RX500h possible transmission issue
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Hi guys, I have 2023 RX500h with 22k km already (I know). The issue I'm about to describe has happened about 6-7 times now, last time was today. It's hard to describe so please bear with me.
While driving, as you roll to a stop say at a stop signs the car starts jerking back and forth. It's almost disturbing. The only way I can describe it is that it feels like it's "stuck" trying to switch between gas and electric motor. Car doesn't move forward and the only way to disengage this situation is to put the car in park.
The jerks back and forth are so severe and heavy that it almost feels like it's gonna break the gearbox...
After the first 3 times I took it to the dealer and of course they couldn't replicate the issue.
Has anyone experienced this? Or knows what I'm referring to?
Thanks 🙏
While driving, as you roll to a stop say at a stop signs the car starts jerking back and forth. It's almost disturbing. The only way I can describe it is that it feels like it's "stuck" trying to switch between gas and electric motor. Car doesn't move forward and the only way to disengage this situation is to put the car in park.
The jerks back and forth are so severe and heavy that it almost feels like it's gonna break the gearbox...
After the first 3 times I took it to the dealer and of course they couldn't replicate the issue.
Has anyone experienced this? Or knows what I'm referring to?
Thanks 🙏
I’m having the same issue. It has now occurred 6 different times. It happens when I have braked to a full stop after deceleration / braking down a hill/sloped road. The car begins to jerk and lunge just like the brakes are rapidly firing. I can make it stop by releasing pressure from the brake pedal and reapplying pressure to the brake peddle. I’ve taken it to Lexus but it is so random that the service department says they can’t help if it doesn’t repeat while they are test driving the car.
This also happens for my 2024 RX version produced at 2024 Aug.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: WA
I'm happy to report that the fix described in the TSB seems to have resolved the issue for me and the problem has not occurred since. I'd been in constant communication with the dealer and notified them each time it occurred, so they knew it was an issue with my car and documented each time. This is an easy fix for them and costs them basically nothing as it's just a hybrid controller software update. Everyone having this problem should go to the dealer with a copy of the TSB. Don't stop until they fix your car.
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2025
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
The dealer did the TSB fixes for me today. They actually applied two separate updates...one for the jolting when stopped and the other to fix jolting/hesitation when starting from a stop (I didn't even know there was a second fix available). I immediately noticed that the car was favoring EV mode more than before at slower speeds (I almost always drive in Normal mode), so I think the update prioritizes the battery over the engine when the charge is high. Maybe the jolting issue was because the car was flip flopping between gas and electric and couldn't decide. Time will tell if this solves the problem, but so far I haven't noticed anything negative at all. Acceleration is still good and maybe I'll get even better gas mileage now.
8th Gear
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 8
Likes: 5
From: WA
I posted it earlier in the thread (TSB L-SB-0018-25), but here it is again: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11016798-0001.pdf
I don't have the second one they applied, but you can likely find it on NHTSA's website under manufacturer communications. It was for hesitation when starting from a stop.
I don't have the second one they applied, but you can likely find it on NHTSA's website under manufacturer communications. It was for hesitation when starting from a stop.
Last edited by rx5h; Aug 14, 2025 at 10:58 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 6
Likes: 2
From: CA
Sounds a bit like what I have been experiencing with my 2024 500h F Sport. I noticed over the last few months that when I take off from a stop, it hesitates. This is rather concerning especially when there is oncoming traffic. I took it into my L dealership service and they found a TCM recalibration.
Last edited by KoleenB; Sep 9, 2025 at 02:50 PM.
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 403
Likes: 170
From: New York
Any 2025 owners out there, I have 2023 F Sport ICE coming up on lease soon and I am really looking to finally get 500H. However, I see used market is flooded with lemon/buy backs including 2024s. I am curious if anyone seeing anything on 2025s?
1st Gear
Joined: Nov 2025
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Concerning incident occurred today while stopped: all of a sudden car starts violently jerking back and forth. I was on the brakes the whole time and issue stopped as soon as P was selected. Thinking it’s some sort of transmission software issue as the engine was off during this event. Has anyone else ran into anything similar?
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1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Shuddering Plus electrical problems
I’ve experienced the same issue more than five times. The first time it happened, I was convinced I’d been rear-ended — it scared the life out of me. The car suddenly shuddered and kept shaking back and forth. I checked the rearview mirror immediately, and there were no cars behind me.
I later found an article describing this exact behavior (I’ve attached it). I took the car to my Lexus dealership and showed them the article. They wanted their senior mechanic to test-drive with me, but unfortunately, I couldn’t reproduce the issue on demand (did anyone figure out how to reproduce it on demand?) The dealer says they performed the update described in the article, so now I’m waiting to see whether the shudder returns.
I also contacted Lexus corporate and, frankly, that went nowhere — they were not helpful at all.
Separately, we’ve also had an issue with the electronic instrument cluster. While the car was parked, the cluster started turning on and off, and the doors repeatedly locked and unlocked as if the car was “possessed.” The dealership blamed the battery, but I’m skeptical — it didn’t feel like a normal weak-battery symptom.
Overall, this has been extremely disappointing for an expensive vehicle. We’ve been back to the dealership so many times I’ve lost count.
Has anyone else experienced the shuddering and/or the cluster/locking behavior? If so, what ended up fixing it?
I later found an article describing this exact behavior (I’ve attached it). I took the car to my Lexus dealership and showed them the article. They wanted their senior mechanic to test-drive with me, but unfortunately, I couldn’t reproduce the issue on demand (did anyone figure out how to reproduce it on demand?) The dealer says they performed the update described in the article, so now I’m waiting to see whether the shudder returns.
I also contacted Lexus corporate and, frankly, that went nowhere — they were not helpful at all.
Separately, we’ve also had an issue with the electronic instrument cluster. While the car was parked, the cluster started turning on and off, and the doors repeatedly locked and unlocked as if the car was “possessed.” The dealership blamed the battery, but I’m skeptical — it didn’t feel like a normal weak-battery symptom.
Overall, this has been extremely disappointing for an expensive vehicle. We’ve been back to the dealership so many times I’ve lost count.
Has anyone else experienced the shuddering and/or the cluster/locking behavior? If so, what ended up fixing it?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 928
Likes: 496
From: NJ
Separately, we’ve also had an issue with the electronic instrument cluster. While the car was parked, the cluster started turning on and off, and the doors repeatedly locked and unlocked as if the car was “possessed.” The dealership blamed the battery, but I’m skeptical — it didn’t feel like a normal weak-battery symptom.
We had similar symptoms. Apparently years of experience with failing batteries in ICE vehicles does not apply.
Driver
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 93
Likes: 37
From: PA
I can confirm that the TSB loaded last year solved all of my electrical gremlins including the hybrid malfunctions and pulsing acceleration while stopped. As far as the low battery issues, I got into the habit of holding the start/stop button for a few seconds to be sure I wasn't leaving it in accessory mode and that fixed that. I'm still on the original battery at 3 years and 41K miles and it started fine in 4 degree weather this morning.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 1,581
From: CA
I can confirm that the TSB loaded last year solved all of my electrical gremlins including the hybrid malfunctions and pulsing acceleration while stopped. As far as the low battery issues, I got into the habit of holding the start/stop button for a few seconds to be sure I wasn't leaving it in accessory mode and that fixed that. I'm still on the original battery at 3 years and 41K miles and it started fine in 4 degree weather this morning.
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