2017 Lexus Rx

My vehicle, a 2017 Lexus RX 350 with approximately 111,872 miles, experienced a near-total failure of the infotainment/navigation screen approximately five months ago (around June 2025). The system would only display the introductory safety message, backup camera feed, a single radio station, and basic map locator functionality—rendering the navigation, full audio controls, climate integration, and touch interface inoperable. This issue severely impacted the vehicle's usability and safety features, forcing me to seek immediate professional service.

I bought this car in March 2020. We took it to the Kingsport, TN Lexus dealer Sept. 14, 2020 for several warranty issues and a recall factory interior front door handle replacement. Today, 9/3/24 the front driver’s side interior door handle broke and the door cannot be opened from inside the car. Called local dealer who said that it was guaranteed for 12 months or 12,000 miles. I find this completely unacceptable. I am [XXX] and have driven cars for over 40 years and I have never had a car handle break. For this handle to basically last four years is unacceptable and unsafe for any Lexus driver. At this point I question as to whether the repair was actually made. If in fact replaced, I am shocked by the lack of quality in a repair that was to have fixed a serious issue. Driving a car when you cannot open the door is not something I recommend to anyone! I have called Lexus National customer service and they have opened a case. I do plan to have this repaired and I do not plan to pay for what I consider to be very low quality part replacement. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

When checking the emergency SOS function in my car I found that it did not work. I called Lexus support and was told that the following safety systems would no longer be operative: Lexus Enform Safety Connect including Automatic Collision Notification; Enhanced Roadside Assistance; Emergency Assistance Button and Stolen Vehicle Locator; Lexus Enform Remote including Remote Engine Start/Stop, Door Lock/Unlock, Vehicle Finder, Guest Driver Monitor, Vehicle Status and Alerts, Key Fob Remote Start, and Integration with Alexa and The Google Assistant; Lexus Enform Destination Assist including 24-hour live response center agent; Lexus Enform Service Connect including Vehicle Health Report, Vehicle Alerts, and Maintenance Alerts; These include safety systems that I rely on, especially when driving on interstate highways, and were included when I purchased my car. I had no warning that the services would cease to function in October of this year. Lexus states that these systems will no longer function because telecommunications providers will no longer support 3G service. This is certainly a safety issue for me and for other drivers and I believe that Lexus should be required to modify the hardware/software in these vehicles to function in a 4G/5G environment. Lexus representatives state that Lexus has no plans to correct these safety issues. I am requesting that NHTSA review this matter as a highway safety issue.

The sunroof glass spontaneously exploded into thousands of pieces while driving on the interstate. There was no impact what so ever to the glass and the outside temperature was 95 degrees. The shattered glass fell into the vehicle and left a huge hole in the center of the glass panel. My safety was at risk due to explosion of glass while driving at an elevated rate of speed of 75mph. All while traveling over 100 miles from home and then having to drive the vehicle home with a gapping hole in the roof. The surrounding drivers were also at risk due to the glass flying off and hitting their vehicles. There were no cracks or failures to the glass prior to the glass exploding. There were no warning lights, messages or symptoms.

I WAS SITTING AT A COMPLETE STOP FOR MORE THAN 45 MINUTES BEHIND A FATALITY ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY THEY HAD CLOSED WHILE OCCASIONALLY REMOVING FOOT FROM BRAKE TO INCH FORWARD A FEW FEET A BEST AND THEN STOP AGAIN NEVER TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I REALIZED AT ONE POINT TRAFFIC BESIDE ME WAS MOVING, I THOUGHT, IT WAS MY RX 350 WHILE PRESSING BRAKE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF IT WAS SLOW ME DOWN AS AN UPCOMING CRASH WAS UNAVOIDABLE. NO BRAKE ASSIST, PRECOLLISON WARNING OR ASSIST, NO EMERGENCY BRAKING, NO RESISTANCE FROM BRAKE PEDAL AND ***NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AT ALL PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH THE BACK OF A STOPPED SEMI TRUCK** and during the entire incident the speedometer remained at zero or moved a tiny bit off of zero as if it was pulsing somehow and the accelerator was never touched while car felt like I was being pushed from behind, randomly accelerating on its own before impact.

•What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Amplifier is in failure. There is no sound. This is a very common problem with Lexus. It is available for inspection upon request. •How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? (1)Navigation and Directions – Navigation is working properly, but no sound coming out from navigation. This could lead to confusion and distractions. I have been using my phone to navigate, and this is not safe using my phone while I am driving. (2)Distracted driving – There is no sound using Bluetooth, so I disconnect my phone with the car’s Bluetooth. When I receive a phone call, I have to check the phone to see if this is an urgent call, like calling from my son’s aftercare. If the call is urgent, I have to respond to the call. This doesn’t allow the driver to make hands-free calls. This can lead to distractions that compromise the driver’s attention and increase the risk of accidents. •Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? This issue was checked by Lexus Englewood Service center, and they confirmed that this is the amplifier failure. I purchase this vehicle at Englewood Lexus. •Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? This issue was checked by Lexus Englewood Service center, and they confirmed that this is the amplifier failure. •Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Sound system failure has appeared since April 2023.

At approximately 6:45pm on Tuesday, December 27, I was driving in Nassau County, NY, when my sunroof exploded. The sound was terrifying and I was very concerned that I was shot at or hit by an unknown object. At first I thought the object hit my car or my back windshield. I looked and did not see any holes anywhere but I could hear air coming into my car. I moved my sunroof shield and saw a gaping hole and shattered glass.

DAMPER SERVO SUB-ASSEMBLY, AIR CONDITIONER RADIATOR, NO. 2 Part Number: 8710608120 Which also called the bend door actuator failed on my 2017 RX450h at 80,000 mile.The part or door opens to mix hot air form the heating core and cold air to supply heat to the interior of the vehicle. When the bend door actuator part failed you have no heat and to replace it you have to he the dash removed (poor engineer design) and face bills for service over 6,000 dollars. This part failed appears to be prevalent with this manufacturer. Other manufacturers such as Mercedes benz, Porsche, and Honda etc. do not appear to suffer from this part failure problem at the same mileage. This appears to be a lemon part form this Manufacturer. Respectfully submitted, Newton Edwards Chemical Engineer 31 years