2010 RX350 (approx. 111k miles):

My wife was coming to a stop at a red light and the following occurred:

1) ABS light/beeping came on
2) The steering wheel locked up
3) The car seized and would not accelerate even though the engine was still on.
4) Wife put the car in park which seemed to reset the car and was able to drive again.

This happened few months ago but we thought it was a one off so we waited until it happened again which was yesterday.

I took the car to the dealership and they ran the diagnostic ($140). The tech indicated that the car's battery had extremely low voltage and needed replacement in order to run a thorough diagnostic ($210 - $60 off coupon = $150). They replaced the battery and reran the diagnostic which showed past error codes related to the battery life/low voltage but nothing in regards to the ABS system. I know that dead or close to dead batteries can cause all kinds of havoc when it comes to car functionality/computer system but have any of you ever heard of something like this where the car seizes even though the engine is running?

The service rep told us if it happens again in the near future (3 - 4 months), I can bring it back and they'll rerun the tests for free. Not really reassuring to us who drive the car but there's nothing we can do at this point I suppose until the next time.

 

The cause of all your problems was due to a battery dying.

1) ABS light/beeping came on
Due to a low voltage, the ABS computer detected that one of the wheels was locked up or the ABS computer really doesn't like low voltage.

2) The steering wheel locked up
Due to low engine RPM, the ps pump couldn't produce enough hydraulic pressure for the rack, which might have seemed like the wheel locked up.

3) The car seized and would not accelerate even though the engine was still on.
The throttle is 'drive by wire', there is no longer a direct linkage between the pedal and the throttle. It is all done by computer /ECU (Engine Control Unit).

 

Thanks for responding. I'm glad I got away with only paying $300 vs $3,000+ to replace the ABS actuator which I thought may have been the issue.

Would have been nice if the idiot service rep could have told me what you told me...

 

Engine RPM has nothing to do with PS pump hydraulic pressure, considering the RX has electric power steering...

 

You are correct the 3 Generation RX came with electric power steering. With a failing battery and engine RPM dropping which will cause the alternator not to put out the voltage and amperage needed to run the electric power steering pump. The point was to explain why the steering locked up.

 

That explains everything, right up to the part where they put the car in park and the car fires right up

 

That was the case every time (happened 3 times within a period of 2 months). My wife put the car in park which seemed to reset everything (ABS light turned off, beeping stopped etc.) and the car was acting normally.

 

Yup so I don't think you have a dying battery. If it's the original battery you should replace it anyway, it's time. But I think you have other problems. In particular, if it is truly related to low voltage, it's probably a bad ground. I had this on a 97 Camry 3000 miles from home. I didn't tighten down the negative battery cable and all the lights came on and it lost power for an instant. The only thing I can't reconcile is that I didn't get ABS activation in that case (which is why I hesitate to mention this possibility)

 

It's been over 3 months with no issues. Guess it was the battery.