NHTSA Complaint #10947927 — 2010 LEXUS RX HYBRID

IN OCTOBER MY WIFE WAS RETURNING FROM A 9.5 HOURS TRIP WITH 1 FUEL STOP APPROX 4 HOURS FROM HOME. EXITING I95 THE CAR HAD NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER (VSC, CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AWD SYSTEM AND OTHERS). SHE COASTED THE CAR TO A PARKING LOT, ATTEMPTED TO TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON, BUT THERE WAS STILL NO ENGINE OR DRIVE POWER. ALL DASH LIGHTS WORKING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWEDTO OUR HOME AND I TESTED THE BATTERY AND CHARGING VOLTAGE, THEN HAD THE BATTERY LOAD TESTED AND FOUND TO BE BAD. PURCHASED AN OPTIMA YELLOW TOP BATTERY AND ALL OTHER DASH WARNINGS CEASED. IN NOVEMBER, AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP EXITING I95 THE CAR STALLED AND DISPLAYED ONLY THE CHECK HYBRID AND AWD LIGHTS. THIS TIME TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR 30 SECONDS AND THEN BACK ON. THE ENGINE TURNED ON AND HYBRID MOTOR FUNCTION RESUMED WITH THE "CHECK HYBRID LIGHT" STILL ILLUMINATED. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FOR A MINUTE AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF WITH NORMAL ENGINE AND HYBRID DRIVE FUNCTION. I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT LEXUS IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN. ONE MONTH LATER AGAIN RETURNING FROM A TRIP, EXITED I95 AND ONCE THE CAR WAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MPH CAR LOST POWER, WARNING LIGHTS "AWD" AND "CHECK HYBRID" ILLUMINATED AND CAR HAD ENTERED A "LIMP" TYPE OF MODE WITH SOME POWER WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND LIMITED SPEED. POWER DISTRIBUTION SCREEN SHOWED NO POWER MOVEMENT FROM THE ENGINE/BATTERY/WHEEL CHARGING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ALSO ILLUMINATED. PULLED TO A PARKING LOT TURNED OFF MOMENTARILY AND THEN BACK ON, RESUMING NORMAL FUNCTION. "AWD" WARNING WENT AWAY, BUT "CHECK HYBRID" AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS WERE BOTH ON. ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE APPT AT LEXUS THE CAR WAS USED WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL ILLUMINATED, STILL FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE LIGHTS, AT SOME POINT DURING THE DRIVE WENT OUT ON THEIR OWN. THE SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS AGAIN CANCELLED ON THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE SCHEDULE.