NHTSA — Power Train Problems

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,793 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Lexus RX 350 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2010 Lexus RX 350 Owner Comments

problem #8

Jun 212021

RX 350

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The hybrid transmission failed at 146k and the light went on. When we took it to the dealership, they said that there was metal bits. The owner of the vehicle when into the dealership asking the dealership to set tire pressures and inspect floor mats for proper installation, they performed an inspection and inflated the tires. The owner went in and stated that the check hybrid system warning light is on. Oil pump range/performance. NOTE: no road test performed. Possible additional work needed. Transmission oil pump inoperable due to metal in fluid shorting the pump. The dealership took a fluid sample. They had found lots of metal particles present in the fluid. They recommend replacing the transmission, oil pump, cooler, cooler hoses, and clamps, flush the metal lines.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 042021

RX 350

  • 150,000 miles
Roaring noise appeared in 2020 upon acceleration of the vehicle from the rear differential that became louder overtime which would not be mentioned in the multiple inspection reports even when pointed to the service representatives ;instead one of them verbally demanded $750 for the diagnostics and $5000 for the repairs! the other gave an invoice estimate of $2000 for the part and $800 for the labor on 04feb2021 as attached.Toyota has issues a technical bulletin T-sb-0080-13 rev 1 dated June 14, 2013 titled "rear differential coupling growl noise" available online, indicating the company is aware of the problem in the powertrain's electro magnetic coupling (that connects to the drive shaft and sits in front of rear differential) Lexus part # 41303-48010 which is also used in 2006-09 rav 4 a with different Toyota part number. While this electro magnet coupling is listed in their bulletin as used in rav4 2006-12 4WD, it did cause an identical growling noise in my 2010 Lexus Rx 350 AWD which was notified to Lexus corporate hq via an online complaint on 08feb21, whose corporate representative called same day to resolve it without resolution to date despite a firm promise of call back with resolution plan on 12feb21! Lexus parts department in both local dealerships, when specifically asked to pin point parts required to repair the coupling, declined to provide any information!when asked to sell parts # 90363-95003 & 90363-65004 they declined and said "coupling" & its "parts/bearings" are 'out of stock' in the United States and recommended me instead to sell my functional and maintained vehicle as soon as possible! bearing failure during driving may potentially result in fatal accidents and put life and safety of vehicle occupants and O! manufacturers should alert customers about any such defects in the design of such parts and propose resolution in a timely fashion.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #6

Mar 312019

RX 350

  • 123,345 miles
My wife was coming from work in the early morning on April 1, 2019 at highway speed around 70 to 75mph. All of a sudden she could hear big noise coming out of engine, warning lights started coming on the dash and she could mange to stop the car in the emergence lane. She could smell the oil burning from the front. The vehicle was towed to the auto shop and was evaluated next week. They told me that engine have big holes in the front, rear and at the bottom. Transfer case also got a big hole along with the battery. The vehicle has had a regular oil change and routing inspection in all the previous years. I have shown this to couple of repair shops and they told me that they have never seen this kind of instance in any vehicle and especially Lexus.

- Shelby Township, MI, USA

problem #5

Jul 312016

RX 350

  • 89,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving at 55 mph steady on highway the car suddenly shifted into neutral and coasted to a stop. There was no abnormal sound associated. While stationary I tried shifting into reverse or low gear with no response. I shut the car off and restarted it, the car would shift into drive and returned to normal operation for a short period and then shifted into neutral again. After multiple start/stops I was able to get the car home and had it towed to the nearest Lexus dealership the next day for evaluation. In the wrong traffic conditions (congested highway or unsteady terrain) this could have been a serious safety concern, especially if my wife was driving the vehicle when it happened. After 2 days of no response I was told that the fault codes indicated that I needed a new transmission (at a cost of $6900), there was no way it could be repaired. No other details of the damage to the transmission were provided. This is a 2010 Lexus rx 350 with 89,500 miles and has been maintained regularly. For this vehicle, based on the mileage and care put into it, I believe there was a defective part in the transmission but cannot verify it. I was not offered any compensation (because it was officially out of warranty) and had the vehicle serviced (transmission replaced) by an independent maintenance shop. The second shop confirmed a mechanical failure within the transmission, requiring replacement.

- Alexandria, KY, USA

problem #4

Sep 232014

RX 350 6-cyl

  • miles
2010 Lexus RX350. Consumer had transmission shifter assembly replaced. Consumer also want to know if he can be reimbursed. According to the invoice, the shifter would get stuck when shifting from neutral to drive. The consumer stated once the gear was in drive, it slipped out several times.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

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problem #3

Nov 072011

RX 350 6-cyl

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Lexus RX350. The contact stated the vehicle rolled away while parked on an incline with the engine shut off. The vehicle rolled down the hill and crashed into a fence and a light post. The contact received neck and back injuries from the crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was advised that they would have to pay someone to read the report taken when the black box was analyzed. The contact did not know what caused the failure. The failure and the current mileages were 19,000. Updated 03/05/12 updated 03/07/12

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #2

Mar 092011

RX 350

  • 32,500 miles
I started the car, backed it up, pulled forward turning to the left to go down a driveway when the car unexpectedly accelerated. I stomped on the brake but the car did not stop. I flew out of the driveway, across the street and hit 3 trees and a rock before the car stopped.

- East Haddam, CT, USA

problem #1

Aug 302010

RX 350

  • miles
I bought a new Lexus rx 350 in August 2010 and had a collision on the third day driving the car. I was at a parking lot waiting for a parking space. The engine would shut down. When I saw a parking space available, I started the engine by pressing the engine button without pressing the brake pedal (you don't need to press the brake when you use a key to start the engine). I did not know by doing that, I only started the radio and air conditioning but not the engine itself. I then pressed the brake pedal and shifted to the driving gear. At that time, another car was pulling into the parking lot. I was going to stop my car to wait for the other car to pass by me. I pressed the brake but the car did not stop and kept going forward because the road is a little steep. I felt that I had no control of the car - both the brake and power steering. My car finally stopped after hitting an embankment in the parking lot. There was damage to the front bumper and scratches on the side. Total damage is more than $2,000. Went to the dealership and was told the rx 350 was designed in that way - if you press the start button without pressing the brake pedal, the engine won't start, but you are able to shift the gear to driving if you press the brake at this time. It can be very dangerous because the power steering and brake will not work properly if the engine is not started.

- Basking Ridge, NJ, USA

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