2005 Lexus RX problems and owner complaints

IN 2005 I BOUGHT THE LEXUS 400 HYBRID. I IMMEDIATELY DETECTED A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES - THERE WAS A HESITATION WHEN DEPRESSED AND THEN A SECOND OR TWO IT WOULD ENGAGE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO "GET USED TO HYBRID DRIVING." WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE IN MARCH OF 2006 I AGAIN TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT RIGHT. THEY DID THEIR ASSESSMENT AND TOLD ME THAT THIS IS THE WAY IT IS. NOW HEARING ALL THE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA AND LEXUS I THINK YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS. I RECENTLY WROTE TO LEXUS AND THEY IMMEDIATELY B…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311187 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING PLACE IN OUR UNDERGROUND GARAGE I PUT ON THE BRAKE TO GO FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE THE ENGINE RACED UP AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I WAS ONLY 15 FEET FROM A BRICK WALL OF WHICH I HIT AT AN ANGLE. I BOUNCED OFF THIS WALL AND WENT 10 FEET FURTHER HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER WALL. I DID NOT TOUCH THE GAS PETAL, THE MATS ARE RUBBER AND WERE NOT A PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AS SOON AS I COULD BUT GIVEN THE FACT THAT THE TO…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425322 at NHTSA ↗

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE GEARS AUTOMATICALLY. THE PROBLEM WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND REFUSED FURTHER SERVICE TO THE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165114 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS TOLD BY THE LEXUS DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE A POWER STEERING RACK LEAK ON MY 2005 LEXUS RX330. TO REPAIR THE LEAK WILL COST APPROXIMATE $1700. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LEXUS MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY ABOUT THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT WAS A RECALL ON THE POWER STEERING BACK IN 2011 BUT UNFORTUNATELY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF RECALL. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT MOST LEXUS OWNERS WERE HAVING. THIS CONFIRMS THAT THE POWER STEERING LEAK IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND SHOULD BE INCL…

Owner-reported narrative. 86,422 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632536 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (HUNTING FOR GEARS, JERKING AND HESITATION) ON A 2005 LEXUS RX330 - AWD. HAVE EXPERIENCED NEAR ACCIDENTS DUE TO VEHICLE HESITATION WHEN MERGING INTO TRAFFIC, CROSSING INTERSECTIONS, OR MAKING TURNS. WHEN DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR, VEHICLES HESITATES FOR 3-5 SECONDS. HAVE HAD "FLASH" SERVICE DONE TO ECU. SAME ISSUES STILL EXIST. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160788 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES WERE SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. FLUID LEAKING. TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES ARE STATIONED ON THE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE VEHICLE - IN A PLACE WHERE THE EFFECTS FROM ROAD SALT AND WATER ARE THE MOST EXTREME.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10897610 at NHTSA ↗

My vehicle caught fire a few days after being repaired by a licensed repair shop in California.
The repair was performed by: Brodie's Tire & Automotive
Address: 1276 Petaluma Blvd N, Petaluma, CA 94952
Phone: [XXX] After the fire, the repair shop admitted in writing that: • The intake manifold melted after the fire
• The engine became “not repairable”
• The fire occurred shortly after their repair
• They offered to “fix it for free,” which indicates awareness of responsibility The fire caused severe heat damage to the engine compartment, elect…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11700694 at NHTSA ↗