2006 LEXUS RX HYBRID Hybrid Propulsion System Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled while depressing the accelerator pedal. There were several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V396000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was included that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Mileage: 134,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, DRIVING ON AN INCLINE, OR MAKING TURNS, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE, HYBRID CHECK, AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE DROVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TREASURE COAST LEXUS (LOCATED AT 5121 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, (772) 460-0000) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, CLEARED THE FAILURE CODES, AND TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE IN CHECK MODE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS EXPECTED. THE DEALER SWAPPED THE CIRCUIT OPEN RELAY WITH THE IGNITION RELAY TO ELIMINATE THE RELAY AS THE FAILURE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURES, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.

Mileage: 146,000

THE HYBRID SYSTEM LIGHT TURNED ON. NEXT WERE THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS TURNED ON, THEN THE WAS STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS ABLE TO STEERED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS ON THE STREET ROAD. I CHECKED FOR THE RECALLS RELATED TO THE VIN, BUT NO RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THERE WERE 6 RECALLS TOTAL. ONE OF THE RECALL RELATED TO THE INVERTER COOLANT. IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE ONCE AT AROUND 120K AND NOW 135,828 MILES.MY VIN IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 135,828

2006 LEXUS RX 400H. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SYSTEM INVERTER, INTELLIGENT POWER MODULE SAFETY RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON JULY 9, 2009 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE STOPPED RESPONDING TO ANY ACCELERATION AND THE CONSUMER HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COAST OFF TO THE SIDE OF A NEARBY OFF RAMP. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WA A SHORT IN THE INVERTER ASSEMBLY. *JB

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FRESH POND ROAD AND MYRTLE AVENUE, MY LEXUS SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD WAS "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM". SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED DEC 2012. ACCORDING TO LEXUS THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WAS THE HYBRID SYSTEM. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE LEXUS DEALER YET BUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT I GOT LUCKY WITHOUT SERIOUSLY INJURING MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

Mileage: 29,000

LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR DISCOVERED AND IN LESS THAN 50 MILES AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT LIT, INDICATING FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE SYSTEM , NAMELY THE HYBRID INVERTER. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THE RADIATOR AND INVERTER WERE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 53,602

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V396000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BEING THE HYBRID INVERTER BATTERY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND SHUTS OFF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

Mileage: 75,000

1A. AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN TO KEY HOLE, IF YOUR START THE CAR RIGHT AWAY, IT WILL GIVE YOU A FAILURE "CHECK VSC SYSTEM" OR"SHIFT TO "PARK" BEFORE STARTING" EVEN IT WAS ALREADY PARKED. 1B. POWER DRAINED IF RADIO WAS ON FOR 10-20 MIN AND CAR WILL NOT START 2. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS COOLED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR A FEW SECONDS AFTER PUTTING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION BEFORE TURNING START TO GET IT START. 2 YEARS AFTER HAVING THE CAR, THE STARTER BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH THE SIMILAR SITUATION DESCRIBED ABOVE. DEALER NOW CLAIMS THAT BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN. 3. REPLACING STARTER BATTER WAS DONE THE FIRST TIME. I REALLY DOUBT THAT BATTERY DIED OUT SO QUICKLY, SO I'VE DONE A BIT RESEARCH (PROVIDED LINK BELOW) AND FOUND QUITE A FEW TALKED ABOUT INVERTER FAILURE CAUSING SIMILAR ISSUES, AND IT NOT ONLY RESULT IN HIGH COST TO REPLACE THE INVERTER, POSSIBLY LIFE BECAUSE VEHICLE BROUGHT TO STOP WHEN IN MOTION. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F136279/0 PLEASE KINDLY INVESTIGATE. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 61,200

THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM INVOLVES HYBRID INVERTERS IN LEXUS HYBRID VEHICLES. THIS PARTICULAR CASE INVOLVES A 2006 LEXUS RX400H VEHICLE WITH ABOUT 109,000 MILES ON IT THAT HAD RECEIVED ALL RECOMMENDED, SCHEDULED, ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING, ALL POWER TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY AND ABRUPTLY VANISHED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE CONCOMITANTLY LOST POWER STEERING AND SKID CONTROL AS EVIDENCED BY NOTICES ON THE DASH. FORTUNATELY IN THIS CASE, MOMENTUM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL AND MANUALLY PUSHED OFF THE ROAD. LATER IT WAS TOWED A GREAT DISTANCE TO THE DEALER, AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE, THE DEALER BEING THE ONLY PLACE CAPABLE OF THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. THE DEALER FOUND THE HYBRID INVERTER FAULTY. NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE COULD BE PROVIDED. THE WARRANTY NO LONGER APPLIED THEREFORE THE COST OF REPAIR WAS QUOTED AS AN ASTONISHING $9,000.00 ! TOYOTA EVENTUALLY AGREED TO PAY THE DEALER FOR THE PART, BUT NOT ITS INSTALLATION. THE FAULTY PART WAS NOT RETURNED. SHOULD THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT NOT PROVE ISOLATED, SUCH ABRUPT AND UNCONTROLLED POWER LOSS RENDERS ALL THESE VEHICLES UNTRUSTWORTHY AT MINIMUM, AND RAISES POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC SAFETY CONCERNS DEPENDENT ON CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE WHERE AND WHEN HYBRID INVERTER FAILURE AND COMPLETE POWER LOSS SUDDENLY OCCURS. *TR

Mileage: 109,000

THE CAR FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE I WAS TRAVELING 70+MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS LEFT ONLY WITH BRAKES. MY PASSENGER NOTED A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE THE FAILURE THAT THE ENGINE SOUNDED STRANGE, BUT THERE WERE NO INDICATORS ON THE DASH. CAR WAS TOWED TO LEXUS DEALERSHIP WHICH STATED THAT THE INVERTER WAS COMPLETELY GONE AND QUOTED $9,000 FOR PART AND $500 FOR LABOR. CAR HAD BEEN FULLY SERVICED FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT SAME DEALERSHIP JUST A FEW WEEKS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD NEW INVERTERS COME FROM JAPAN AND USED ARE DIFFICULT TO FIND. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

DRIVING OFF A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST DIED. CHECK AWD - CVT - HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON . TOWED TO DEALER NEXT MORNING AND THEY CALLED TO SAY LUCKY IT IS UNDER WARRANTY ( I HAVE 64000 MILES , WARRANTY IS 70 K ) AND IT NEEDS A NEW INVERTER. I HAVE NOT SEEN BILL BUT HERE IT IS $ 7 TO $ 9000 YIKES ! THIS IS A PROBLEM AS IT SHAKES MY FAITH IN LEXUS BOUGHT FROM USA TO BRING TO CANADA AND RELIED ON TOYOTA - LEXUS BRAND --- THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AND FROM WHAT I CAN SEE THE TOYOTA LEXUS HYBRID SYSTEM NEEDS A LONGER WARRANTY !!!! I BELIEVE IT IS A FAULTY CURRENT INVERTER MADE OF PLASTIC, THEY REPLACE WITH NEWER METAL ONE. *TR

Mileage: 64,031

COMPONENT: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR SUMMARY: AT A STEADY RATE OF SPEED ON THE HWY, THE CAR SURGES AND PULLS AND IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN A SMOOTH RIDE. WHEN BRAKING EXPERIENCE SHORT BURSTS OF ACCELERATION. I AM CONCERNED AS THIS SEEMS TO BE LEADING TO AN INVERTER FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 51,000