Lexus RX Hybrid jerking problems

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Acceleration · 79,000 miles · MA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 lexus rx400h. The contact stated that while traveling approximately 20 MPH attempting to make a right turn, the vehicle jerked forward and accelerated without any warning. The contact had to engage the brakes in order to slow the vehicle down. The vehicle was not inspected or diagnosed. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the intermittent failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000. Updated 01/20/15*lj the vehicle crashed into a fence. Damaging the fence and the front driver's side of the vehicle. Updated 06/9/2015

Filed Feb 24, 2014 · Brakes · 118,000 miles · DC

Slowing the vehicle at a stop sign from about 20mph. Constantly applied brake pressure. At about 15mph the brake pressure involuntarily released and the car accelerated forward. My foot was never on the accelerator and continued to apply pressure to the brake throughout the acceleration. Approx. 1/4 second after the acceleration, the brake came back on and continued to apply at the same constant pressure. The entire sequence of events lasted about 1/2 a second but caused the vehicle to lurch forward while braking. This happens about once a week.

Filed Feb 3, 2013 · Brakes · PA

I own a lexus rx400h 2006. On several occasions, the vehicle has lurched forward (I.e. Accelerated) before stopping when I applied the brakes at a red light or stop sign. I went to the wilkie lexus dealership in haverford, pa on january 31, 2013. A technician performed a test on the vehicle and reported normal braking performance. I have found similar complaints on the federal safety agency. Based on these similar reports, I believe my vehicle is not an isolated incident. The brake system on this model needs to be investigated. I will also file a formal complaint with lexus. I have been lucky to not hit a pedestrian or vehicle, however, it seems as if it is only a matter of time. Others with similar incidences have not been so lucky.

Filed Mar 4, 2011 · Acceleration · 37,516 miles · VA · crash

I drove the vehicle [xxx] about 25 miles from home to a doctor's office, at typical northern virginia highway speeds on I-66 & I-495. I arrived at the doctor's office, I entered the parking lot at about 5 MPH, I approached a parking space and at about 2 MPH made a right-turn into the space. Without warning, the vehicle started accelerating. I could not stop it even with both feet on the brake pedal. The vehicle jumped over a concrete parking strip, then the concrete curb, up a slight embankment and through a wooden fence. The vehicle eventually came to rest with 3 of the 4 tires on the embankment over the curb. The right-rear tire was resting against the parking curb strip. The vehicle continued to lurch forward trying to pull the last wheel up out of its resting spot. I looked down at the brake/accelerator pedals and though both of my feet were on the brake pedal, the vehicle was still trying to move forward. I shifted the vehicle into park and the vehicle continued to try to lurch forward, so I turned off the engine. After departing the vehicle, I checked the driver's side floor mat and noted that the floor mat was properly positioned, hooked to hooks on the floor of the vehicle. The car was towed to a lexus dealership where it was inspected by a toyota-authorized engineer. Since the event could not be reproduced, we were told that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle and that it was safe to drive. Though we were told that we would be provided with the analysis of test results, lexus has not responded to our repeated requests for this information. The vehicle had been properly maintained by owner for all required services and had just been serviced in september 2010. To date, there has been no determination as to what actually cause this sudden uncontrolled acceleration event which resulted in $7600 damage to the vehicle. *tr updated 07/10/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Mar 3, 2010 · Brakes · CA

2008 lexus 400h. When approaching a stop, at an approximate 25-35 MPH, on typically city streets with somewhat uneven surface, while applying the brakes, the car will lurch forward momentarily shortly into the stop. It produces the sudden anxiety feeling that the car will not stop and can be felt by driver and passengers. It does not happen at every stop, just now and then. This has occurred since the car was purchased. We had the car serviced some time back to address the "b" gear not slowing the car on hills. The "b" gear issue was resolved during this service. Inadvertently the breaking issue seemed to occur less frequently. Since it has been some time since the service, the breaking issues has slowly resurfaced and with a greater frequency.

Filed Feb 15, 2010 · Brakes · 36,000 miles · NY

I was approaching a stop sign at about 10 miles per hour and stepped on the brake pedal to stop. The car braked normally at first, then the car either free-wheeled or lurched forward for about half a second, but as I continued to press on the brake the car came to a stop but a little further than I wanted. I have noticed this about 10 times in the last 6 months but have not had any accidents. I finally contacted my dealer about the problem and he said that this was normal operation of the brakes on this model. He said that what I was sensing was the interval when the car switches between regenerative brakes and hydraulic brakes. He said that there is an order to fix the hs 2010 models so that the interval is minimized or eliminated but none for my model car.

Filed Feb 11, 2010 · Brakes · 76,000 miles · MA · crash

I own a 2006 lexus rx400h which I believe has exactly the same flaw as recently reported in the prius. Several years ago I had a minor accident caused by my car lurching forward during breaking which caused me to hit the car in front of me. When I brought my car into the lexus of watertown dealership where I purchased the vehicle I reported that I thought the issue might be related to the transition between the regenerative braking system and the regular brake. It seemed like the regenerative braking system was turned off slightly before the regular braking system kicked in causing a gap in the braking that was perceived by me to be a "lurching forward". Of course, what it was a decrease in deceleration that appeared be acceleration. In any event, the dealer said he checked the brakes and could not find anything wrong. I would say from that time until now I had about one or two instances of this lurching per month. I am very used to hybrids and currently own a prius as well, so I know the idiosyncratic nature of the braking system. However, after the recent cascade of reports on problems with the prius I called my dealer again and told them, you should know that the lexus has the same problem, I have had exactly the same problem with my lexus have there been any other reports of problems. I believe I was told no, however, the wording of the answer was guarded. Today, I had another lurching event. Approaching a stop sign, on a smooth, dry road I lurched forward at approximately 15 MPH. If a pedestrian were crossing the street at the time I would have hit them, causing serious injury, hopefully not death. This is a dangerous situation. I contacted my lexus dealer to relay this issue today and say we must do the right thing. They did not respond, so I am moving forward with this formal complaint before more serious harm is done.

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Brakes · 30,500 miles · FL

I own 2 2006 lexus rx 400 h hybrid SUV's. From the first week I complained that the brakes would not always engage when you depressed the brake pedal. The car would lurch forward when the brakes did not engage for 1 or 2 seconds. The lexus dealer has dismissed my complaint each time. Now there appears to be a voluntary recall of toyota hybrids and one line of lexus hybrids with the identical problem. But the problem is not just with their new s50 lexus hybrid. It has existed at least as far back as 2006 with my cars.

Filed Feb 5, 2010 · Brakes · 11,000 miles · GA

When braking, if a pothole or bump in the road is hit or when either the temperatures are really cold (on occasion) or the hybrid battery charge is close to full, the car's regenerative braking stops and there is a delay in the friction brakes being applied by the system. When this occurs, the car seemingly jerk forward for a second. Dealer stated that there is nothing wrong with the brakes. This behavior has recurred over the last 4 years/60,000 miles. No fix from lexus. Had to learn to expect this behavior and drive accordingly (on occasion having to emergency brake with ABS activated).

Filed Feb 4, 2010 · Brakes · 100 miles · TX

I am the original owner of a 2007 lexus rx 400h which has not been involved in any accidents, and currently has approximately 30,000 miles on it. Since I purchased the vehicle I have noticed an irregularity in my braking system under certain conditions, which is exactly what I heard described this evening on the news about pruis hybrid vehicles. It can simply be described as when braking, if a pothole or bump in the road is hit, or some other small irregularity in the road surface, the car seemingly jerks forward/accelerates for a split second. The feeling is of a momentary loss of control of the vehicle, and has happened while slowly approaching a stop sign or braking/decelerating in traffic, but not typically when slowing at higher rates of speed. I have had these experiences... Where I have been slowly approaching a stop sign, braking, when I have hit a small bump, and was not able to stop the car before the stop sign, and in slow moving traffic where I lost momentary control over the car as the brakes "hiccupped" over a rough spot on the road and lurched at the car in front of me. I was just about to make an appointment with my local lexus dealer, lexus of austin (texas) regarding my concern when I saw this evening's news. It compelled me to notify you. It looks as though this problem may be more widespread with all toyota products.