2006 Lexus RX Hybrid: loss of power steering

Filed Jun 21, 2018 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 133,000 miles · FL

2006 lexus rx400h totally shutting down while I was driving on i4 today. No power steering, no power brakes, engine died and luckily I was able to coast to a safe place from 70mph! Right before it happened, the check engine light came on, the engine misfired, then all of the lights on the dashboard came on including the check vcs, check hybrid and check anti-lock. Had to have it towed to our mechanic because it wouldn't start and could not be driven onto the tow truck. Codes that it threw said it was a high voltage system regenerative malfunction and a bad engine coil. It was a very dangerous situation with it shutting down on the interstate and I had no control what so ever! This was the second time this happened to me in this car and the computer was replaced the week after I purchased this car used in october 2017.

Filed Aug 13, 2016 · Steering · 188,000 miles · TN

While driving down a rural road at 45 MPH, the power steering stopped working, the "ps" warning light illuminated on the dash, and I had extreme difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle. I puled off the road and turned the ignition off. I restarted the ignition and the power steering worked. I drove home.

Filed Mar 8, 2015 · Electrical, Steering · 168,280 miles · TN

While backing out of my driveway, I bumped a tree with the passenger's side mirror. The impact was slight, estimated speed was 5mph as the driveway was icy. The wheels were not turned much as that portion of the driveway is straight. After the impact, I found that the wheel was very difficult to turn and the "p/s fail" light was lit on the instrument cluster. After examining the outside of the car, the only visible damage to the car was a paint chip on the mirror. There were no fluid leaks. There was a safety recall in nov. 2011 (lexus safety campaign 9lc) for this year make and model of vehicle due to others having similar sudden and unexplained loss of power steering. My insurance company denied my claim for repair because the experts they consulted said this type of impact could not have caused a loss of power steering. I have written lexus describing the issue and am awaiting a response. Had the power steering failure occurred after hitting one of the numerous potholes on the highways, instead of in my driveway, the consequences to my wife and I could have been much more severe.

Filed Jun 24, 2011 · Fuel system · 109,000 miles · MI

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.

Filed Oct 1, 2007 · Steering · 22,516 miles · TX

Tl*the contact owns a 2006 lexus rx400h. While the contact's spouse was backing out of the garage, he discovered that the power steering failed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and they replaced the link assembly. The speed was unknown. The current mileage was 23,327 and failure mileage was 22,516. Updated10/16/07.