Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While attempting to back into a parking space, accelerator stuck in down position, brakes locked up, engine accelerated to very fast rate, steering would not respond resulting in my car slamming into front end of car parked behind me at a high rate of speed. My car then accelerated forward continuing at a very high rate of speed across parking lot and hitting another car broadside which finally stopped my car. My car was a total loss as deemed by my insurance company.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Lexus rx400h. While driving at approximately 5 MPH and attempting to park, the brake pedal was depressed but the brakes failed to respond. As a result, the vehicle drove over a curb and crashed into trees and bushes. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Lexus rx400h. While parking the vehicle at approximately 2 MPH, it accelerated on its own without warning. The front driver side of the vehicle crashed into a concrete pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The manufacturer was notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V112000 (vehicle speed control). The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.
Tl contact owned a 2007 rx400 Lexus Hybrid. While driving 35 MPH and engaging the brakes, the mat was between the accelerator and the brakes prevented the contact from braking. The contact crashed into a vehicle on the driver's side rear. The contact's vehicle was totaled. The other vehicle sustained damage to the driver's side bumper, the back window shattered, and the driver's rear wheel well was damaged. The contact sustained injuries to her chest and back when the driver's side air bag deployed. The driver's side foot air bag also deployed. Pictures are available. The purchase date was 08/04/2007. A police report is available. The dealer information is not available. The current and failure mileages were 2,300.
Following are the series of events on November 11, 2009: 1.I was looking for a parking space in the parking garage of university of maryland. 2.I found one open space on my left. 3.I applied the brakes and slowed down my car to almost zero speed. 4.I turned the steering wheel to left towards the parking space. 5.I slowly released the brakes to let the car slowly roll into the parking space. 6.suddenly my car experienced sudden acceleration. 7.I did not understand what happened. I tried my best to apply the brakes. 8.before, I could realize what happened, the car banged into the parking garage wall around 3 meters ahead of me and stopped after the impact. 9.the impact was so bad that the airbags popped out. 10.smoke started coming out of the hood. 11.I suffered severe 'whiplash' injury in my neck. …
While slowly pulling into a parking space in a parking structure, the car suddenly accelerated and crashed into the cement block wall in front of me. Since the distance from half-way into the parking space to the wall was small (probably three to four feet), I had no time to slam on the brakes before impact. The car was towed to a Lexus dealer. I was immediately referred to their legal department who handled all transactions after that. An independent evaluator inspected the car, retrieved the crash data retrieval recorder and issued a report. The cdr indicated that the accelerator and the brakes were not pushed until after the crash, and that the speed in the few seconds before the crash went from 3.7 to 60.9 MPH. Lexus refused to admit there was a problem, stating only that the brakes, accelerator and floor mats seemed to be in good working order. …
Related recalls (3)
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2010 Lexus RX350 and RX450h vehicles, manufactured from November 28, 2008, through September 1, 2010, and model year 2008 through 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles manufactured from September 1, 2007, through September 5, 2011.
Remedy: Toyota and Lexus will notify owners of affected vehicles and dealers will modify or replace the accelerator pedal and replace any driver's floor mat not specified for the vehicle.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
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…
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.
Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
On certain sport utility and hybrid vehicles, the two retaining clips for the driver's side forward center console can become loose. If both clips separate from the floor carpet cover, the cover May lean toward the accelerator pedal, causing interference with the accelerator pedal rod.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the two floor carpet cover retaining clips free of charge. The recall began on July 24, 2006, and should be completed by early September 2006.
Frequently asked questions
Which Lexus RX Hybrid years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (19), 2006 (17) and 2007 (11) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 33% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Lexus RX Hybrid acceleration problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 12V-305 (accelerator pedal, Jun 29, 2012); 11V-112 (accelerator pedal, Feb 24, 2011); 06V-253 (accelerator pedal, Jul 13, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Lexus RX Hybrid acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the accelerator pedal (2 mentions), followed by the cruise control (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.