Is it normal to hear the steering wheel when you turn it left and right? Sort of like a medium pitch moan/groan? It's not loud by any means, just noticeable. I don't notice it on my other car, but maybe because the RX is so dead quiet that I'm hearing things that would normally be drowned out by the engine? Thanks!

 

I hear mines also. Especially when parking. I also hear the gas sometimes splashing in the tank lol.

 

I just noticed the noise when turning steering wheel the other day-almost as if there is a low power steering fluid level.

 

if its a slight whine, then its normal, its just the power steering. Also notice that when you do it, the engine revs a little and the car actually accelerates a bit.

 

This version of 450h uses Electric Power Steering(EPS), so there aren't any fluid. It must be the electric motor you are hearing.

 

Hal - right, the sound is very similar to the sound you would hear in a gas car where the steering wheel fluid is low. As wyau01 stated, since there isn't any fluid, perhaps the sound is the Electric Power Steering itself at work?

By the way, we showed a close friend of ours the car yesterday night, and she was so impressed with it that she is determined to get one when she trades in her ES350.

 

i have the same problem as well with our RX450h. told the dealer about this in our last oil change service, and the noise went away for a day or so, and now it's back again. will need to bring this to the dealer's attention again.

 

Stormforge - it seemed like from the other posts that it was normal, but the fact that your dealer was able to remedy the issue, even for a day, suggests that perhaps it isn't normal. I think I'll bring it up with my dealer when I go in for an oil change.

 

its the only real issue with the car now so I am not motivated to bring it in.

I have a personal problem in that the auto hi beam lites are on (they go on and off a lot) and I cannot figure how to turn them off even after reading the book.

May have to visit dealer just for that. Ah, the issues with technology.

 

At my 10K service, I had my dealer troubleshoot the noisy steering. They lubricated something in there, and the noise is now gone.

 

Did you guys get this resolved? I'm in the process of purchasing a 2010 rx450h and noticed it has this exact same problem. Other than that the car is perfect. I'm wondering if it can be fixed or if its going to be a temp fix and I have to get used to it.