TriniLex

So Im looking into the 400 but still scared because I am new to hybrids.
Are the 400s plagued with the cracking dash?
Steering Rack leaking at low miles?
Tire Sensor failures?
AC motor servos failures? (like the 300s)
Transmission?

I know about the recall on IPM and will be in the shop for that next week.

If you have any of your own please throw it out to me.
thanks

alchemist

iTrader: (1)

I would be more worried about the battery leaking in the 400 but perhaps those owners will chime in.

jakenbake

I haven't heard of many problems with the batteries. The few that I have heard of were from cars that had been in accidents. Also the batteries for these and Prius' and such can be fixed inexpensively now by replacing just the faulty cell (unlike the early days of hybrids when the whole battery had to be replaced). I haven't had any problems with my 400. My dash is fine and from what I have read on the cracking, it is all RX's. Every car I have ever had that has Tire Pressure Monitors has had issues at some point but nothing that a tire shop couldn't fix for 30 bucks. As for the rest....no clue. I trust all my reliability information to Consumer Reports when I get a new (or new to me) car.

TriniLex

Thanks for your input
Where are the batteries located?
How many are they?

takeshi74

Can't speak to general trends but not here.

We did have ours replaced and we're at ~45K.

Not here.

Not here.

Just fine.

Interesting as your concerns above don't seem to be hybrid-specific.

TriniLex

Thanks for your input.
I have no idea on what questions to ask about hybrid's except
Where is the battery and do I plug it in?

Rainbird

Any questions about the 400 would best be posted or researched in the hybrid forums:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/hybrid-technology-187/

jakenbake

The hybrid battery is under the rear seat. You don't plug it in. The only cars you plug in are electric vehicles (one source of power). A hybrid (two sources of power) is charged by the gas engine and by energy from the brakes.

kickin8

iTrader: (1)

If you worry about all the items above...you should consider getting a CPO 400h

TriniLex

Can I access the batteries by pulling back the seats? If they are leaking are they visible to the eye?

lex_rx

Don't forget electric/plug-in hybrid like Volt and Prius plug-in. I try to observe hybrid cars in the winter and I see smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. I don't think there's much gas savings in cold climates.

jakenbake

I haven't pulled the seats to see the battery...I just know they are there.

And lex_rx is right. There are a few hybrids that you can plug in, but not many. I only know of the two he mentioned and the new electric BMW which you can get with an optional gas engine for charging the battery.

smassey321

Are the 400s plagued with the cracking dash? -- Plagued is a strong word. Leave it outside for 10 years and the dash will probably will crack.

Steering Rack leaking at low miles? All 400 racks were replaced under a recall so you are fine. 330s leak fluid as they get older but the 400s are electric and do not.

Tire Sensor failures? Same as RX330 (except for 2006 which does not use them)

AC motor servos failures? No

Transmission? No but in rare cases the 400 transmission can leak coolant