Safety Matters!

I bought a Lexus – a Lexus RX350 - in 2007. At about the same time, needing a vehicle for commuting, I purchased what some might say is the antithesis of a Lexus – a Hyundai – a Hyundai Elantra (2008), to be precise. Here’s what happened since: Date Lexus ($50,000 +) Hyundai ($15,000) Oct 12th 2012 Battery failed (32830 mi) Nov 12th 2012 Idler pulley for drive belt failed (36362 mi) March 11th 2014 Ignition coil #5 failed (42891 mi) Replaced drive belts (on highway – nearly hit by truck) March 30th 2016 Rear Caliper blown (61498 mi - $654.40) April 20th 2016 Ignition coil #6 failed (62562 mi - $ 293.47) April 20th 2016 Dealer diagnosed leaking steering fluid Recommends steering replacement ($1600 estimate - not done yet) Maintenance items such as regular servicing, brake and tire replacements and such, do not appear in the above list, as also any repairs prior to 2012 (have not kept records). All repairs have been performed at our local Lexus dealer. The vehicle has been run for pleasure, under normal operating conditions, with mainly highway miles. The failures are premature, and entirely unexpected, at these mileages. The vehicle is a Lexus! In contrast, the Hyundai, surprisingly ran fine at 90000 miles +, with no significant breakdowns or repairs, apart from a battery replacement at about 50,000 mi and drive belt replacement at about 85,000 miles. I provided the above comparison to Lexus - have yet to hear from them. No doubt, it's difficult to accept that a Hyundai can beat a Lexus hands down, in terms of what Lexus purportedly excels at - manufacturing quality! Looks like we'll have to look elsewhere for my next SUV - a pity, since I have been with Toyota and Lexus for the past 20 + years!

Folks, thanks for the responses and comments. My primary concern is to make Lexus and Lexus drivers aware of the potentially life threatening risks from such failures. I think Lexus should improve both product design and manufacturing process for such critical parts, in its own assembly plants as well as in their supply chain. What sets Lexus apart from other auto makers is its promise - the "pursuit of perfection starts at our core". My vehicle had barely 42000 mi on it and the Lexus mechanic said such ignition coil failures are not expected at this stage in the vehicle's life - this was a premature failure and quite distinct from the normal wear and tear replacements that we expect to make. Tires burst, but can be inspected prior. There's no way for an owner to inspect an ignition coil externally. Lexus should incorporate an early warning system that signals such potentially dangerous failures - my engine light came on at about the same time that I began to lose power. Re: comments about my wife's reaction - it wasn't a pleasant experience - but understandable when one looks near death in the face. We cut across 2 lanes of heavy traffic with an unresponsive vehicle, horns blaring and brakes screeching on all sides, missing trucks going 65 mph literally by inches. It was traumatic. I was shaking too! So far I have not heard any meaningful word from Lexus - I shall continue to try to inform and warn Lexus owners. The last thing we want is another failure that may, God forbid, lead to loss of life. Lexus will take note of the recent $1.2 billion fine imposed on Toyota and the associated reputational damage - it all began when Toyota ignored a potentially dangerous performance and quality issue.

Thanks anyway, Mason- and thanks Lenore. I now know where to go to check out recalls. I don't know how many incidents like mine have happened, or what the minimum # of incidents has to be to trigger a recall. I fear that someone may get badly hurt or worse if Lexus does not go deeper into this failure and try to address the root cause.

No, Mason - I was not even aware of this particular recall. Does it have a connection to sudden engine power failure? Thanks!

My Rx350 (2007) lost power going 65 mph on a highway, and began to slow down quickly. With a truck on one side and another barelling down my behind, I tried to accelerate but the vehicle began to shudder and shake violently! By some miracle, I managed to swerve to the shoulder across 2 lanes, and avoided getting hit and crushed by inches! Got the vehicle to the Lexus dealer and they found out that it was a premature ignition coil failure - the vehicle has only about 42000 mi on it. Asked Lexus Corporate to: 1) Do a full investigation so as to prevent similar life threatening safety failures and 2) Reimburse the cost of repair at a minimum Lexus Customer Service responded with a verbal offer to bear 10% of the cost of repair! Talk about adding insult to injury. We'd undergone a traumatic event, almost losing our lives - my wife had started screaming on the side of the highway and would not get back into the vehicle! I refused, of course, and paid the entire (and substantial) bill myself. I'd like all readers to be aware of the power failure and be especially careful out on the highway. Also be aware that the Lexus promise of perfection seems to be mainly lip service nowadays - safety apparently is not in their definition of 'perfection'. To see such a serious incident being treated so trivially was totally at odds with the Lexus mission and the Lexus promise to its drivers.