Three problems related to battery dead have been reported for the 2006 Lexus Rx400h. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.
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!.
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.