This vehicle seems to have a well-documented problem with water intrusion that damages the ECU and hybrid battery. The 2006 and 2007 RX400h has the HV battery located under the seat, which is the low spot in the rear section of the car. If water is spilled or the body has a water leak, the water will pool at the center of the battery. Lexus considered this, and added a drain under the battery, but the drain has a filter, presumably to keep insects out, and the filter is easily clogged. This, coupled with a pattern problem of split body seams near the rear hatch strut mount causing a water leak in the rear of the car, has created isolation faults in many of the RX400h SUVs. The condition presents as warnings on the instrument cluster and a no-start condition where the vehicle is inoperable. A search for "lexus ECU water intrusion" brings up my vehicle's exact model and year so this is well-documented.

- Seattle, WA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus RX400H. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the "All-Wheel Drive and Hybrid System Failure" warning messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with inverter assembly failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V342000 (Electrical System) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

Engine dies out as per recall but already did recall and still has same problem and code coming. Out took to Lexus Dealer to check they came out to be battery cooling fans being defective. Got estimates and was crazy amount told them don't repair suv. After talking to Dealer they state the fans has nothing to do with recall and warranty is over.

- Kihei, HI, USA

My car exploded- huge fire. I was not driving- it had been parked. The fire marshal indicated that it was an electrical problem located near the battery. There we no indicators of any issues. I only had liability on the car- so i am out of luck. but the NYFD inspected. It happened on Wednesday 9/29/21. Was inspected on 9/30.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

The heat control on the driver's side abruptly began to stay on last week. I believe I now smell a chemical odor issuing from the front of the car.

- Dover, NH, USA

My vehicle is displaying a hybrid system check message, and the hybrid system malfunctions. This is causing the vehicle to stall in drive while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle loses all capabilities to properly function. I was on a city street when this happened, and had to coast the vehicle downhill in traffic to pull over. My engine check light also illuminated. This vehicle has not been driven regularly, as I just purchased it from a dealership that had been sitting on it for some time. The carfax check out for the vehicle, so it could be a faulty electrical system inverter.

- Honaunau, HI, USA

Check hybrid system lights came on and the vehicle failed to start. This is the second occurrence. The inverter was replaced following the first occurrence in 2011. The vehicle was moving during the first occurrence.

- Cranberry Twp, PA, USA

The hybrid battery failed, power inverter, locking up power steering and my car was not able to operate on the road. I was quoted 7500$ cost. I have read of similar problems occurring. I would like help repairing from Lexus

- Saint Matthews, SC, USA

Engine shuts down with no warning with no power to control or navigate the vehicle. This happens while the vehicle is in motion.

- Santa Clara, CA, USA

Years ago, I began to have a series of battery failures while still under warranty. Each time, Lexus just told me it was a dead battery, and replaced it (pro rata, not free to me). I gradually became aware that these failures were being accompanied by a message to "shift to P when turning off ignition, " which I always do. I suspected that the vehicle was somehow sensing that the vehicle was not level and was wrongly engaging some sort of stability system, draining the battery. The current episode is accompanied by a "vsc" error message, which is indeed a stability system. Others have reported this online as having killed their vehicles while they are in motion. I am fortunate that this did not happen to me...yet. However, I am now out of warranty and am told this will cost over $8000 to fix. I therefore want to add my voice to the growing number of affected customers--Lexus should be responsible for this clear flaw in their manufacturing!

- Northport, NY, USA

I was traveling 60 mph on the highway and my display started reading "check hybrid system" and "check vsc system" simultaneously. I searched and saw there was a recall for this exact issue (intelligent power module inside the inverter module) for certain vehicles of my exact make/model/year but for some reason my vehicle is not on the recall list. I took it to the dealership and they said the regular 12 volt car battery was the issue so they replaced it and the light went off and the car tested normal for several days however when traveling on the highway about a week later the same lights came on again.

- Brighton, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Lexus Rx400H. While driving approximately 45 mph, all of the lights on the instrument panel illuminated and the vehicle stalled. As a result, the brakes, power steering, and the windows became inoperable. The vehicle was towed to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.

- Dumfries, VA, USA

All service lights are on, ABS vsc, and info display states some sort of vsc malfunction.

- Marietta, GA, USA

As we were approaching a stoplight, a warning sound went off, followed by the entire car shutting down and refusing to turn on again. The "hybrid battery failure" warning message came on, and we were unable to turn the car on again. We were able to move the car to a parking lot, where we waited for a tow truck. The dealership told us we must have left the windows open - not the case, since it was still towards the end of a cold winter. The windows and everything else had been closed for several months. However, through some research, it appears that this issue occurs in these vehicles after a cold and wet period; certain seams will come apart, the internal components will flood with water over time, and the hybrid system will short out to the tune of 5+ thousand dollars. Since this is a known issue, and not due to neglect or lack of maintenance by the consumer, it seems that this is the fault of the manufacturer.

- Quakertown, PA, USA

While backing out of my driveway, I bumped a tree with the passenger's side mirror. The impact was slight, estimated speed was 5mph as the driveway was icy. The wheels were not turned much as that portion of the driveway is straight. After the impact, I found that the wheel was very difficult to turn and the "P/S fail" light was lit on the instrument cluster. After examining the outside of the car, the only visible damage to the car was a paint chip on the mirror. There were no fluid leaks. There was a safety recall in Nov. 2011 (Lexus safety campaign 9lc) for this year make and model of vehicle due to others having similar sudden and unexplained loss of power steering. My insurance company denied my claim for repair because the experts they consulted said this type of impact could not have caused a loss of power steering. I have written Lexus describing the issue and am awaiting a response. Had the power steering failure occurred after hitting one of the numerous potholes on the highways, instead of in my driveway, the consequences to my wife and I could have been much more severe.

- Kingston Springs, TN, USA

On November 12, 2014 evening, I was driving along and going up a hill in my city street and suddenly I heard a thump sound and then my Lexus Rx400H lost all power and the car stalled. It was dangerous because the vehicle lost power as I was going up a steep hill. Luckily, I was able to stop the vehicle and put the parking brake on. When the vehicle stalled, my dash lit up with "check hybrid system", "check vsc" and other lights also came on. I tried to start the car, but the hybrid "ready" light would not stay on. The car would not start. I had to tow the vehicle to a Lexus dealer. I put a new battery in the vehicle and that still did not fix the problem. Then, the Lexus dealer mechanic did a computer diagnosis and said that it indicated "hybrid inverter problem". my vehicle was previously brought into Lexus dealership for an earlier recall for ipm module but the dealer at that time said my vehicle was not within the serial range affected and nothing was done to the vehicle at that time. I phoned Lexus usa on November 13, 2014, and they confirmed my vehicle was under the recall dlf, NHTSA recall number 13V396. I was never notified by letter. The Lexus dealer then put in the ipm recall part Toyota part 04001-29148 part and the vehicle started properly. My vehicle has about 94,000 miles and just over 8 years old and technically out of warranty. However, the Lexus dealer replaced the part with labor at no charge. This repair costs thousands of dollars if not covered by Lexus. When I bought my Lexus hybrid, I did not be expect that the hybrid vehicle could fail in such a catastrophic way. I'm a little fearful to drive this vehicle again if it happens again, and I hope Lexus will take care of this issue it happens again. There is definitely something defective with the hybrid inverter, and it could be dangerous if it fails while driving.

- Blaine, WA, USA

ABS system intermittent failure and master brake cylinder failure.

- Lufkin, TX, USA

Leakage of coolant from the radiator discovered and in less than 50 miles an engine warning light lit, indicating failure of the hybrid synergy drive system, namely the hybrid inverter. Vehicle was brought into a Lexus dealership and the radiator and inverter were replaced.

- Hopewell Jct, NY, USA

The check engine light and P0aa6 warning illuminated and vehicle went completely dead, could not start up. There were cracked body seams above the rear door strut mounts allowing water intrusion to flood the entire bottom well under the floor boards which shorted out the entire hybrid battery system. There were no visible signs of water intrusion inside the cabin of the vehicle, nothing was wet. Apparently, Lexus has two tsb's on this issue, L-sb-0019-09 & L-sb-0045-09, on how to repair the seams since over time there appears to be a structural flaw allowing the seams to separate. The water intrusion happens silently and without warning and presents a severe safety hazard as you get water into an electrical system and parts begin shorting out without advanced warning. Imagine traveling at a high speed and the hybrid battery shorts and the vehicle abruptly stops! or an electrical short starts a fire! Lexus is aware of the potential problem and how costly the damage is and the safety risks associated as a result and has chosen not to issue a recall or limited campaign to allow for a simple repair of the seams to prevent major damage from occurring.

- Miami, FL, USA

On Friday evening April 29 2011, I was driving on the NY throughway South bound to NY city. All of a sudden, I lost all power and I have to pull to the shoulder and I cannot restart the car then I turned on the blinkers but in less than 5 minutes all power were gone it was dark and very dangerous not to have the emergency flashing lights on. I called the aaa they told me to sit in the car while they ask for a state trooper to locate me and state police had to park behind me with his flashing lights to protect me until the towing truck arrive the dealer charging me $248 just to do the diagnoses they told me it is the hybrid inverter ($10,000) and the hybrid battery ($6,000) that need to be replaced, labor not included, I believe this is an issue with manufacturer, as I read other consumer that has the same problem please help protect all the consumers in these defective inverters and the battery from Lexus.

- Schenectady, NY, USA