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL CANNOT BE PRESSED DOWN AND THE CAR WILL NOT START. A WARNING LIGHT INDICATES THAT "BRAKE POWER IS LOW, STOP IN A SAFE PLACE". ATTACHED IS A PICTURE OF THE WARNING LIGHT. THE CAR CAN GENERALLY BE SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED BY EITHER WAITING SEVERAL MINUTES OR EXERTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THE WARNING LIGHT DISAPPEARS. I'VE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS WITH LEXUS SERVICE AND LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE. THEY'VE SAID THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH "EVERY 2016-2018 RX 350" AND IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR. THEY'VE ALSO SAID THIS CONDITION CANNOT BE REPAIRED, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATES IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. LEXUS CONFIRMED THAT DESPITE THE FACT THE CONDITION OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME, IT IS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE AND LIKELY OCCURS BECAUSE OF PRESSURE LOST IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM. ALTHOUGH I QUESTION LEXUS' STATEMENTS THAT THIS CONDITION EXISTS WITH EVERY CAR, IT IS DISCONCERTING THAT THEY CANNOT OR WILL NOT FIX A CONDITION THAT MAY BE DANGEROUS TO CONTINUE DRIVING, AS INDICATED BY THE CAR'S WARNING LIGHT. THIS CONDITION OCCURS REGULARLY.

NHTSA ODI 11057986

WHEN ACCELERATING HEAR A LOUD GROANING NOISE AND FEEL A HESITATION IN THE GAS ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAVE BROUGHT TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, AS IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR IS AN ISSUE, BUT SAYS WILL NOT FIX BECAUSE THEIR IS NO RECALL. THEY SAID WILL NOTIFY US IF/WHEN LEXUS HAS A REMEDY. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING ON 2016 & 2017 MODELS. I AM WORRIED THAT MY CAR IS JUST GOING TO LOSE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AS IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE AND LOUDER GROANING NOISE. THIS HAPPENS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND ACCELERATING BETWEEN 0 TO 20 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11014807