10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 9,405 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I suffered back and neck pain while loading the rear trunk of my Lexus SUV. The remote door continued to close and couldn't be lifted from my body that was stuck between the door and rear truck area. I had to crawl from under the closing door that was crushing my back to prevent additional injuries that could have been fatal. The Lexus hq office was contacted and there is a current case report. The Lexus dealership located in duluth ga fixed the rear door free of charge by placing a sensor to open when an object or person is blocking the door while closing. Others Lexus and Toyota SUV owners have experienced similar problems when told what happened to me. Im still taking medication for pain caused by the injuries.
- Suwanee, GA, USA
I was driving in the passing lane at about 55 mph. The road was straight and level. The road was covered with a thin coating of slush. While driving the alarm signal began beeping. I took my foot off of the accelerator. The car then began drifting to the left, in the next few seconds the left wheels were 2 feet over the left lane. I tried to get the car back into the lane but the steering did not respond. A few seconds later the car began to drift to the right and rotate to the right. I then applied the brakes but they had little effect. Eventually the car slid off the road to the right stopping about 75 ft off the road, down a 20 foot slope. I believe that the stability control system failed to control the vehicle and did not provide adequate protection in this accident.
- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA
I was driving my new Lexus 450H (2,000 miles) in a fresh light snow (1.5 to 2 inches) in incline village nv at 25 miles per hour on a slight decline when I depressed the brake pedal to slow down for a curve a few hundred feet away. It locked the wheels immediately and as a result I had no steering control. Given that I had enough time to get my foot off the brake before having to make turn ahead, I removed my foot from the brake (I have been driving in snow my whole life since I was raised in Canada) and it had no effect -- the wheels remained locked as I gained no control of steering and the vehicle continued to slide until it hit the guard rail across the street as I entered the turn at some 10 to 15 miles an hour. I am convinced that the problem lies in the 450H trying to generate power whenever the gas pedal is not depressed -- this is different than my former Lexus 400H which only tried to generate power when the brake pedal is depressed (I know about the new logic because the power gauge (that shows whether the batteries are charging or discharging) shows charging whenever one's foot is taken off the gas pedal on the 450H, not on the 400H). Needless to say, I immediately went to the local Lexus dealer and traded the vehicle for an RX350 that will drive like a normal car. I am only interested in having people that live in hilly snow conditions avoid buying the rx450H as they will necessarily have the same experience. I do not have VIN at this time as I am at my second home in California at this time.
- Incline Village, NV, USA
The rx450H is downright dangerous. The 4 wheel drive does not switch "on demand" as the advertising says. I live in snowy Massachusetts and do not need permanent 4 wheel drive, but it is essential when the roads are full of snow or ice. I was puzzled at first that the 4 wheel drive only actuated under 25 mph. I tested it on sharp corners in the snow: The back slid out; and on faster, gradual corners: The car side slipped. Never did the 4 wheel drive switch on and correct the slide. I looked in the manual for the method to manually activate 4 wheel drive but couldn't find it. I contacted Lexus. They said that I should use the snow switch. This is a menu item which annoyingly must be switched on every time you drive. It didn't work as it only changes the gear and acceleration characteristics like any other winter/summer switch. They also said that it should work at high speeds when more power is needed. I tried that and found that at 60 mph if I absolutely floored the accelerator on a steep hill the 4 wheel drive would switch on briefly. That's hybrid technology being used to reduce consumption"! I went back to my dealer: What was I doing wrong" after two months of phone tag with the dealer and Lexus, the dealer promised to pick up the car and test it. After a week of telephone calls they said there was no point in testing the car as it was working "as designed". however it wasn't working as advertised which is that the 4 wheel drive will come on "as needed". I'd say that a broad skid in snow is "as needed". Lexus does not intend to do anything about this complaint. They put me onto a "business development" specialist who tried to upsell me on a non-hybrid 4X4 which he said had "a non slip differential" and would therefore have better handling. I consider it very dangerous that a driver thinks they will have control because of Lexus advertising and salesman claims but will likely loose control in snow or ice and cause a serious accident.
- Concord, MA, USA
I live in aldie, va and have a new Lexus 2010 Rx 450H hybrid. I had an accident on 01/30/2010 around 11am. What happened was... I was driving around 5 to 10 miles speed and turned the vehicle to 90 degrees slowly to go to the school. But the vehicle went 45 degrees and hit a wooden stop sign. I was really driving slow. I applied the brake, but the car suddenly picked some speed and hit the stop sign. Its unusual. There may be some defect in the brakes/gas pedals or with the ABS system or the electronics around it. I called Lexus customer service and filed a complaint about the vehicle. They are sending it to the legal department. The estimated damage to my car was around $5,550 and the car is currently at the autobody shop for repair.
- Aldie, VA, USA
- Brooklyn, NY, USA