2008 Lexus RX350 engine problems

“Dear Sir or Madam. My name is [XXX], [XXX], [XXX] living in [XXX]. I bought my 2008 Lexus RX400h car, used, in 2014 at a non-Lexus dealership in the [XXX] where I used to live. My Lexus VIN is: [XXX]. I've been satisfied with the car..until today. The car had been running smoothly forever, and this morning while I was driving I came to a stop (red light) and the car suddenly shut down completely, including the loss of lights, and the whole dashboard went dark. Other cars behind me were honking their horns. I could not even turn on the hazard lights. After 1-2 minutes, all of the lights/warnings started coming on one after the other. I started the car again and run around three different errands without having further issues. I checked online to see if other owners had experienced a similar situation, which is the case. One person said that there had been two recalls in 2011 and 2013, both related to the inverter module inside the hybrid system. Although, I called today a Lexus dealership, [XXX], located in [XXX], and I was told there are no recalls for the VIN number that I provided. Another owner said she/he went to a Lexus dealer in [XXX] and she was told it…”

“Vvt-I oil line failure. Limited service campaign ended in Dec 2021. No notice sent, no repairs suggested at the dealership within the eligible period. Vvt-I failed and engine lost all oil in minutes while driving, coating the front passenger brake caliper and rendering the breaking dangerously difficult on the passenger side on the highway.”

“2008 LEXUS 350 RX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A OIL LINE DEFECT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT EXHIBITED A FAILURE. THE OWNER SUSPECTED THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL IN THE FUTURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.THE CONSUMER DECLINED.”

“2008 LEXUS RX350 WAS PARKED IN GARAGE WITH ENGINE HOT. ONE MINUTE AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND REQUIRED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FINALLY PUT IT OUT. ENGINE COMPARTMENT SO COMPLETELY DESTROYED THAT THE IMMEDIATE CAUSE OF THE FIRE NOT DETECTABLE. CAR IS TOTAL LOSS, GARAGE DAMAGED BUT NOT DESTROYED.MOST RECENT SERVICING WAS BY THE LEXUS DEALER THREE MONTHS PREVIOUS.”

“DASHBOARD CHECK ENGINE, CAR SKID LINES WONT SHUT OFF. ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING WHEN CAR IS STOPPED TRIED TO TURN OFF LIGHTS. WOULD NOT GO OUT. NOT FLASHING LIGHTSS ON DASHBOARD. STABLE LIGHT NOT GOING OUT.”

“ON JUNE 3RD, 2020 I GOT MY 2008 LEXUS RX 350 SERVICED FOR 115,000 MILE SERVICE AT JOHNSON LEXUS OF RALEIGH. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SERVICED RELIGIOUSLY AT THE SAME DEALER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN 2008. IT COST ABOUT $250, ON JUNE 13TH I NOTICED LARGE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN MORE THAN 50 MILES AFTER SERVICE. THE ENGINE HAD A STRANGE SOUND. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL IN THE ENGINE AND THERE WAS NO OIL AT ALL.THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AT MY OWN EXPENSE. THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THE LEXUS DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE "ENGINE OIL COOLER PIPE" HAD BURST AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $500 FOR REPAIRS. HE EMPHASIZED THAT THE DEFECT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SERVICE. ON FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THE "SB-10056509-3341" SERVICE BULLETIN WHICH ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT IN THE PART AND PROVIDED ENHANCED WARRANTY. UNFORTUNATELY IT DID NOT APPLY TO ME SINCE THE CAR HAD BEEN PURCHASED MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO EVEN THOUGH IT WAS WELL WITHIN THE 150,000 MILE LIMIT. IF THE OIL HAD LEAKED ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STALLED ON THE HIGHWAY RISKING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR”