2024 Lexus Gx

On April 17, 2025, while driving a 2024 Lexus GX 550 Luxury Plus with a minor passenger in the vehicle, the vehicle locked up without warning as I was exiting the highway. The sudden lockup caused skid marks on the tires. The failure occurred at low speed only because I had just turned off the highway — had it occurred moments earlier at highway speed, the consequences could have been fatal. The failed component appears to be the drivetrain or braking/locking system. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the Lexus dealership and is available for inspection. A Lexus field inspector has been scheduled for early May 2025. Safety was put at serious risk. A child was in the vehicle. The lockup was sudden and without warning, with no ability to anticipate or respond. This incident was preceded by two prior issues with the same vehicle: (1) approximately one month prior, a transmission concern was reported to the dealer, who attributed it to abnormal driving habits and took no corrective action; (2) on April 7, 2025, brake rotors were replaced under a recall for rotors that squeak when exposed to moisture. The problem has been confirmed by the dealership, which has retained the vehicle since April 17, 2025. I am aware of at least 8 to 10 other reported incidents involving the same model vehicle with the same lockup failure. No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the failure.

At approximately 6,000 miles we drove this vehicle from Chattanooga to Nashville and back. The interstate has one steep grade. On the decent home the vehicle was violently shaking. It felt as if the car might not be able to stop or something had been broken. We had 30-45 minutes of driving to get home and considering having the vehicle towed. It continued to shake, less violently as we braked on the way home. It was terrifying. I took the car to Lexus and they told me that this can happen on steep grades. They wanted to turn the rotors and I insisted they be replaced due to being defective and causing this shaking at such low miles. They agreed. A month later, after having brand new rotors and pads, the same thing happened again. Again I immediately made an appointment and the vehicle was inspected. They told me this time there are hot spots all over these new rotors, from this one trip to Nashville. They told me there was nothing else they could do. I opened a case with Lexus corporate and they just reached out. They spoke to the dealership and concluded that this happened because of normal driving conditions. They are saying this is normal! It’s not normal. I explained the many brands of vehicles we have had and driven this same interstate many times without issue. This is unsafe. People that drive in mountain areas should not need brake repair every few thousand miles. And what if someone is driving in a very mountain area like the Rockies and one trip across the state could completely destroy these brakes? So scary. They need brakes to handle higher heat to protect families using this car. I am shocked this is not recalled already. I pray there is something to be done to get this fixed immediately. The uploaded file below is from the second time I brought it for the same issue. It was 5 weeks later. The incident for the second incident was just 4 weeks after the first one, but we had to wait for them to get us an appointment.

Brakes squeal when backing up in the mornings and occasionally going forward. Maunufacturer is aware of the problem, but until recently would only allow dealers to order 1 repair kit per week. Now the manufacturer is allowing 4 kits per week to be ordered. This problem appears to affect 2/3s of all vehicles sold. Repair parts are taking 4 to 6 months to get. The manufacturer is not being responsive.