NHTSA Complaint #10503589 — 2005 LEXUS RX330

MY VEHICLE IS A 2005 LEXUS RX 330. I PURCHASED IT CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN 2007. I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. AS I PROCEEDED TO TAKE A LEFT HAND TURN THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT WAS JUMPING AND SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT AND PULL INTO A NEARBY GAS STATION. I COULDN'T DRIVE IT AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST LEXUS SERVICE CENTER. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE TRANSFER CASE ON THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WENT. THEY OPENED UP THE CASE BOX AND METAL SHAVINGS FELL OUT! I GUESS THERE WAS NO TRANSFER CASE FLUID! SHOULDN'T A MAINTENANCE REQUIRED LIGHT POP ON OR A WARNING? IF I HAD CONTINUED ON THE HIGHWAY RATHER THAN GET OFF THE EXIT, IT WOULD HAVE ENDED BADLY! THE BACK END OF THE CAR COMPLETELY LOCKED ON ME. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT THE TRANSFER CASE IS RUNNING OUT OF FLUID? THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $2700 FOR THE PART AND $1500 FOR LABOR! I ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO MY HOUSE UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FACT THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING AND HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, I COULD HAVE FLIPPED THE CAR AND ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL OR DEAD. I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR LEXUS/TOYOTA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! *TR