3.5

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,640 miles

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problem #3

Oct 202020

RX 450h

  • miles
Around the middle of the month of January of 2022, I discovered that my 2016 Lexus RX350 has massive oil leak from timing chain cover. Thompson Lexus dealership confirmed this oil leak. This leak not just happened, but it has happened long ago at least 6 months prior to the time that I discovered based on old oil dirty debris deposits and paints popped out and rusted caused by prolong oil on the frame. The reason that did not detect the oil leak right away was that I have almost not used the car at all for the past two years due to Covid situation. Second, I have parked my car on my lawn, so that could not see oil drops. Third, I put my trust on Lexus and Toyota products, so I have not inspected for oil leak periodically. This oil leak has soaked many parts of the engine, frame, electrical connections, and possibly other moving parts such pulleys and belts. This can potentially create smoke or fire hazard and belt and pulley slippery which can lead to accidents. At the time of the oil leak, my car was under 54,000 miles and under 6 years, so it was still under powertrain warranty with is 6 years and 70,000 miles. I have contacted Lexus several times regarding this matter. I told them about location of the oil leak and when oil started leaking, my car was still under powertrain warranty but Lexus refused to pay for the timing cover repair. After doing research on RX350 from timing chain cover, I have found out that a lot of Lexus RX350 has developed oil leak from timing chain cover since year 2009 or 2010 model to 2016 year model. Some RX350 developed timing chain cover oil leak from a few thousand miles of first use to 38,000 miles. Lexus was aware of the problem, but completely ignored and failed address the problem and issue a recall.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #2

Aug 042020

RX 450h

  • 56,920 miles
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.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #1

Jul 172020

RX 450h

  • 56,000 miles
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.

- Edmond, OK, USA