2006 LEXUS RX HYBRID Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

LEAKAGE OF COOLANT FROM THE RADIATOR DISCOVERED AND IN LESS THAN 50 MILES AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT LIT, INDICATING FAILURE OF THE HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE SYSTEM , NAMELY THE HYBRID INVERTER. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO A LEXUS DEALERSHIP AND THE RADIATOR AND INVERTER WERE REPLACED. *TR

TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE BETWEEN 75-80 MPH, THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT-OFF. LOST ALL POWER AND "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" LIGHTS CAME ON. WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE INVERTER ON THIS CAR WAS RECALLED IN JUNE 2011 AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2011 AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, AND THEY DID NOTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. SALINE KIRKLAND AT LEXUS OF MOBILE (SERVICE MANAGER) SAID SHE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE PROBLEM ONE WEEK AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400 HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN WHEN A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FOLLOWED BY THE ENGINE STALLING. THE CONTACT ADDED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING TO CHECK ALL SYSTEMS INCLUDING 4WD AND HYBRID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE HYBRID INVERTER HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 123,300.

NO FAILURE, YET. BUT VEHICLE (LEXUS RX400H - 2006) IS A HYBRID. THERE IS A SEPARATE COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE HYBRID COMPONENTS (INVERTER, AND ELECTRIC MOTORS IN TRANSAXLE). COOLANT IS LEAKING FROM THE TRANSAXLE. IF ALL COOLANT LEAKS OUT, THE INVERTER WILL FAIL. WITHOUT THE INVERTER, THERE IS NO POWER - NO ELECTRIC STEERING, NO ELECTRIC BRAKES, AND NO MOTIVE POWER TO THE WHEELS. ADDITIONALLY, THE COOLANT MAY LEAK SOMEWHERE OR ONTO SOMETHING THAT MAY SHORT OUT OR CAUSE A FIRE. THIS IS NOT A LEAK FROM A WORN OUT COOLANT HOSE, BUT DIRECTLY FROM THE TRANSAXLE. BEING A HYBRID, THE AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRIC POWER IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL. THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF INVERTERS FAILING (JUST CHECK THE LEXUS. TOYOTA AND OTHER HYBRID FORUMS) ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED, LEADING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES OR ACCIDENTS, BUT...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 LEXUS RX400H. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INVERTER FAILED WHICH ALSO CAUSED THE COMPUTER AND ENGINE TO FAIL. THE INVERTER WAS REPLACED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/15/10 BF UPDATED 10/19/10

VEHICLE LOST CONTROL ON BRAKES AND ALMOST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 1 YEAR AGO AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND AND NOW IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIND WHAT IS CAUSING IT. IT HAS BEEN A HAZARD TO DRIVE. THE COMPUTER WAS CHANGED AND STILL IT OCCURRED AND IS WITH SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *TR