10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,016 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.

2008 Lexus RX400H brakes problems

brakes problem

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2008 Lexus RX400H Owner Comments

problem #10

Jun 132022

RX400H 6-cyl

  • 138,140 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal sound with the VSC message displayed and the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle made the same abnormal sound for 15 minutes after the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS accumulator pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the extended warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 138,140. Consumer stated extended warranty program for the defective part but that program expired in 2018. When the ABS actuator pump fails, it stops regulating and maintaining hydraulic pressure in the brake lines which can lead to brake failure. No recall was ever issued despite the fact that a failure of the braking system.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #9

Dec 262008

RX400H

  • 16,900 miles
The road was snowy and slippery, but not icy. When the vehicle about 50 feet ahead of me stopped for the traffic light, I applied the brakes, but to no effect. My vehicle did not slow, and I didn't hear the noise of the anti-lock brake system. I chose to go off the road and hit a pipe railing rather than the tanker truck that was stopped in front of me. Other vehicles at the same location had no problem stopping. Copies of my correspondence with Toyota are available. Toyota only road tested the vehicle on dry pavement.

- Palatine, IL, USA

problem #8

Jan 072010

RX400H

  • miles
Ongoing since 2008 - problem with brakes on rough or bumpy surface. The car speeds up when applying break. They do not catch immediately and hard pressure is required. Reported and checked by to the dealer X3 on 11/25/08, 5/13/09, 2/9/10 - each time was told the car is behaving normally and nothing was wrong. Most serious incident - during light snow beginning of Jan 2010, I was applying slow even pressure as I was coming to stop sign - familiar road so going slow - car hit bump, gained speed and ABS failed. Skidded up a slight incline through stop sign almost hit a pole. Brought to dealership again 2/9 and called Lexus 2/8 to report problem. Told nothing wrong car not on the recall list.

- Pearl River, NY, USA

problem #7

Aug 012009

RX400H

  • 18,000 miles

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

Brakes. Loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #6

Sep 092009

RX400H

  • 3,000 miles
I own a 2008 Lexus 400H hybrid purchased as new last year. Almost immediately we noticed a problem with the brakes when stopping over bumpy surfaces -- it was almost as if the brake disengaged while trying to stop. We brought it back to the dealer, who assured us everything was working properly. They even brought in a national expert to evaluate and we again were told the car was working as it should. The problem has not gone away -- if anything it is worse -- and it appears to be precisely the same problem now being reported with the prius braking system. Toyota/Lexus basically ignored us when we complained and the problem is not fixed. It is of major concern and has been since we bought the car. It is a replacement for a previous 400H that was totaled in an accident, and the previous car did not have this problem.

- Highland Park, IL, USA

problem #5

Dec 012009

RX400H 6-cyl

  • miles
When braking, any small bump, particularly on wet surfaces, causes braking to cut out for a second or two, and the car does not decelerate as fast. Added pressure is required to engage the regular brakes to resume the same stopping level. This non-linear stopping characteristic causes increased stopping distances and loss of control in braking (at least for a second or two). This seems to be caused by the regenerative braking cutting out when the anti-lock system engages momentarily.

- Frankfort, KY, USA

problem #4

Feb 032010

RX400H

  • 29,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Rx400H. The vehicle continuously began to accelerate on it's on and lunge forward whenever the contact drove over uneven pavement at approximately 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who confirmed that the malfunction should occur when the vehicle was switching from an electrical engine to a gasoline engine. The failure mileage was 28,000.

- Trumbull, CT, USA

problem #3

Oct 212009

RX400H

  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus Rx400H. While driving 25 mph and applying the brakes the lack of electricity in the battery caused the contact to apply excessive pressure to the brake pedal in order to stop the vehicle. Within minutes the brakes began to function normally since the battery recharged by pumping the brakes. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer twice for a diagnostic test and both times the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The contact is concerned that the failure could in the braking system could cause a crash to occur. The failure mileage was 22,000.

- Northville, MI, USA

problem #2

Mar 132008

RX400H

  • 16,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Lexus rx 400H. Whenever the contact applies the brakes while traveling over a rough surface the brakes will disengage allowing the vehicle to still move forward. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. The contact has noticed the failure since the day she purchased the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 16000.

- Bloomingdale, IL, USA

problem #1

Dec 312009

RX400H

  • 27,120 miles
I was coming back from my first oil change from crown Lexus dealer. I was pulling into a parking space and the car would not stop even when my foot is on the brake. I tried to steer away from the concrete wall in front but the front left side still hit the wall. The car was damaged and the wall is damaged. The cost of the damaged is 9,000-10,000. Right now is being fixed by my insurance company. The model of the car is Lexus Rx400H year 2008.

- Chino Hills, CA, USA

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