2016 Lexus RX450h SUV AWD

The sunroof exploded while driving at freeway speeds with no apparent reason. Temperature was 75 degrees outside.

I brought my vehicle in for damage sustained due to flooding from hurricane Ida. I was told that part of the damage was to 3 tires. I was later informed that the tires need to be replaced due to wear & tear. This vehicle had 18,969 miles of local driving at the time. I’ve never heard of tires being “worn out” on a vehicle purchased brand new with such low mileage. There has to be some kind of defect!

“low braking power” message

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.

ACTUATOR (BREAKS) FAILURE ON CITY STREET NOISE COMING FROM UNDER FRONT OF CAR WHEN BREAKING SLOW TO STOP WHEN BREAKING, CONFIRMED BY MAVIS MECHANIC TO BE ISSUE AND WAS SENT BACK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIP TRIED TO DENY THIS IS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS WAS TOLD IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE ONLY TO FIND ON INTERNET IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. THEY WANT 3K TO FIX A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2016 MODELS. CAR HAS 47K MILES AND IS PURCHASED DEC2015 ALL OTHER MAKES FOR THIS YEAR (2016) APPEAR TO BE RECALLED EXCEPT THE HYBRID. PLEASE CONSIDER EXTENDING THE RECALL FOR THE HYBRID.

THIS IS THE SAME VEHICLE AS IN COMPLAINT 11342600. ONE WEEK AFTER HAVING TWO TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES AND THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER REPLACED DUE THE ISSUES OUTLINED IN THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT A THIRD, DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE FAILED RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID BEING LEAKED ONTO THE MOTOR, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST, DRIVERS SIDE TIRE, WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY. CAR WAS RETURNED TO ESKRIDGE LEXUS IN OKLAHOMA CITY FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY FOUND A THIRD SPLIT TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE IN AN AREA ABOVE THAT INVOLVED IN THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE SPLIT WAS NEAR THE END OF THE LINE AND THE MECHANIC SIMPLY CUT OFF THE SPLIT END AND REATTACHED THE LINE WITHOUT REPLACING THE LINE. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SWORE THAT THIS LINE FAILURE WAS UNRELATED TO THE WORK THAT THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE ON THE VEHICLE THE WEEK BEFORE. AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, THE VEHICLE HAD REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE AND WAS MAKING A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF NOISE FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL (AFFECTED AREA). THE OWNERS HAD THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL BRAKE ASSEMBLY DISMANTLED AND CLEANED BY A DIFFERENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKE PADS TO COATED IN TRANSMISSION OIL AND THE FACE OF THE PADS WERE GLAZED. THE MECHANIC CLEANED EVERYTHING, GROUND THE GLAZE OFF THE FACE OF PADS AND REASSEMBLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM WITH APPROPRIATE LUBRICATION. THE BRAKES PERFORMED NORMALLY FOR ABOUT A WEEK BUT ARE NO MAKING NOISE AND EXHIBITING REDUCED PERFORMANCE. LIKELY, DUE TO THE PAD BEING COMPLETELY SATURATED WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE OWNERS ANTICIPATE HAVING TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED SOON. THIS THE THIRD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LINE TO FAIL IN THIS 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 56000 MILES ON IT. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS A FIRE HAZARD AND RESULTED IN BRAKE SYSTEM DYSFUNCTION.

TRANSMISSION COOLER AND LINES ARE ABOVE A SKID PLATE/SHIELD THAT RETAINS ROAD GRAVEL. THE RETAINED ROAD GRAVEL RUBBED ON THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND RUBBER HOSES LEADING TO A SIGNIFICANT LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID RIGHT ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, EXHAUST SYSTEM AND WHOLE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE SUV WAS COVERED IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT START ON FIRE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE, WHEEL AND BRAKES WERE ALSO COVERED IN TRANSMISSION FLUID. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT EXPERIENCE A BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED A FEW DAYS PRIOR AND OUR INITIAL THOUGHTS WERE THAT THE OIL WE WERE SEEING WAS RESIDUAL FROM THE OIL CHANGE. WE CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR 2-3 DAYS UNTIL IT WAS CLEAR THAT SOMETHING MAJOR WAS WRONG. WE TOOK IT TO ESKRIDGE LEXUS IN OKLAHOMA CITY WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT AN UNCOMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY OUR VEHICLE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, RECALL OR LEXUS SERVICE BULLETIN. THE CHARGED $1386 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND THE TWO RUBBER LINES. I ASKED WHAT THEY DID TO KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT LEXUS HAD RE-ENGINEERED THE REPLACEMENT PARTS TO BE METAL WHERE THEY MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH RETAINED ROAD GRAVEL. THE AGREED THAT IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW BUT THAT IT STILL WASN'T COVERED. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BEGAN LEAKING IN LESS THAN 7 DAYS FOLLOWING THE REPAIR. THE CAR IS A PAMPERED 2016 LEXUS RX450H MIDSIZE SUV WITH LESS THAN 56,0000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN BY MIDDLE AGED PROFESSIONAL FEMALES AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN ON NON BLACK TOP ROADS. I CAN GET ACCESS TO THE REPAIR RECORDS AND PICTURES FROM LEXUS IF NEEDED. WHERE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER IS LOCATED MAKES THIS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE AND BRAKING SAFETY HAZARD.

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 5/1/19 WHERE A WOMAN HIT ME FROM THE SIDE AT 20-30 MPH FROM THE SIDE. THE IMPACT WAS PRETTY SQUARE ON THE FRONT, DRIVER-SIDE QUARTER PANEL. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND I HAVE A WHIPLASH INJURY. WHEN I SAW THE RECALL ON SOME 2016 LEXUS RX450H FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE, I THOUGHT I'D RAISE THE CONCERN AND ASK FOR AN INVESTIGATION TO SEE IF ANY SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I'VE INCLUDED THE ACCIDENT REPORT (POOR QUALITY SCAN BUT STILL READABLE), AND PHOTOS. THE ACCIDENT REPORT SAYS THAT MY CAR WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP BY THE TIME SHE HIT ME. WE'RE CURRENTLY AT $22K DAMAGE AND CLIMBING. WITH THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME WHETHER THE AIR-BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. IF YOU LOOK AT THE FRONT FACING PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE THAT THE BUMPER AND QUARTER PANEL DID NOT POP BACK OUT AND RETAINED THE SHAPE OF THE IMPACT. THIS SHOULD GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW FAR THE IMPACT SHOVED THINGS IN. THE WHEEL WAS HIT TOO, WHICH DAMAGED SUSPENSION AND STEERING. MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. SHOULD IT HAVE BEEN?

COLLISION DETAILS: ' UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL STARTED ON I-5 SOUTH IN SANTA ANA. MANAGED TO EXIT ON 17TH STREET TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENT ON I-5. JUST AHEAD OF FAIRMONT WAS TRYING TO PARK THE CAR BUT THE VEHICLE UNINTENDEDLY ACCELERATED AGAIN. COULD NOT SLOW DOWN, SWERVED ON TO PAVEMENT/WALKWAY. COLLIDED ONTO IRON WROUGHT FENCE OF A SENIOR LIVING COMPLEX HEAD ON. ' COMPLETE DAMAGE AND LOSS OF FRONT AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS CAME ON. NO INJURY TO THE DRIVER OR NOT TO ANY PEDESTRIANS. ' SANTA ANA POLICE ARRIVED AT SITE AND CHECKED DRIVER AND THE CAR. DUI NOT REPORTED BY SANTA ANA POLICE. LEXUS CORRESPONDENCE: ' SEVERAL TELEPHONE CALLS MADE WITHOUT ANY RESPONSE EXCEPT FOR CASE NO. 1604192441 ASSIGNED ABOVE. ' LEXUS ASSIGNED ENGINEERING ANALYSIS ASSOCIATES (EAA) FOR INVESTIGATION. ' LETTER WRITTEN AND MAILED (REGISTERED) TO LEXUS ON MAY 5, 2016. RESPONSE RECEIVED ONLY AFTER ONE MONTH ON JUNE 2, 2016. ' RESPONSE CONCLUDED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND WITHOUT ISSUE. NO INVESTIGATIVE REPORT PROVIDED. ' INSPECTION AND READ OUT OF EVENT DATA RECORDER COMPLETED ON APRIL 28, 2016. ' REQUESTED LEXUS BY PHONE TO FORWARD THE EVENT DATA RECORDER (EDR) REPORT. LEXUS FORWARDED EDR BUT NO CONCLUSIONS ARRIVED AT EXCEPT FOR ELABORATE FINDINGS TOWARDS AIR BAGS DEPLOYMENT. NO MENTION OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO FAULTY ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) ASSOCIATED WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM. PROBABLE CAUSES: (1)SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING OF ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM (ETCS) AND ASSOCIATED SENSORS WHICH HAS NO 'FAIL SAFE' MECHANICAL LINK BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND ENGINE. (2) MALFUNCTIONING OF ABS ACTUATOR RESULTING IN IMPROPER TRACTION CONTROL, STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATION AND REDUCING THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ASSISTANCE.

WHILE DRIVING WITH THE VEHICLE ON CRUISE CONTROL, THE VEHICLE WENT FROM 75 MPH TO 0 ON THE INTERSTATE. I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A NEARBY REST AREA. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WOULD START, BUT NONE OF THE SYSTEMS WOULD OPERATE. THE DASH DISPLAYED SEVERAL SYSTEM FAILURES TO INCLUDE THE HYBRID SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE, PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM, BRAKING SYSTEM AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM. THIS IS A BRAND NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. THE MILAGE AT THE TIME OF BREAKDOWN WAS ONLY 883 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP LABELED THIS EVENT AS A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, BUT I HAVE RECEIVED NO VALID EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX450H. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO PROVIDE THE ACCURATE READING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK DESIGN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.