Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports1 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

167 reports

68,877 miles · Aug 13, 2012

Exterior LightingStructureVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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I PARKED MY CAR IN A PARKING SPOT TO DO SOME ERRANDS AND, BEFORE I COULD PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AND WENT THROUGH SOME SHRUBS, ACROSS A WALKWAY, AND FINALLY RAN STRAIGHT INTO A BRICK WALL OF ONE OF THE STORES I WAS GOING TO. SEVERAL BRICKS FELL OFF THE BUILDING AND , NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS AS SHAKEN UP AS THE BUILDING. SINCE THERE IS A WIDE WALKWAY BETWEEN THE SHRUBS AND THE BUILDING, IF ANYONE HAD BEEN GOING TO OR FROM THE STORE, THAT PERSON OR PERSONS WOULD,IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, HAVE BEEN KILLED. THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES WHO SAW MY CAR PULL INTO THE SPACE, COME TO A STOP, AND THEN FLY ACROSS THE SHRUBS, SIDEWALK AND INTO THE BUILDING. MY FOOT NEVER TOUCHED THE ACCELERATOR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND, ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY THAT REPAIRED THE CAR, THERE WAS NO NEED TO ADJUST/REPLACE THE FLOORMAT OR THE ACCELERATOR OR THE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470445

81,837 miles · Jul 18, 2012

Engine

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE MOTOR OIL SUDDENLY LEAK (MASSIVE LEAK ALL OVER THE CAR UNDERNEATH AND BACK) AND PRODUCE BURNING SMOKE. DID NOT KNOW THIS HAPPEN(NO WARNING SIGNALS AT ALL) AND WIND BLOW THE SMOKE BACK SO THE DRIVER CAN'T SEE IT. THE MOTOR OIL WAS DOWN TO NOTHING AFTER BEEN TOLD BY OTHER DRIVER TO STOP THE CAR. TOW THE CAR TO LEXUS DEALER AND BEEN TOLD THE 'REAR MAIN SEAL AND FRONT TIMING COVER SEAL' BROKE. THE DEAL DID NOT SEE THE PROBLEM(REAR MAIN SEAL BROKE) BEFORE AND DON'T KNOW THE CAUSE. DID NOT SEE ANY OIL LEAK UNDERNEATH THE CAR OR ANY WARNING LIGHT FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10466420

64,108 miles · Jun 21, 2012

Electrical SystemEngine

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I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE 3 IGNITION COILS. I ONLY HAVE THE PAPERWORK FOR 2 TIMES, BUT EACH TIME THE CAR BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND THE ENGINE WENT OFF AT STOPS, AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LIGHT WENT ON. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, WHICH I THINK WAS IN 2010, THE LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS A FLUKE. THE SECOND TIME (ABOVE DATE), THE LEXUS TECHNICIAN SAID HE WAS BEGINNING TO SEE A LOT OF IGNITION COIL FAILURES. THIS LAST TIME (TODAY), THE TECHNICIAN SAID REPLACING FAULTY IGNITION COILS IS NOW COMMON, AND JUST A PART OF MAINTENANCE. HE ALSO SAID SOME PEOPLE WERE CHOOSING TO REPLACE ALL 6 OF THEM AT ONCE SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T BE STRANDED AT NIGHT OR ON THE ROAD, AND TO SAVE MONEY. OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH LEXUS RX350 IGNITION COILS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462568

75,000 miles · Jun 20, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

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DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LATE AT NIGHT MY CAR STARTED TO MAKE SOUNDS IT SMELLED LIKE RUBBER BURNING. MY DISPLAY PANEL SHOWED NO TROUBLE LIGHTS WERE ON. I KNEW I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED THE OIL LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I AM A 61 YEAR OLD WOMAN ON A DARK BACK ROAD WITH NO LIGHTS OR CARS AROUND ME I WAS NOT STOPPING. AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES FINALLY I WAS A BLOCK FROM HOME NOW THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL AND SAW THAT THE OIL STICK WAS DRY. I CALLED WHERE I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AND EXPLAINED AND THEY SAID TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THEM. ONCE THEY CHECKED IT OUT HE CALLED AND SAID MY OIL COOLER HOSE BLEW APART HE SAID THEY SEE THIS ALOT IN 2007 LEXUS RX 350 AND I SHOULD CALL MY DEALER. I CALLED THE LEXUS SERVICE DEALER THE SERVICE GUY SAID IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I ASKED IF MY MOTOR WAS RUINED WILL LEXUS FIX IT HE SAID YES TOYOTA WOULD HAVE TO EAT THE COST. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LEXUS I GOT A CALL FROM THE LEXUS SERVICE DEPT HE SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ALMOST 600.00 TO HAVE A NEW HOSE INSTALLED. I WENT OFF ON HIM. MY CAR HAS 75000.00 MILES I HAVE OWNED CARS WITH 115+ MILES AND NEVER HAD A OIL HOSE GO BAD. THE SCARY THING IS THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS HOSE BLOWS. THE DASH BOARD PANEL LIGHTS SHOULD INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM SERVICE IS NEEDED SOMETHING! FOR THE HOSE TO BLOW APART IN JUST A SECOND LIKE IT DID THE HOSE HAS A DEFAULT. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL AT THIS TIME. WE NEED TO HAVE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS WHY IS TOYOTA NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS PROBLEM THEY WAIT UNTIL DEATHS OCCUR. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10462402

61,000 miles · May 12, 2012

Engine

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VSC OFF CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS THE SECOND TINE IN 2 MONTHS. VEHICLES VIBRATE VIOLENT SHORTLY AFTER. WAS DIAGNOSED BY QUALIFY TECHNICIAN THAT IGNITION COIL #6 HAS FAILED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON PROBLEM 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN IGNITION COIL #4 FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10458211

71,000 miles · May 9, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OIL WAS SPILLING ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED DUE TO ALL OF THE ENGINE OIL LEAKING. THERE WAS A RUBBER HOSE THAT WAS FOUND TO BE FRACTURED AND LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE FAILURE BUT THE PARTS WOULD TAKE NINE DAYS TO ARRIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI #10457924

65,647 miles · May 4, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

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ON APRIL 23, WHILE DRIVING HOME THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD THOUGHT I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE IN MY ENGINE. NEXT MORNING DROVE ABOUT A MILE FROM THE HOUSE AND KNOCKING NOISE STARTED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION FOUND THAT MOST OF MY OIL HAD LEAKED OUT BECAUSE THE OIL COOLER HOSE ASSEMBLY/GASKET BLEW OUT. TOWED CAR TO STERLING MCCALL LEXUS BECAUSE OUR MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A RECALL. AT STERLING THEY SAID THE RECALL WAS FOR THE OTHER SIDE OIL COOLER HOSE ASSEMBLY/GASKET WHICH THEY REPLACED. SO, THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $643 TO FIX THE IDENTICAL HOSE PARTS THAT WERE RECALLED ON THE OTHER SIDE. TOWING TO STERLING $168. TOWING BACK TO MY MECHANIC $86. - CHARGED DOUBLE AT STERLING FOR TOWING. OUR MECHANIC DID WORK FOR ABOUT HALF OF WHAT STERLING WANTED. PLEASE RECALL THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE OIL COOLER HOSES. THEY ARE IDENTICAL AND BOTH WILL BLOW OUT CAUSING MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK DONE - PLEASE RECALL! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457491

56,000 miles · Apr 13, 2012

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 LEXUS RX350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, SHE CRASHED AGAINST A WALL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC BUT WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE W…

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NHTSA ODI #10455209

87,000 miles · Sep 28, 2011

Exterior Lighting

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I WENT TO FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED SOME BULBS REPLACED. I AGREED TO PAY FOR THE BULB REPLACEMENT. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLIGHT. I WENT BACK TO AND INDICATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN A PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLIGHT UNTIL AFTER THEY REPLACED THE BULB. THEY STATED THEY DID NOT CAUSE THIS AND THAT "THIS CONDENSATION PROBLEM JUST SOMETIMES HAPPENS WITH THE RX'S. WATER LEAKS INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY". SINCE IT APPEARS THAT LEXUS KNOWS THIS, THEY SHOULD FIX IT OR HAVE A RECALL. STATED THAT IT WOULD BE "VERY EXPENSIVE" TO HAVE THE LIGHT FIXED. I WAS THOROUGHLY ANNOYED WITH THEM, (ESPECIALLY SINCE I BELIEVE THAT THEY DID INDEED CAUSE THE ISSUE), SO I INSTEAD WENT TO ). TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO IT WOULD COST $2,200 TO FIX THE LIGHT. WHAT?! I ASKED WHY IT WAS GOING TO BE SO RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE. THEY STATED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE ENTIRE LIGHT HOUSING OUT AND WILL NEED TO REMOVE PART OF THE BUMPER TO DO THIS AND REPLACE SOME KIND OF COMPUTER CHIP. NOW MY LIGHT IS ALMOST BURNED OUT FROM THE MOISTURE, SO I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO EVENTUALLY PAY AND GET IT REPLACED. (I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARS OR I'D TRY TO DO IT MYSELF, BUT I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY ADDITIONAL ISSUES). SINCE LEXUS KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM (BOTH LEXUS SERVICE STATIONS STATED "THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WITH THE RX"), THEY SHOULD CREATE A FIX FOR THIS, RECALL IT, OR AT LEAST MAKE THE REPLACEMENT COST LESS EXPENSIVE. I HAVE OWNED 3 LEXUS VEHICLES, BUT BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUES, THIS MAY BE MY FINAL LEXUS! EXTRAORDINARILY ANNOYED ABOUT THIS!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

NHTSA ODI #10427752

72,230 miles · Aug 25, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

LEXUS RX 350S HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COIL PACKS. THEY ARE FAILING LIKE BAD LIGHT BULBS. WHEN ONE FAILS THE VSC AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS COME ON; DRIVE TOO FAR AND THE ENGINE STARTS TO SHAKE SO VIOLENTLY YOU SIMPLY CAN NOT DRIVE. TWO OF THE SIX IN MY CAR HAVE FAILED SO FAR. I AM TOLD TOYOTA USED THE SAME ENGINE IN THEIR '07 AVA…

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NHTSA ODI #10421528

Official recalls

11V112000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 24, 2011

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 HIGHLANDER, HIGHLANDER HYBRID, AND MODEL YEAR 2004-2007 LEXUS RX330, RX350, AND RX400H VEHICLES. IF THE FORWARD RETENTION CLIP USED TO SECURE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER, WHICH IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE CENTER CONSOLE, IS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY THE COVER MAY LEAN TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INTERFERE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ARM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY TEMPORARILY BECOME STUCK IN A PARTIALLY DEPRESSED POSITION RATHER THAN RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION. A STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED AND SUSTAINED VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLOOR CARPET COVER WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED ONE FREE OR CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

RQ10003 · Unintended And Uncontrolled Acceleration

Opened Feb 16, 2010 · Closed Mar 1, 2011

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:software; Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

On February 16, 2010, NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened RQ10-003 to determine whether the scope of prior Toyota recalls relating to potential unintended acceleration were sufficiently broad, including, among others, Toyota recalls 07E-082, 09V-388, 10V-017, and 10V-023.NHTSA also requested information regarding potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.I. Pedal Interference from Floor mats, Carpet Covers and Plastic Pads in Carpets.During the RQ10-003 investigation, ODI reviewed a large volume of documents to assess whether additional vehicles should be recalled.Following the agency's analysis, NHTSA requested that Toyota recall additional vehicles.Toyota complied with the agency's request.The details of these recalls are set forth more fully in Toyota's reports to NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 573.These recalls are as follows:Recall 11V-112: (1) model year (MY) 2004-2006 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid; and, (2) MY 2004-2007 Lexus RX330,RX350, and RX400h (hybrid model). The total estimated population under this recall is 769,379 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by a loose floor carpet cover (trim panel). Recall 11V-113: (1) MY 2003-2009 through 2009 Toyota 4Runner; (2) MY 2006-2010 Toyota RAV4; and, (3) MY 2008-2011 Lexus LX570.The total estimated population under this recall is 1,381,000 vehicles.This recall supplements recall 09V-388 and remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment by an unsecured floor mat.Recall 11V-115: (1) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS300 (all wheel drive vehicles); and, (2) MY 2006-2007 Lexus GS350 (all wheel drive vehicles). The total estimated population under this recall is 19,647 vehicles.This recall remedies potential accelerator pedal entrapment caused by inadequate clearance between the pedal linkage and a plastic pad embedded in the vehicle's carpet.II. Potential Electronic Causes of Unintended Acceleration.After NHTSA opened RQ10-003, NHTSA launched a ten-month study of potential electronic causes of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.NHTSA launched the study in the spring of 2010 in light of concerns aired in Congressional hearings.NHTSA enlisted engineers at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) with expertise in areas such as computer controlled electronic systems, electromagnetic interference and software integrity to assess whether electronic systems or electromagnetic interference played a role in incidents of unintended acceleration in Toyota vehicles.That study has concluded.Two reports are associated with the study and are available on NHTSA's website.NASA's report is entitled Technical Support to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the Reported Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) Unintended Acceleration (UA) Investigation, NESC Assessment No. TI-10-00618 (Jan. 18, 2011).NHTSA's report is entitled Technical Assessment of Toyota Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Systems (Feb. 2011).Both reports should be read in conjunction with each other. As stated in its report, NASA did not find an electronic cause of large throttle openings that can result in unintended acceleration incidents. NHTSA did not find a vehicle-based cause of unintended acceleration incidents other than the physical pedal interference causes that are being addressed by Toyota's recalls. This RQ is closed.

Additional source detail variants (6)

Electrical System:software

Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal