2007 LEXUS RX350 Complaints

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that over time she noticed that the dashboard was cracking and separating. The contact was concerned due to the proximity of the passenger’s side air bag housing and the crack in the dashboard. The contact was also concerned about an inadvertent deployment without the vehicle being involved in a crash. The local dealer was contacted and informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted or informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT'S WIFE STATED THAT UPON ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE AFTER EXITING A ROUNDABOUT, DUST BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT'S WIFE DROVE TO A GAS STATION AND DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT THEN REFILLED THE OIL BUT BY THE NEXT DAY, THE OIL HAD COMPLETELY LEAKED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LEXUS OF MAPLEWOOD (3000 US-61, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109) WHERE THEY INITIALLY DISCOVERED METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL LINE. THE OIL LINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CAM GEARS IN UPPER ENGINE WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE A CALLBACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALLBACK. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON AND OFF CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LEXUS OF GLENDALE (1221 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, (818) 507-1300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

DROVE 2007 RX350 APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES AND RETURNED TO RESIDENCE. 3 MINUTES LATER, WALKED OUTSIDE AND CAR WAS SMOKING FROM ENGINE AREA. WITHIN A MATTER OF 60-90 SECONDS THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY CALLED. FD ARRIVED 21 MINUTES LATER AND CAR WAS STILL FULLY IN FLAMES. ONCE FD EXTINGUISHED FLAMES, CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

I WAS DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD AND NOTICED A/C WAS ACTING ODD, THEN TEMP GAUGE WENT TO BOTTOM OF DIAL. I COULDN'T STOP ON THIS ROAD. I WAS TRYING TO GET TO GRANDDAUGHTER'S HOUSE. I STOPPED AT LIGHT AND COULDN'T START IT. I CALLED AAA AND CAR WAS TRANSPORTED TO LEXUS DEALER WHO TESTED CAR AND SAID ENGINE FAILED. THERE WERE 122000 MILES WHEN TESTED AT DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEALER SERVICED THE ENTIRE TIME. IT WAS SERVICED AT 120,000 AND ALL SYSTEMS OK. I'VE HAD AN 80 DATSUN THAT LASTED 250,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THAT USED ENGINE $8500. I EXPECTED MUCH BETTER FROM LEXUS. READING SOME NHTSA REPORTS THERE SEEM TO BE A RASH OF OIL LINES FAILING. THERE WAS NO WATER HOSE PROBLEM ACCORDING TO DEALER CHECKING IT

THE DASH STARTED CRACKING AND NOT FROM ABUSE. IT IS PARKED IN A COVERED GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. I'VE READ THE SAME COMPLAINTS. IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND I'M AFRAID IT WILL AFFECT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS AND REPLACE THE DASH BOARD.

OIL STARTED SPEWING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY . THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP AND THE OIL COOLANT LINES (BLACK RUBBER HOSES) WERE REPLACED WITH METAL HOSES.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED SOMETHING ON THE BACK WINDSHEILD, UPON STOPPING AT THE VET TO PICK UP MY DOG, THERE WAS OIL ALL OVER THE BACK WINDSHEILD. THE RUBBER OIL HOSE HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK AND WITHIN 5 MILES I HAD LOST ALL OIL IN MY VEHICLE. WHICH HAS RESULTED IN HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS TO REPLACE THE HOSES WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED HOSES. APPARENTLY THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL LEXUS...

DURING ROUTINE CAR MAINTENANCE, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE TOYOTA TECHNICIAN THAT THE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY WAS LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY OPERATION. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 86,817. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS ISSUE WAS TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE ENTIRE RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $1,700. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY TOYOTA, GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FAILURES I HAVE FOUND REPORTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER LEXUS RX350 OWNERS FROM VARIOUS YEARS.

ABS/SEATBELT WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING. MECHANIC SAYS 'DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG SQUIB NEEDS REPLACING