NHTSA Complaint #10362382 — 2006 LEXUS RX HYBRID

DEAD STARTER BATTERY - 1. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW (WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS) THE STARTER BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD IF WE DID NOT DRIVE THE CAR FOR 4 OR MORE DAYS (OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE WHERE IT WOULD SIT WITHOUT A CHARGER NEARBY LIKE TO AN AIRPORT). LEXUS HAS REPLACED THE BATTERY 3 TIMES BUT JUST 1 MONTH AGO REPLACED IT AGAIN AND NOW AFTER A 1 WEEK TRIP TO CANCUN BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. LEXUS PRETENDS TO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM BUT MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN OF THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT IS OFTEN MUCH WORSE WHERE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN WHEN DRIVING. MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME SERIES OF PROBLEMS ULTIMATELY NEED TO HAVE THE INVERTER REPLACED WHICH IS A $9K PLUS PART (SO FAR IT SEEMS WHEN ITS PROVED TO LEXUS THEY DO THIS AT NO CHARGE -- BUT MINE IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY). 2. PROBLEM ALWAYS OCCURS IF THE CAR SITS WITHOUT BEING STARTED FOR MORE THAN 4 DAYS. 3. THEY HAVE REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. WE ARE AFRAID THAT OUR PROBLEM WILL ESCALATE AND MY WIFE WILL BE DRIVING WITH OUR 8 & 10 YEAR OLD CHILDREN AND THE BATTERY SYSTEM WILL FAIL CAUSING THE ENTIRE CAR TO SHUT DOWN AND SHE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO STEER TO SAFETY WHEN BRAKE AND STEERING ARE NOT WORKING. IT IS UNFAIR FOR US TO POTENTIALLY HAVE TO SELL THE VEHICLE AT A HUGE LOSS TO AVOID THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE (AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE THE PROBLEM). *TR