NHTSA Complaint #10705037 — 2006 LEXUS RX HYBRID

AS WE WERE APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT, A WARNING SOUND WENT OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTTING DOWN AND REFUSING TO TURN ON AGAIN. THE "HYBRID BATTERY FAILURE" WARNING MESSAGE CAME ON, AND WE WERE UNABLE TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN. WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, WHERE WE WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US WE MUST HAVE LEFT THE WINDOWS OPEN - NOT THE CASE, SINCE IT WAS STILL TOWARDS THE END OF A COLD WINTER. THE WINDOWS AND EVERYTHING ELSE HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. HOWEVER, THROUGH SOME RESEARCH, IT APPEARS THAT THIS ISSUE OCCURS IN THESE VEHICLES AFTER A COLD AND WET PERIOD; CERTAIN SEAMS WILL COME APART, THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WILL FLOOD WITH WATER OVER TIME, AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM WILL SHORT OUT TO THE TUNE OF 5+ THOUSAND DOLLARS. SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE, AND NOT DUE TO NEGLECT OR LACK OF MAINTENANCE BY THE CONSUMER, IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS THE FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. *TR