rlpiv

'07 Rx350: I've had the same problem ... the first time I had my Lexus dealer tell me to tighten the gas cap ... I did and the problem was resolve, even though it takes a few tanks for the light(s) to go out. Since I don't like to 'overtighten' anything, it's happened a couple of times since and retightening the gas cap and 'enduring' a few tanks of gas ... and the LIGHTS GO OUT. Ron Pierson

I hope that this information isn't too late for you .... but please see my post of April 3, 2007, in this forum, about my experience with .... RX400h IMPOTENT AWD. My replacement RX350 is awsome as a true AWD. Note that most of the responses to me included changing to snowtires, one responder even claimed CHAINS. Note also that the "h" literature firmly discourages "off-road" use of the "h", but not does not have the same disclaimer for the RX gas-version. Good luck .......... rlpiv

=========================================================================== I had to return my '07 RX400h because of the inferior ... yes completely IMPOTENT All Wheel Drive (AWD). Please see my topic "RX400h .. impotent AWD" on March 30, 2007. The VSC gets in the way, and renders the AWD impotent !! I "traded down" to a RX350 which has an awsome AWD just like the '02 RX300 I had before. Please see the discussion from my 3/30/07 entry. I have a friend with a Toyota 4-Runner that has a VSC switch. His vehicle acted like the RX400h AWD (he wasn't able to get our of his driveway) until he turned off the VSC, then that vehicle acted like the RX3XXs. Good Luck. rlpiv

=================================================================== Gosh …. There are a few comments above that I must respond to. Foremost, I DID NOT HAVE A TRACTION PROBLEM so TIRES ARE NOT AN ISSUE !! 1. My problem with the '07 RX400h-AWD was not traction (static or dynamic friction) of the new factory tires to the snow surface. Remember that I could back up the driveway (all electric) but it just wouldn't go up frontward (multiple demonstrations each) in an inch of snow that became packed. My problem was that a combination of VSC, TRAC & VDIM was totally constricting the engine power to the front wheels (engine and MG2) and electric power to the MGR. It would not apply enough power to break the static friction of the tires to the snowy surface at a very low speed. 2. As stated in my initial writing, my new '07 RX350-AWD is awesome, as was my '02 RX300-AWD. These vehicles meet my entire expectation of AWD and will accept increasing ("feathered") engine power to all drive wheels until ALL FOUR tires break static friction on a snowy / icy surface. I couldn't ask for a better AWD performance … and if I needed more TRACTION, I know that I could (and would) move to a Snow Tire. 3. NET: The RX350 will climb my snowy driveway without any wheel spin but the RX400h just stopped due to an uncontrollable restriction of engine and electric to the drive wheels. I was, and am, really very disappointed that the RX400h-AWD cannot yet meet an AWD performance expectation easily demonstrated by the other RX models. Ron Pierson

I live on a hill with a steep section of roadway, a steep section of driveway and require a true AWD vehicle. I recently traded my 2002 Rx300-AWD for a 2007 Rx400h-AWD. The day after taking delivery of the Rx400h we got an inch of snow. The Rx400h wouldn’t climb the driveway due to the VSC constricting the power to the drive train(s), but would back up the driveway in reverse (all electric). With this dismal “AWD” performance, I returned the Rx400h to the dealer and agreed (with a financial loss) to accept an Rx350-AWD. In recent snows ranging 5 – 12 inches, the Rx350 is awesome just as the Rx300 was. In my opinion, the in-ability to switch off the VSC renders the Rx400h-AWD completely IMPOTENT at the very time that the AWD is needed most in slippery conditions. This vehicle should not be advertised as AWD !!! Ron Pierson