2008 Lexus RX350

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. TWO YEARS AGO, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND REAR SEATS. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED MOLD IN THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH AN ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF EDISON AT (732) 798-7948 (711 U.S. HIGHWAY 1, EDISON, NJ 08817) WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CARPET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO LEXUS OF EDISON WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

THE OIL COOLER PIPE ASSEMBLY ON THE ENGINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING A SUDDEN LOST OF A LARGE VOLUME OF OIL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET AND WAS ONLY NOTICED WHILE PARKING (A CO-WORKER SAW THE OIL POURING OUT OF THE CAR). THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 10/10/2017*JS

SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ISSUE. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 8 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY VEHICLE REVVED UP ON ITS OWN, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT HURT OR HURT SOMEONE ELSE. THE EDR DOWNLOAD CLEARLY SHOWED MY RPMS JUMPED FROM 400 TO 2,000 IN NANOSECONDS AND THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS "OFF." TOYOTA'S RESPONSE TO ME WAS "WE FOUND NO EVIDENCE THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF ANY TYPE OF DEFECT WITH THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKES." I AGREE IT IS NOT. IT IS NOT A BRAKE PEDAL OR ACCELERATOR ISSUE. IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL TO THE VEHICLE. AFTER TOYOTA WAS FINED $1.2 BILLION (LARGEST EVER FINE TO AN AUTO MAKER), THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE SO THERE IS A BRAKE OVERRIDE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS. THE LOCAL LEXUS DEALERSHIP NEVER MENTIONED THIS TO ME NOR HAVE I EVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF RECALL NOTICE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF THE SOFTWARE IN MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN UPDATED. TOYOTA IS "VERY SORRY ABOUT THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT." PRETTY SAD WORDS FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND STATED THAT THE OIL COOLANT COIL CONTAINED A HOLE, WHICH CAUSED OIL TO LEAK. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER RECALL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE RECALL DETAILS WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD ON MANY OF THESE VEHICLES. THE REAR TAILGATE HANDLE HAS MELTED ON MANY OF THESE AND SHOULD NOT EXPIRE UNDER WARRANTY. A LEXUS FORUM HAS NUMEROUS COMMENTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY SOME DEALERSHIPS WOULD CHARGE UPWARDS OF $350+ TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE AND PERHAPS HAZARDOUS PART. I UNDERSTAND THE TOYOTA SIENNA HAS SIMILAR ISSUES WITH LIFTGATE. DO NOT NOT WHEN MELTING OF HANDLE BEGAN.