I purchased a used 2007 Lexus rx 350 from carmax in September of 2014. The car has been at the Lexus dealership 4 times already for rattle in back of car, ignition switch replacement, oxygen sensor replacement and 80,000 mile service. This month (August 2016) the care began to make a rattle just after starting the engine. Upon contacting my local Lexus dealership, I was told that the sound I am hearing is the vvt gear which will need replacing. The estimate given to me was $4K. What makes this even more interesting is that my husband owns a 2009 Toyota highlander. His vehicle makes the exact same noise upon starting the engine. He too was told that he needed the vvt gear replaced for a cost of $6K which was only the labor portion. After reading complaints with the 2007 Lexus rx 350 and knowing that Lexus issued a recall on certain 2008 Lexus models for this very issue tells me that a new recall should be made before someone is injured or death occurs. Very disappointed in Lexus.

- Germantown Tn 38138, TN, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. While driving approximately 5 mph, the low oil warning indicator illuminated and the vehicle was no longer operable. The vehicle was towed to the Lexus dealer where it was diagnosed that, due to the wrong engine oil cooling hose being installed, the part exploded and the motor needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 124,000.

- Oxford, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. When starting the vehicle, the engine made an abnormal rattling noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the variable valve timing gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 13V395000 (engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

- Fond Du Lac, WI, USA

2007 Lexus RX350. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle massive oil leak. On Tuesday January 20, 2015, while driving, the consumer noticed the rear windshield wasn't clear. When she activated the windshield cleaner, all it did was smear. She repeated the process three times, with the same results. Then, she noticed a burning smell. Upon proceeding through a traffic light, she heard an engine noise and was loosing acceleration power. The consumer decided to have the vehicle towed. When the tow truck driver pushed the vehicle out of the parking space, there was a huge puddle of oil where the vehicle had been parked. Then she noticed, the entire back, from the top to bottom was covered in oil. That is why the windshield fluid kept smearing. Once at the dealer, the consumer showed them the notification she received regarding the oil leak. However, the dealer stated the problem she experienced was not the problem that was covered. It was a different hose which had developed a hole causing the massive oil leak. The oil cooler pipe was replaced.

- Rocklin, CA, USA

Oil cooler line leak engine oil empty

- Beach Park, IL, USA

When I drive at above 60 mph, there is a rattling sound. I took it to the dealership and they are unable to pinpoint the issue even after removing the roofrack, the roof insulation and tightening all the bolts. I have found numerous postings online but Lexus still refuses to let us know the issue. Please help! it is very concerning that a loose part might cause major accident or event death. forums.edmunds.com/discussion/7588/Lexus/rx-350/Lexus-rx-350-rattles us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/topic/67986-2010-rx-350-has-noisy-interior-rattles/ community.cartalk.com/discussion/2117891/rx-350-Lexus-rattling-noise see photo. www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-second-generation/337671-annoying-clattering-noise-above-left-ear-of-driver.html

- Danville, CA, USA

The vvti hose on my Lexus ruptured which then caused a massive oil leak.

- Portsmouth , VA, USA

Shortly after buying the vehicle used (one previous owner), upon cold start a loud rattling noise could be heard coming from the engine area for about 30 seconds. Took to a Toyota/Lexus dealership for routine oil change, vehicle inspection, and asked the technicians to also address the noise. We were told that they couldn't reproduce it, and that it shouldn't be a problem. Driving down the freeway in greater milwaukee, the car stopped functioning. After visiting a local mechanic, then later resorting to a Lexus dealership, found that the vvt bolts had fractured. All of this is exactly as outlined in NHTSA campaign 13V395000. Now we have a dead luxury SUV due to an engineering problem, but Lexus will not provide any resolution to their known problem, even with physical evidence (photos, and failed parts still in hand).

- Beaver Dam, WI, USA

The car completely halted while driving on a city road. The steering locked and the car completely stopped in the middle of the road. The manufacturer inspected the car. During inspection they found A/C compressor locked up causing vehicle to stall under load. Once the A/C system is activated, vehicle will stall out. They also confirmed that this could happen while the vehicle is in motion on a highway going 60 mph and if it did, it would stall the car and lock up the vehicle just like it did in the first incident. It seems completely unreadable to stall a vehicle in motion for some confirm/convenience feature like A/C. I feel this is a fundamental engineering problem with the way the car is designed. I would like to ensure this is declared as an issue with the design of Lexus vehicles and there is a trigger to disconnect ac under such circumstances where ac can stall a car in motion.

- Pleasanton, CA, USA

I received letter from Lexus telling me the engine oil cooler pipe could have leakage, but Lexus won't replace it unless it's leaking. I searched the internet and there are many other car owners have had the leak and when it does, the engine might be gone because of no oil left in the reservoir. This could end up in an accident or fire, or at least engine blows up. Lexus also said when this happens, they will only replace the defective pipe, Toyota part number: 15767-31020 pipe, oil cooler, thus leaving owners to pay thousands for a new or rebuilt engine. Why don't they just replace the defective rubber pipe with their new metal pipe? I am sure they are aware of the problem, it will happen sooner or later. Please help!

- Marietta, GA, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a loud noise coming from the engine and the vehicle suddenly decelerated. The contact discovered an oil leak in the garage. An independent mechanic discovered that the oil supply hose for the variable timing actuator had ruptured. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 65,000.

- Valley Stream, NY, USA

As I was driving to work at night I noticed to engine got very loud, I pulled over noticed bluish-white smoke coming from engine, engine oil light finally came on. Got out the car noticed a stream of oil behind the car. My car was still under extended warranty at this time. I immediately turned the car off when I seen the smoke. I left the car there. I contacted the Lexus dealer of mt kisco which refused to come and get the car so I had the car towed at my expense, to their dealer. Received a phone from dealer that day that the car was fixed, representative would not tell me what was wrong with my car only that it was covered under warranty and was rude! I found out later the next day the oil cooler line leaked out which I found out on this site this has been a problem with the RX350. And they kept telling me the engine was not damaged. Received the car back, engine was not right, now the lower part of the engine had to be replaced! received the car again, within a week noticed a sound coming from the engine, dealer picked car again and they put in a camshaft! before this incident, I never had a problem with this car, it was the best car I ever had, now, it is a nightmare! at this present time, the car is leaking again!! it looks like oil!

- Newburgh, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that while driving 55 mph, the vehicle started making a loud noise from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the vti oil hose had melted and the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 68,000.

- Alameda, CA, USA

Our vehicle has always been serviced at the local Lexus dealership and maintained in excellent condition. Without warning, on 3/5/14, as we were exiting the freeway, we smelled a slight burning odor. The oil light then flashed intermittently. We immediately took the vehicle to the Lexus dealership. We were informed there was only 1 quart out of 6 quarts of oil remaining. The rubber oil cooler lines had exploded, but we were assured there was no damage to the engine. The cost of repair was $400+. 1 week later, we heard a clicking sound from the engine. The dealership asked if we could make an appointment 5 days later. We insisted it be inspected that day. 3 days later we heard back that the engine had significant damage as a result of the rubber oil cooler lines exploding, and that it would cost $2,800 to diagnose, and between $3,800 to $5,800 to repair. We filed a claim with Lexus customer service due to the low miles on the vehicle, even though we were technically out of warranty. The dealership apparently told Lexus corporate that the vehicle would actually cost $12,000 to $14,000 to repair. The best Lexus corporate offered was reimbursement for the replacement of the rubber oil cooler lines. This is concerning for a number of reasons. Upon doing some research online, these particular oil lines made of steel and rubber have failed for dozens upon dozens of Lexus/Toyota customers. A very similarly designed rubber oil line for the vvt-I has already been quietly recalled by Lexus. Lexus no longer uses these materials for oil lines. We expected our vehicle to last well into 200,000 miles, but this was simply unacceptable. In the end, since we could not pay for the ridiculous repairs, we essentially were forced to trade it in for cash from the Lexus dealership. Please make Lexus/Toyota do a recall on these parts before someone is hurt or killed.

- Liberty Lake, WA, USA

Lost power on highway my RX350 (2007) lost power going 65 mph on a highway, and began to slow down quickly. With a truck on one side and another barreling down my behind, I tried to accelerate but the vehicle began to shudder and shake violently! by some miracle, I managed to swerve to the shoulder across 2 lanes, and avoided getting hit by inches! got the vehicle to the Lexus dealer and they found out that it was a premature ignition coil failure - the vehicle has only about 42000 mi on it. Asked Lexus corporate to: 1) do a full investigation so as to prevent similar life threatening safety failures, and 2) reimburse the cost of repair at a minimum Lexus customer service responded with a verbal offer to bear 10% of the cost of repair - and no promise of any investigation! talk about adding insult to injury. We'd undergone a traumatic event, almost losing our lives - my wife had started screaming on the side of the highway and would not get back into the vehicle! I refused, of course, and paid the entire (and substantial) bill myself. I'd like all readers to be aware of the power failure and be especially careful out on the highway. Also be aware that the Lexus promise of perfection seems to be mainly lip service nowadays - safety apparently is not in their definition of 'perfection'. to see such a serious incident being treated so trivially was totally at odds with the Lexus mission and the Lexus promise to its drivers.

- Princeton, NJ, USA

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.

- Beaver Dam, WI, USA

Driving on the highway my wife noticed a film on the back window as we were headed from onalaska wi to eau claire wi about 20 miles from eau claire the oil lamp started to flicker then came on solid. We also heard a flapping sound. We were not sure what was going on we stopped at a kwik trip gas station and checked the oil dip stick and noticed no oil. Also checked the back of the car had oil film purchased 4 quarts of oil and drove to the nearest quick lube they discovered a serious leak coming from a small hose off the oil filter area I am concerned we may have engine damage. Why were we not notified by Lexus?? thanks.

- Onalaska, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Lexus RX350. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a mechanic for a routine oil change. The contact noticed oil leaking from the vehicle afterward. The vehicle was towed back to the mechanic for inspection where it was determined that the engine oil cooling hose was fracture due to defective material. The vehicle was repaired. The engine cooling hose was repaired with a steel hose. The manufacturer denied assistance with the repair, because the vehicle had exceeded the warranty repair mileage. The failure and current mileage was 139,569.

- Gurnee, IL, USA

My wife parked the cat in garage around 8 pm 5/31/13.she came inside the house and told there is smell of tar. I went and smelled but did not see anything. I thought she must have driven over asphalt. On 6/1/13 I came back from workout and decided to put the car in driveway found pool of fluid on floor below the front passenger side. Moved the car and check what it is, smell like engine oil. I towed the car to pep boys. After examining the car they found oil is leaking underneath of engine and mentioned to me some kind of tube is leaking. Underneath of engine block. They suggested to take to a dealer. I towed the car again to redlands Toyota, redlands, ca 92373. After hearing the problem he said it is similar to a Camry problem which was recalled. He mentioned the V6 engine of Lexus rx 350 and Camry are similar. He checked Lexus recall history, it was not recalled on 6/3/13 he called me and informed that vvti oil line have a pinhole causing oil leak. He also reported as a result of oil leak drive belt is all oily I had to go thru hassel, loss of transportation and mental agony not knowing what happening I did research and found rubber vvti is prone to be leak (2007-2011) and. Lexus re[laced that piece with metal. I contacted Lexus customers service, they will not accept Toyota's finding. I had to take it to Lexus dealer. What a waste of time, gas, and unnecessary hassel.....

- Loma Linda, CA, USA

I own a 2007 Lexus RX350. When starting my car, a grinding sound is heard coming from the engine every 1 out of 7 or 8 times. The performed a diagnostic test, and the dealer advised that the camshaft tower would need replacing. Apparently this is a common problem with the year, make, and model. The failure mileage was 89,000. Lexus said they woulc cover parts but not labor, labor is 2/3 of the cost (total estimate $3800). Apparently the car is unsafe to drive as is.

- Savage, MN, USA