NHTSA Complaint #10553901 — 2007 LEXUS RX

TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DID NOTHING MORE THAN REMOVE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. INDEPENDENT SHOP MADE ME AWARE OF LEXUS BULLETIN REGARDING 2GR-FSE ENGINE AND SIMILAR SYMPTOMS. I REVIEWED BULLETIN AND VERIFIED SYMPTOMS WERE EFFECTIVELY IDENTICAL TO THOSE I EXPERIENCED. VEHICLE TOWED TO JACK SAFRO LEXUS OF BROOKFIELD, WI AND LEXUS CORPORATE WAS CONTACTED BY ME AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE WAS REMOVED AND TWO OF THE THREE BOLTS HOLDING BANK ONE VVT IN PLACE HAD COME LOOSE AND WERE RESTING INSIDE THE CRANKCASE. THE THIRD BOLT WAS ~50% OUT WHEN IT SHEARED OFF AND VVT FAILURE CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. LEXUS CORPORATE WAS ASKED BY ME REPEATEDLY TO CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION WITH AN ENGINEER FAMILIAR TO THE SYSTEM AND TO EVALUATE THIS (2GR-FE) FOR POTENTIALLY THE SAME ROOT CAUSE AS THE ISSUE NOTED IN THE BULLETIN. LEXUS WAS MADE AWARE, UP TO THE EXECUTIVE LEVEL, THAT THE FAILURE MODE WAS VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THAT DESCRIBED AND EVIDENCE OF FAILURE WAS REPEATEDLY OFFERED. LEXUS CORPORATE CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE.