I was driving my new Lexus 450H (2,000 miles) in a fresh light snow (1.5 to 2 inches) in incline village nv at 25 miles per hour on a slight decline when I depressed the brake pedal to slow down for a curve a few hundred feet away. It locked the wheels immediately and as a result I had no steering control. Given that I had enough time to get my foot off the brake before having to make turn ahead, I removed my foot from the brake (I have been driving in snow my whole life since I was raised in Canada) and it had no effect -- the wheels remained locked as I gained no control of steering and the vehicle continued to slide until it hit the guard rail across the street as I entered the turn at some 10 to 15 miles an hour. I am convinced that the problem lies in the 450H trying to generate power whenever the gas pedal is not depressed -- this is different than my former Lexus 400H which only tried to generate power when the brake pedal is depressed (I know about the new logic because the power gauge (that shows whether the batteries are charging or discharging) shows charging whenever one's foot is taken off the gas pedal on the 450H, not on the 400H). Needless to say, I immediately went to the local Lexus dealer and traded the vehicle for an RX350 that will drive like a normal car. I am only interested in having people that live in hilly snow conditions avoid buying the rx450H as they will necessarily have the same experience. I do not have VIN at this time as I am at my second home in California at this time.

- Incline Village, NV, USA

The rx450H is downright dangerous. The 4 wheel drive does not switch "on demand" as the advertising says. I live in snowy Massachusetts and do not need permanent 4 wheel drive, but it is essential when the roads are full of snow or ice. I was puzzled at first that the 4 wheel drive only actuated under 25 mph. I tested it on sharp corners in the snow: The back slid out; and on faster, gradual corners: The car side slipped. Never did the 4 wheel drive switch on and correct the slide. I looked in the manual for the method to manually activate 4 wheel drive but couldn't find it. I contacted Lexus. They said that I should use the snow switch. This is a menu item which annoyingly must be switched on every time you drive. It didn't work as it only changes the gear and acceleration characteristics like any other winter/summer switch. They also said that it should work at high speeds when more power is needed. I tried that and found that at 60 mph if I absolutely floored the accelerator on a steep hill the 4 wheel drive would switch on briefly. That's hybrid technology being used to reduce consumption"! I went back to my dealer: What was I doing wrong" after two months of phone tag with the dealer and Lexus, the dealer promised to pick up the car and test it. After a week of telephone calls they said there was no point in testing the car as it was working "as designed". however it wasn't working as advertised which is that the 4 wheel drive will come on "as needed". I'd say that a broad skid in snow is "as needed". Lexus does not intend to do anything about this complaint. They put me onto a "business development" specialist who tried to upsell me on a non-hybrid 4X4 which he said had "a non slip differential" and would therefore have better handling. I consider it very dangerous that a driver thinks they will have control because of Lexus advertising and salesman claims but will likely loose control in snow or ice and cause a serious accident.

- Concord, MA, USA

I live in aldie, va and have a new Lexus 2010 Rx 450H hybrid. I had an accident on 01/30/2010 around 11am. What happened was... I was driving around 5 to 10 miles speed and turned the vehicle to 90 degrees slowly to go to the school. But the vehicle went 45 degrees and hit a wooden stop sign. I was really driving slow. I applied the brake, but the car suddenly picked some speed and hit the stop sign. Its unusual. There may be some defect in the brakes/gas pedals or with the ABS system or the electronics around it. I called Lexus customer service and filed a complaint about the vehicle. They are sending it to the legal department. The estimated damage to my car was around $5,550 and the car is currently at the autobody shop for repair.

- Aldie, VA, USA