2010 Lexus RX350

The contact owns a 2010 LEXUS RX350. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, she saw light white smoke floating through the air which she initially assumed came from the vehicle ahead of her. As she exited the highway and came to a stop, the low oil pressure warning light illuminated with an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. The contact pulled over and called her brother for assistance. Upon inspection, the contact's brother discovered that there was no oil in the vehicle, even though the vehicle had received an oil change five days prior. The contact called the local dealer who offered to tow the vehicle to the dealer to be inspected. The contact declined the tow, and instead had the vehicle towed to Lexus of Pleasanton (4345 Rosewood Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588) where the mechanic discovered that the engine oil cooler pipe was fractured. The contact discovered an unknown recall on the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the Vin was not under recall or warranty. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 199,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD AND NO DEBRIS. THE ROOF HAD NEVER BEEN STRUCK AND WE HAVE NEVER TRANSPORTED ANYTHING ON THE ROOF. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 65 DEGREES AND THE SUN JUST RISING SO NO SIGNIFICANT TEMPERATURE VARIATIONS. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH.

MY FARM IS 1/2 MILE OFF WELD COUNTY ROAD 16 IN KEENESBURG COLORADO. THERE IS A GRAVEL DRIVE AROUND THE HOUSE TO A SHORT CONCRETE DRIVEWAY IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. WHEN WE DRIVE ONTO THE CONCRETE PORTION, WE ARE ANGLED NORTH EAST TOWARD THE GARAGE DOOR AND HAVE TO BACK UP A SHORT DISTANCE TO HEAD THE CAR EAST TO ENTER THE GARAGE. WE DRIVE VERY SLOW THROUGH THE YARD AS WE HAVE ANIMALS TO WATCH OUT FOR AND MAKE A SLOW ENTRY TOWARDS THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY. AS SHE TURNED AROUND THE HOUSE TOWARD THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR SEEMED TO BE GOING FASTER THAN NORMAL AND SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND EASED ON THE BRAKE BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW AND SHE FELT THE ACCELERATOR WAS PULLING HER FORWARD FASTER THAN SHE WANTED. THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT SLOW THE CAR. THE CAR ANGLED ACROSS THE CONCRETE DRIVEWAY, NARROWLY MISSING THE CORNER OF THE GARAGE AND STRUCK A TREE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE HOUSE. THE IMPACT DID NOT DEPLOY THE AIR BAG AND MY WIFE HAD NO INJURY. HER SEAT BELT WAS FASTENED UNTIL SHE SHUT THE CAR OFF AND EXITED THE CAR. I NOTIFIED USAA MY INSURER AND LATER SPOKE TO SEVERAL MECHANICS ABOUT REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEM MY WIFE ENCOUNTERED JUST PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ONE MECHANIC TOLD ME OF A REPORT OF A SITUATION MUCH LIKE THIS AND SAID TO CALL LEXUS AND SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS MAKE OF AUTOMOBILE. I CALLED A LEXUS DEALER IN FIRESTONE COLORADO. I GAVE THE VIN NUMBER TO HIM AND HE SAID HIS RECORDS SHOWED THIS MODEL YEAR HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR BUT NO RECORDS SHOWED REPAIRS WERE MADE. I TOLD HIM I PURCHASED THIS 2010 MODEL CAR IN 2016 AS A USED CAR AND HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL. I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED BUT AN ADJUSTER DID MAKE A REPORT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY JUNE 6). I HAVE NO RESULTS BUT THE ADJUSTER SAID THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE AND HE WAS A BIT SURPRISED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

OIL COOLING LINE BLEW OUT! ALL OIL BLEW OUT OF ENGINE WITHIN MINUTES. I WAS STOPPED IMMEDIATELY WITH ENGINE WARNING AND HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY TOW. THE REDESIGNED PART WAS ORDERED FROM LEXUS AT A COST PLUS SHIPPING OF $90. THE TOTAL REPAIR WAS $170. THIS IS A FAULTY PART WITH RUBBER LINE THAT HAS SINCE BEEN REDESIGNED ALL METAL--NO RUBBER. LEXUS HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE DESIGN FLAW BUT NO RECALL.

MY WIFE WAS COMING FROM WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING ON APRIL 1, 2019 AT HIGHWAY SPEED AROUND 70 TO 75MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE COULD HEAR BIG NOISE COMING OUT OF ENGINE, WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON THE DASH AND SHE COULD MANGE TO STOP THE CAR IN THE EMERGENCE LANE. SHE COULD SMELL THE OIL BURNING FROM THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP AND WAS EVALUATED NEXT WEEK. THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE HAVE BIG HOLES IN THE FRONT, REAR AND AT THE BOTTOM. TRANSFER CASE ALSO GOT A BIG HOLE ALONG WITH THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A REGULAR OIL CHANGE AND ROUTING INSPECTION IN ALL THE PREVIOUS YEARS. I HAVE SHOWN THIS TO COUPLE OF REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF INSTANCE IN ANY VEHICLE AND ESPECIALLY LEXUS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 LEXUS RX350. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A SNOW MOUND BEFORE CRASHING INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM LEXUS OF APPLETON (3060 N VICTORY LN, APPLETON, WI 54913, (920) 471-1895) WHERE A THIRD PARTY SPECIALIST WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FINDINGS WOULD BE REPORTED TO THE CONTACT AT A LATER DATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRASH WAS IN RELATION TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V3005000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

THE VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT AND BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, SMOKE EMERGED FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. WITHIN A MINUTE THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHICH COMPLETELY BURNED THE ENGINE AND THE FIRE SPREAD INTO THE CABIN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY MINOR OR MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE ALSO UNDERWENT REGULAR MAINTENANCE PRIOR TO INCIDENT.