2016 Lexus RX Powertrain & Transmission Problems

Upon parking after 20-mile drive, severe leak of transmission oil from transmission oil cooler area, no warning messages/lights or fault codes present. No evidence of leak at starting point for drive, was sudden failure internal to transmission cooler with no evidence of impact/vibration damage or corrosion; failure was perhaps at welds of fins to tubing. Leaking oil creates fire and slip hazard, lack of any kind of warning to driver would have allowed continued driving until transmission failed except for luck that this was short trip. Vehicle has never been damaged in a crash, has been carefully inspected and maintained since purchase new. This is not a wear item and should never fail without external damage or corrosion, certainly not at 45,000 miles. Difficult to believe that this anything other than a manufacturing defect on this early production (VIN ending 002034) vehicle. Repaired by Lexus dealer with Lexus covering half of cost as “goodwill” (cost to me at ~$1,050 incl. towing), although dealer attempted to return vehicle without having reinstalled air duct and lower shroud.

There is oil leak from timing belt casing. Only have 71000 miles on the vehicle.

AUTO BRIGHT HEAD LIGHT SYSTEM DEACTIVATES/REACTIVATES INDISCRIMINATELY, MOST FREQUENTLY A FEW MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING IN THE MORNING (STILL DARK). LACK OF PROPER BRIGHT LIGHT CONTROL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT GREATLY REDUCES VISIBILITY MAKING THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEO EVIDENCE TO LEXUS DEALER DEMONSTRATING THE PROBLEM WHO CONSULTED WITH CORPORATE LEXUS; LEXUS CLAIMS THAT THEY FOUND MY VEHICLE TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS AND HAS REFUSED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE NOR REPAIR. INFORMATION POSTED ON THE INTERNET BY NUMEROUS LEXUS RX-350 OWNERS REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM - ONE SUGGESTING THAT PROPER CLEANING OF THE CAMERA LENS FIXED THE PROBLEM; I PROVIDED THE EVIDENCE TO LEXUS AND LEXUS REFUSED TO ATTEMPT THIS SOLUTION. FOLLOWING IS LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER RESPONSE; DEAR MR.: THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING THE LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER. THE ENTIRE LEXUS ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING LEXUS CUSTOMERS WITH SUPERIOR SERVICE. IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT REQUIRE OUR ATTENTION, WE ARE INTERESTED IN ASSISTING IN THE RESOLUTION PROCESS. AS YOU REQUESTED, WE ARE RESPONDING IN WRITING. YOUR 2016 RX 350, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER XX, WAS INSPECTED BY LEXUS OF XX, AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN LEXUS SPECIFICATIONS. WE APOLOGIZE THE VEHICLE HAS NOT MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. PLEASE BE ASSURED THAT LEXUS HAS DOCUMENTED YOUR DISSATISFACTION FOR PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CONSIDERATION. SINCERELY, XX CASE MANAGER, EASTERN AREA LEXUS GUEST EXPERIENCE CENTER THIS IS MY THIRD LEXUS AND MAY BE MY LAST!

THIS CAR EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AT THE TOP OF MY DRIVEWAY WHILE BEING PUT INTO PARK. THE CAR TOOK OFF AND HIT THE CENTER POSTS OF THE TWO CAR GARAGE AND ONLY STOPPED BECAUSE IT WAS CAUGHT ON THE SUPPORTS IN THE FOUNDATION. WE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR WE OWN THE CAR WHEN WE WERE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WE DID REPORT IT WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR A SERVICE, THEY WERE AWARE OF THE COMPLAINT BUT AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE COMPUTER SLASH TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I WAS PARKING THE CAR AT THE TOP OF THE DRIVEWAY, MY FOOT WAS GOING ON TO THE BREAK AND THE CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED AND FLEW THROUGH THE AIR INTO THE CENTER POST OF A 2 CAR GARAGE. I LUCKILY WAS NOT PHYSICALLY INJURED BUT WAS EMOTIONALLY DISTRAUGHT. IT TOOK DOWN BOTH GARAGE DOORS AND THE CENTER PILLAR ALL OF WHICH HAD TO BE REBUILT AND REPLACED.

CAR HAS HESITATION WHEN DRIVING. CAR RATED FOR UNLEADED NOT PREMIUM AND SHOULD HAVE NOT TO DRIVE CAR IN SPORT MODE ALL THE TIME

WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, A LOUD GROAN CAN BE HEARD FROM SOMEWHERE IN THE POWERTRAIN. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION WHICH APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, WHEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS, DURING THE ACCELERATION PROCESS, A DELAY OCCURS FROM THE TIME I STEP ON THE GAS PEDDLE UNTIL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. THE HESITATION IS APPROXIMATELY 1-2 SECONDS.

I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE YET THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE AND SO I AM STILL DRIVING THE VEHICLE. HOPING IT WILL NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 LEXUS RX350. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEXUS OF LAS VEGAS (6600 W. SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV, 702-942-6600), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND REFERENCED TSB NUMBER: L-SB-0109-17 TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN RESETTLED THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE TSB INSTRUCTIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500.

Auto transmission frequently jerks and seems to search for a gear when starting from a stop. This problem is noted in other vehicles manufactured by Toyota. Dealerships tell me it is a reported problem but there is no remedy. Problem exists from date of purchase May 2016.

THE TRANSMISSION HAS THREE SETTINGS. IN ANY OF THEM, START UP OFTEN RESULTS IN ERRATIC SHIFTING, ROUGH ACCELERATION AND SOMETIMES ABRUPT LURCHING FORWARD. THIS HAS RESULTED IN ALARMING SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION. THE SHIFTING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXR IS NOT SMOOTH NOR CONTRIBUTES TO SAFE START-UP IN MY OPINION - AND I AM OVER 80 AND HAVE DRIVEN MANY CARS AND TRUCKS - WORST SHIFTING IN MY EXPERIENCE AND IS DANGEROUS. DEALER SAYS IS NORMAL.