RX400h

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Sep 13, 2005 | 11:49 AM

wemayher

Thread Starter

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 1

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From: Georgia

RX400h

Has anyone experienced bucking or jerking of the rear wheels at about 40 mph steady speed?
I'm told this is due to magnets opening and closing (electrical fields) . I'm also told Lexus is aware of the problem and "is working on it"

Sep 13, 2005 | 11:41 PM

katzjamr

Driver

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 155

Likes: 0

From: WA

freeway speed jerkiness

My 400h is very smooth at all speeds no jerkiness with or without cruise at hiway speeds either. However this has been a topic in another forum and more than one person has had this problem sometimes occuring closer to 50 60 mph. For one 400h owner in Texas, Lexus actually flew in their hybrid technician from Atlanta to check his suv out. He never reported the results. Some people have reported that the jerkiness improved over time, that is to say it got better. I would definately make the dealer aware and if they cant fix it over repeated visits invoke the lemon law. There is no reason this vehicle should not be smooth at all speeds, of course the cvt and engine are going to be louder under heavy acceleration. There are some people out there who feel it is an issue with the programming of the vehicle.

Sep 14, 2005 | 06:57 AM

LCB

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 34

Likes: 1

From: GA

I've never had this problem, but I just cracked 200 miles yesterday. Rides like a dream so far.

Sep 14, 2005 | 03:32 PM

andye39s

Driver

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 138

Likes: 32

From: NJ

I have experienced this on my test drive (demo car with about 2000 miles), AND once on MY car. My car now has 1000 miles on (bought it with 12 miles on the odometer). I'm guessing when I experienced the slight jerk was about 200 miles ago. It was going around 40 MPH.

I am being very concious about this behavior (don't want to call it an "issue" yet).

Sep 14, 2005 | 03:34 PM

andye39s

Driver

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 138

Likes: 32

From: NJ

BTW wemayher, how do you know this jerking is caused by the rear wheels? I sure couldn't tell if it was from the front or rear or both.

Sep 14, 2005 | 05:18 PM

spwolf

Lexus Fanatic

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 20,248

Likes: 275

Quote:

Originally Posted by andye39s

from my experience in my prius, could it be when engine shuts off? i have experienced it a bit more during my first tank, and now at around 1,000 miles mark everything has become smoother and quieter.

i still expect it too be a bit jerky under colder conditions, but it is very subtle and not really "jerky" in real sense of the world. I can imagine RX400h with its 4 different engines might show something similar, no matter how much subdued.

Sep 14, 2005 | 06:25 PM

andye39s

Driver

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 138

Likes: 32

From: NJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by spwolf

What I experienced was definitely a bucking/jerking motion, kind of like driving a manual transmission car. It was only a short distance before I got home when it happened and it hasn't happened again since. When it happened on my car, I was cruising steadily on the hilly back roads. It was definitely powered by the gas engine - I almost always have the monitor in the energy monitor mode.